Time to Legalize Internet Hate Speech

For two days, I’ve watched in befuddlement both the supporters and detractors of Kapil Sibal’s ridiculous proclamations. To me, neither side seems to really address the main bloody point! Both sides skip around the real issues of this episode. So I’m laying them bare:

1. Websites are Private Property. No one forces you to visit one

Kapil Sibal and others seem to liken the Internet to a public road where someone is standing on a podium hurling obscenities. This is a laughable error. On a road, the passerbys have no choice but to listen to something offensive. Loudspeakers don’t require the permission of the listeners to get their message through. So if someone wants to avoid them, they have no choice. This is why there should be restrictions on what people can just stand up and shout in public. Because no one is obligated to listen to anyone else.

The Internet however, is totally different. Every single website on the planet is owned by someone. Is paid for by someone or the other. This blog which you’re reading is mine. It’s not public property. You’re reading this as a guest in my personal space. You choose to come here. I didn’t force you.

So if you get offended by something I write,  just bloody leave. I promise my website won’t follow you. You have complete freedom to shut yourself off from offensive content. Unlike a public speech on the road, you make the choice to get offended.

If you see a Facebook page saying “I hate Muslims”, it’s not going to carry speeches from Vivekananda! You jolly well know what’s inside. If you still go in, read something and get offended, it’s your own fault. Don’t blame the creators of the content. It’s their page. You are a guest.

Let’s make this even more clear. If you deliberately go touch a hot stove and get burned, do you blame yourself or the stove? If you go to a house and see a box saying “if you open this, you will get hurt” and you open it, whom do you blame? Similarly, when someone sends you a link via email which says “OMG this will totally piss you off!” and you click on that link, guess who’s fault it is?

Yep that’s right – you. You’re an adult. Take responsibility for your actions. You type a URL, you choose to take the risk of getting offended. Your fingers click a link, it’s your job to respect the rights of the owner of that website. It’s their home. You are a guest. You don’t choose to go into someone else’s house and demand that they change the layout of their furniture.

2. We’re not “your people”, you pompous prick

Sibal’s quote saying “We have to take care of the sensibility of our people” is so outrageous, I’m shocked no one has objected to it so far.

Dear Kapil, listen to me loud and clear. You’re a politician – not fucking Moses! You are our servant. We’re not “your people”. We don’t belong to you. You’re not the caretacker of our sensibilities. You’re not our father, mother or guardian. You no right to speak for “our sensibilities”.

I’ve always had a problem with the phrase “ruling party”. India is not a monarchy where people “rule”. Parties are allowed to govern for a time – and that’s it. But in India we still look upon politicians as kings, which is why they can get away with horrific statements talking about “their people”.

So Sibal, mind your own business. We can take care of our sensibilities well enough. It’s not your job to look out for the adults of India.

As long as comments posted on the Internet are on private websites which people choose to go to, there should be no restriction on anything. Even hate speech should be allowed. Web users are smart enough to punish a website by not visiting it. We’re not drawn on strings towards hateful content.

Look at Wikipedia. It’s run entirely by the users. The government has no say in what’s put up on Wikipedia. Editors are regular people. And look at the quality! Does Sibal think the government could have done any better? Ordinary people are not stupid. We know what is offensive content and how to deal with it. We all see the “flag as offensive” buttons and we make the choice to click it or not. You’re not welcome to make that choice for us.

Apparently you have a problem with a Facebook page showing morphed pictures of Sonia Gandhi. Did you know that it would offend you even before you saw it? Yes you did – because someone would have shown you the link. Why did you open that link if you knew it would offend you? You chose to get offended. And you dare blame the creators of the site?

Just because you’re a child doesn’t mean that the rest of us don’t know how to take responsibility for our actions. So please don’t project your juvenile behavior on to the rest of us.