> it's interesting to me that the most vociferous deniers of free speech throughout history have made some version of the case "But they're wrong!" (You can add stupid, evil, whatnot
The most vociferous deniers of free speech throughout history are totalitarians or authoritarians who regard the truth or falsehood of the speech they're suppressing as immaterial, and won't bother to make a case unless they absolutely have to. It's a question of whether the speech is threatening or costly for those in power.
> The point is that whatever they're saying, it should not be said because it is not correct
In the United States you can find very recent examples of the press being excoriated by portions of the public and even threatened with imprisonment by the government for publishing things that were true. Think of the coverage of the Iraq war and some big examples should leap to mind.
The most vociferous deniers of free speech throughout history are totalitarians or authoritarians who regard the truth or falsehood of the speech they're suppressing as immaterial, and won't bother to make a case unless they absolutely have to. It's a question of whether the speech is threatening or costly for those in power.
> The point is that whatever they're saying, it should not be said because it is not correct
In the United States you can find very recent examples of the press being excoriated by portions of the public and even threatened with imprisonment by the government for publishing things that were true. Think of the coverage of the Iraq war and some big examples should leap to mind.