Aren't the Left so tolerant?

People who go to 'protest' other people's events either do so to silence them, which is absolutely unacceptable, especially on a university campus, or just to be trendy and join in with yelling about their opinions in public, in which case they are depressing losers who need to find something productive to do with their time.

They are such unbearable narcissists. They are also apparently very stupid. To go out and protest the fact that people are sharing ideas which are different from yours is pathetic and wrong in itself, but given they presumably opposed Milo's ideas being widely shared perhaps doing this and catapulting him into the mainstream national media spotlight was also just strategically ridiculous.

I see, so you have never ranted against them, nor has anyone else on this forum sharing your general political view?

Have you got a sensible response?

I have no problems with neo-Nazis being punched.

If the Nazis were in power, they'd do a lot worse than punch a few people...

That is your opinion, I am of the opinion that intolerance cannot be met with tolerance. I would apply this to Milo as much as to Islam.

I personally would not go to protest, just for that reason, it's what he actually wants. But I can certainly see why others would feel strongly that a hate preacher is coming to their campus.

Just like they can say what they want so can I, people have the right to speak out if they disagree with me and I can when I disagree with them, free speech isn't about agreement.

That is your opinion, I am of the opinion that intolerance cannot be met with tolerance. I would apply this to Milo as much as to Islam.

I've always been fascinated by the concept of free speech personally, I am totally for people being able to rise up and use their voice to help create change. Some of the great civil rights have been made by our ability to speak up in anger.

But you are a fool if you wouldn't accept that many heinous and vile things have been done because people have abused this right... free speech can and will always incite hatred, whether this is a good thing is up to you to decide

So you are intolerant of different opinions

I never said it was but if someone wants to try it should they be stopped? This is in line with my position on drugs and euthanasia which I think should be legal.

You want to share the video of Richard spencer being punched while giving an interview in the street?

Did the salute actually hurt anyone? I think it is stupid but who did it physically hurt? I have no problem if these rioters stand there protesting that is their right and I can disagree and call them stupid but when it turns into physical violence that is where the problem begins.

Was it ok when Richard Spencer got punched? Is political violence acceptable?

No, it's not. But neither is it about hate.

If Milo wants to talk to his worshipers, let him rent a private place and they can come and celebrate. Misusing campuses for his propaganda will inevitable draw opposition.

Okay, so you regard Milo as intolerant. Many people regard those on the left, whom Milo speaks against, as intolerant. Shall we all just protest each other's events, so that nobody can speak? Does that sound productive to you?

There has to be room for people to be able freely to express views which other people strongly disagree with. Otherwise (a) you stifle thought on either side of any given argument and (b) ratchet up hostilities between the sides, as this protest and others like it have.

I regard them intolerant, too. As I said they are both extremes that are ridiculous.

Your views are hardly in line with mainstream conservative beliefs though, i.e. Trump's administration includes supporters of 'Gay conversion therapy' but opponents of the decriminalisation of drug use, euthanasia, and abortion. What happened to 'if they want it why can't they try it?' when it comes to contraceptive rights, which Republicans plan to defund?

Richard Spencer getting punched is obviously wrong, but let's not act like physical violence is the only wrong thing here. Preaching a doctrine of White Supremacy- hatred towards all those who don't happen to be born White is clearly an example of intolerance, as is Trump's comments concerning the Mexican judge and poorly implemented ban on immigration from predominately Muslim nations (whilst allowing Christian refugees in purely because they're not Muslim).

You've shifted the goalposts here by moving from intolerance (which the right is obviously guilty of as well), towards physical violence. Whilst it is very clear physical violence in any form, be it against Richard Spencer or among the Berkeley protestors, is something which should be condemned, let's not pretend that i) Physical violence is a norm among the Left, rather than the actions of a tiny minority ii) that the Right is not guilty of intolerance in many forms and iii) Richard Spencer's comments are merely 'stupid' and not hateful or intolerant towards non-whites.

This is what I meant when I referred to narcissism. It doesn't matter what you think. The fact is a lot of people hold each opinion, and, as I said, if everyone protests everyone else, rather than letting them speak, what you have is a worse situation, not a better one.

Is Nazism a valid political view?

But everyone doesn't protest everyone else. There are no protests against political opinions that aren't hateful.

Milo wants to piss people off, people get pissed off and you are like "omg, what's going on".

If you would limit speech where would you draw the line knowing that you will eventually lose power and have made your oppression possible?

Again, your problem is that you can't see anything outside your own opinions. Whether you personally regard Milo's ideas as 'hateful', they are just ideas. There is no incitement to any action. It is better for everyone if people do not silence those whose ideas they disagree with, and all we are talking about here is an idea which you personally disagree with, however you dress it up. If they're really as wrong as you think that ought to come out better in an environment in which people can express ideas and disagree with each other than in one in which mindless thugs go around closing down other people's functions. I've already explained the consequences if you shut people down: you attract others to their cause and make both sides more stubborn.

Milo doubtless includes an element of trolling in his performances to generate media attention, as these unspeakable Berkeley morons have helped him to do, but that doesn't come close to justifying this kind of behaviour.