On Mon, 29 Jan 1996, Jean-Francois Avon wrote:

olmur@dwarf.bb.bawue.de writes:

...

Free speech ends where other people can reasonable claim that their feelings are badly hurt.

Ask yourself what standard in implied in this sentence...

Is it "Man as a life-loving rationnal animal" or "Man as an ever sobbing, unable to cope, emotionnally controlled animal"

There was a lively debate in feminist/legal circles a while back about introducing "the reasonable woman standard," "the reasonable gay man standard," etc. into the legal currency. The movement intended to make "date rape" and sexual harassment easier to prosecute. I didn't keep up with it, but I'm sure the relevant papers are still being cited. I doubt and hope that no court ever took the argument seriously. My personal rules are: 1. I have the right to get offended however often I want. It's a lot healthier than desensitization. 2. I have the right to respond however I want, as long as it's legal and ethical. 3. I do not have the right to tell someone else not to be offended. 4. I do not have the right to control another's actions, much less words or thoughts, merely because I find them offensive. -rich