Recently, the comments made by social media influencer Beerbiceps in ‘India has got latent’ on social media caused much outrage.
This brings us to a fundamental question: What is free speech? In any democratic country, free speech is guaranteed by the Constitution, that much we can all agree with. But there is always a group of people who want to push this freedom of speech to the right to offend.
Since when did freedom of speech become a right to offend? Yes, it is true that we may say something or do something that may offend others. If we inadvertently do this to our friends, relatives, or the social group that we are in, we are quick to apologise so that nobody is unnecessarily upset. So, why should it be different in a civilised society with a public at large?
Where does the right to offend stop: with a joke, with an insult, with abuse? This right to offend will end up with free speech being abusive. Then, if verbal violence is there, it is just a step away from physical violence. This will lead to complete chaos and a breakdown of civilised society.
In my opinion, while freedom of speech is definitely a right that everyone needs to have, it's not about the right to offend. No way can freedom of speech be a right to offend.
All of us who put things out on social media and in public should not, either intentionally or by being carried away in situations, say things that are offensive to public sensibilities. This is not like cracking a joke about a community. This went far beyond that; even community jokes are considered politically incorrect and are a big no-no. What was said was worse.
Let us all be a bit more responsible in our speech and in our actions, so that we do not intentionally offend people. Definitely, we all have the freedom of speech to express our opinions, thoughts, ideas, needs, and desires, all that is fine. But let us do it in a responsible, appropriate manner.
The writer is the founder of Aarsha Vidya Foundation. You can write to him at aarshavidyaf@gmail.com
