What counts as "hate speech"?

I’m pulling this specific part from the thread over on the Politics subforum just so I don't get flagged again for critiquing the moderation team.

Charles Fox10 said:You honestly expect me to distance myself from someone else's opinion? Especially since I haven't personally written a single damn word about whether believers or anyone else are smart or stupid. Are you serious???

Well, I expect it, and I have every right to. You aren't just some random user; you’re a moderator here. If someone were to post that all Americans are geniuses while Mexicans are idiots (or vice versa), or if they claimed all liberals are brilliant while conservatives are morons, or even that men are smart and women are dumb—would that just sit there without consequence? Or would a moderator actually step in? In some cases, labeling an entire group of people with a single trait is considered hate speech, so why is it treated differently in others?

So, my question stands: does the frequent claim that all religious people are stupid and all atheists are smart constitute hate speech, or doesn't it?

Matthew Castillo5 said:I’m pulling this specific part from the thread over on the Politics subforum just so I don't get flagged again for critiquing the moderation team.

Well, I expect it, and I have every right to. You aren't just some random user; you’re a moderator here. If someone were to post that all Americans are geniuses while Mexicans are idiots (or vice versa), or if they claimed all liberals are brilliant while conservatives are morons, or even that men are smart and women are dumb—would that just sit there without consequence? Or would a moderator actually step in? In some cases, labeling an entire group of people with a single trait is considered hate speech, so why is it treated differently in others?

So, my question stands: does the frequent claim that all religious people are stupid and all atheists are smart constitute hate speech, or doesn't it?

The only thing you can reasonably expect is a consistent style. As for an answer... well, given the context of the post, I'm done talking.

Matthew Castillo5 said:I’m pulling this specific part from the thread over on the Politics subforum just so I don't get flagged again for critiquing the moderation team.

Well, I expect it, and I have every right to. You aren't just some random user; you’re a moderator here. If someone were to post that all Americans are geniuses while Mexicans are idiots (or vice versa), or if they claimed all liberals are brilliant while conservatives are morons, or even that men are smart and women are dumb—would that just sit there without consequence? Or would a moderator actually step in? In some cases, labeling an entire group of people with a single trait is considered hate speech, so why is it treated differently in others?

So, my question stands: does the frequent claim that all religious people are stupid and all atheists are smart constitute hate speech, or doesn't it?

It really depends on how you look at it. Just phrased like that, I wouldn't call it hate speech.

Daniel Ward87 said:It really depends on how you look at it. Just phrased like that, I wouldn't call it hate speech.

Oh, please, spare me the "context" argument. In what possible universe would that be okay and somehow exempt from being called out?

Daniel Ward87 said:It really depends on how you look at it. Just phrased like that, I wouldn't call it hate speech.

So what is it then? An absolute truth? Just pure stupidity? Or just an opinion the author is entitled to hold?

What about the reverse claim: that atheists are idiots and believers are geniuses? I’m not asserting that, I’m just asking. Charles Fox10 and I have already agreed that you find the full spectrum—from catastrophically dim-witted to absolutely brilliant—in both groups.

Or, for example: are gay people stupid and straight people smart?

Matthew Castillo5 said:Oh, please, spare me the "context" argument. In what possible universe would that be okay and somehow exempt from being called out?

So what is it then? An absolute truth? Just pure stupidity? Or just an opinion the author is entitled to hold?

What about the reverse claim: that atheists are idiots and believers are geniuses? I’m not asserting that, I’m just asking. Charles Fox10 and I have already agreed that you find the full spectrum—from catastrophically dim-witted to absolutely brilliant—in both groups.

Or, for example: are gay people stupid and straight people smart?

Context has always been everything when you're reading the news, and this case is no different.

Matthew Castillo5 said:Oh, please, spare me the "context" argument. In what possible universe would that be okay and somehow exempt from being called out?

So what is it then? An absolute truth? Just pure stupidity? Or just an opinion the author is entitled to hold?

What about the reverse claim: that atheists are idiots and believers are geniuses? I’m not asserting that, I’m just asking. Charles Fox10 and I have already agreed that you find the full spectrum—from catastrophically dim-witted to absolutely brilliant—in both groups.

Or, for example: are gay people stupid and straight people smart?

Look, everyone’s entitled to their own take. Whether a point is "wrong" or not is always up for debate. We’ve always maintained here that you can't just drop an opinion without backing it up with some actual logic. An opinion on its own isn't a violation—we don't hand out bans just for having a viewpoint. But if you drop that claim into a specific thread or use it to derail a discussion, then you're looking at a potential penalty. It all comes down to context.

Matthew Castillo5 said:Oh, please, spare me the "context" argument. In what possible universe would that be okay and somehow exempt from being called out?

So what is it then? An absolute truth? Just pure stupidity? Or just an opinion the author is entitled to hold?

What about the reverse claim: that atheists are idiots and believers are geniuses? I’m not asserting that, I’m just asking. Charles Fox10 and I have already agreed that you find the full spectrum—from catastrophically dim-witted to absolutely brilliant—in both groups.

Or, for example: are gay people stupid and straight people smart?

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