Bill Maher Says David Hogg is 'Bullying' Laura Ingraham with Boycott

[meadowlander]

34. Imposing consequences on people for exercising their free speech is not the same as restricting

their free speech.

This is where Maher constantly gets it wrong.

You have the right to say what you want. Other people have the right to respond, as long as the response is non-violent and legal. If you don't want to face the consequences (i.e. a boycott, loss of sponsors, being fired, being argued with and made to look foolish) maybe spend two seconds thinking about what is about to come out of your mouth before you say it. Or better yet, don't say it at all.

That's what being a grown up in a civilized society means.

Maher's position is so counterproductive because it gives a pass to anyone saying anything and then pretends that the problem is the legitimate response not the original provocation. This means the level of dialogue in society just sinks lower and lower and lower because the civilising mechanism (fear of being called out publicly on your bullshit) never kicks in.