[the_third_wave]

> as long as you’re not harming anyone

...and that is where the problem lies, in the definition of the concept 'harm'. Sticks and stones do physical harm and as such are easily covered by relevant laws. As to whether words do harm the opinions vary from '...but words can never harm me' to the proponents of a trigger-warning safe space culture where everybody has her own truth. Sometimes words can lead to physical harm - call someone a Jew in the midst of one of the raging pro-Hamas protests, say that someone did something to a koran in rural Pakistan - but other times they just make people feel bad/left out/misunderstood/etc.

It is quite common to call those who do not align to the doctrines of the 'progressive left' for 'nazi', 'extreme right', 'alt-right', 'fascist' and more such epitets. Does this count as 'harming' those people and if so should it be punishable? If not, why not?

[houseatrielah]

The Irish aren't allowed to protest dispossession of their ancestral lands because they're "too white". Sad situation.

[dun44]

Calling someone a Jew in the middle of protests against Israeli war crimes might indeed be harmful by inciting violence. Posting a random meme usually won’t. It’s not that hard to tell the difference.

Unless you also can’t tell the difference between “being not aligned” and actively inducing hatred against minorities, ie being a nazi. But that’s dementia, not ethics.