When discussing matters of free speech and offence, it is first necessary to draw a distinction between what is hate speech, and what is the expression of reasoned opinion. Hate speech is the baseless verbal manifestation of an individual’s clear and prodigious disdain for a particular group of people. While a person’s right to free speech should still allow them to articulate these sentiments, provided they do not incite violence, it is logical and understandable for some in the community to be legitimately offended by such remarks.
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