- Persons are equal.
- “Free Speech” implies unconditional and non-judgemental personal respect.
- “Free Speech” requires an atmosphere of “Free Listening.”
0. This is one broad opinion. It’s meant to free-up free-speech. Live, laugh, and love.
1. “That is a dumb concept.” and “That’s a dumb person’s concept.”
2. The speaker has constructed a message to send to the listener. The concept processing and choice of words reflect on the speaker (their experience, and knowledge) and the clarity and impact they want to deliver from their (limited) point of view with preconceived filters. The speaker is using their own language resources, and they may or may not be choosing words they know will elicit a specific response in the listener.
3. The listener processes the words through their language experience and knowledge to build a new concept they received from the speaker. They assign a value to the clarity and impact from their (limited) point of view with preconceived filters. The listener may be offended. That depends on the credibility they give the speaker and the literal or figurative meanings they give the words.
Some listeners have a rule, “Presume the best.” When they hear a word that challenges their sense of kindness. They want to hear the message and consider the context, not take the first disrespectful possibility as significant, This moderate response may be most helpful when the listener thinks _others_ may feel disrespected.
Some listeners (and their comrades) want to police word usage with their good intention of preserving civility for continued communication potential. Some people want to deliver clear statements with the drama clearly expressed. The drama is only part of the message, and we each have our own that may even be changing.
4. Hopefully, both are trying to understand a concept. An agreement, disagreement, or modification for a mutual application may result. It may be an idea, a potential action, or simply a contribution to a process of understanding. It is not necessarily a personal issue, rather ideas we are discussing.
“Take it or leave it” — if this saying is offensive, it doesn’t matter, because you will do it anyway. Which means you will agree or not agree with a speaker or author. That’s okay because they have the same choice to take it or leave it on the listener’s opinion.
We (and they) manage our own messaging — incoming and outgoing. Now, what nonsense or sanity were we discussing before the fireworks?
This is one broad opinion. It’s meant to free-up free-speech. Live, laugh, and love.
