[Controversial Thread #1] Why do we care that people deny the holocaust?

Motivated by this article :- http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8097979.stm

Why does anyone care that there are people who deny that the holocaust occured?
Why is it a criminal offense to deny the holocaust ?

 

Because it was a horrible event, and many lives were lost?

 

Because they're stupid, and the refuse to believe the truth.


and what harpuah said.

 

I suffer fools lightly, so I don't care what people that deny horrors that are completely documented as factual.

 

I know I don't care if these fools deny the holocaust. They just push themselves further and further into irrelevancy.

 

I care... it pretty much pisses me off.

 

why ?

You're kinda missing the point of my thread here.

It's obvious that you can't deny the disappearance of a few million people during WW2, however why should any care that some people claim it never happened ?

You shouldn't be offended by someone's ignorance.

No one has addressed point 2 - why is ignorance a criminal offense?

Similarly, should we jail anyone who claims the moon landings never happened?

 

// jailed

 

As someone from Germany (and whom I assume is German), can you post some thoughts on the matter?

(for clarity I'm obviously don't deny the holocaust, I'm more interested on the inhibition of free speech aspect)

 

The last quote in the BBC article pretty much sums up my feelings on this:

"If someone thinks they are better because of the colour of their skin, their religion or where they were born, well it's irrational and deeply hateful, but unless they say you should do violence, then I'm afraid we have to accept there are people who have unpleasant opinions."


I also think we're better off if people are freely able to expose themselves as the ignorant ****s they are.

 

What Kendra said.

I don't deny people's right to believe whatever they want to believe. As long as they aren't causing harm to other people. Doesn't mean they are right, or even smart...

 

ok, while you both disagree with it, can you make any rational arguement for why it's a criminal offense?

 

I think their rationale is that it's such a controversial issue that it can cause violence.

 

then religion should be a criminal offense too

 

Barring demonstrable proof that a specific instance of hate speech directly led to violence, harassment, etc., of their intended target, I don't think I can come up with one.

 

And I've half-jokingly said that before as well. If you ban something just because it might cause violence then you need to go all out and ban one of the biggest sources of violence, religion.

 

Interesting points.

In the UK (at least) we do have laws against inciting religious hatred, and they have been used to imprison or deport those publically advocating violence against certain religions. Conversely denying the holocaust is not a criminal offense in this country.

I genuinely don't have an agenda or bait in this thread, just trying to stir up conversation / debate to give the users something else to read.

It's safe to assume that in the future I will be starting threads in the "Controversial Series"(TM) specifically designed to bait and hence provide drama for the watching users.

 

Good. This place sure could use it.

 

I <3 controversy.

 

I don't think I represent any official point of view in that matter. Personally, i think people denying the holocaust are ***** ****!

It does not take much effort to realise the holocaust happened. Putting time and effort into denying it suggest that you are okay with what happened and don't rally mind a repeat. I mean, it's not as if anything happened, right? All those Jews didn't die, it's all a lie. We can try again and have Nazi-Germany again all over. It's not bad, trust me, it's all going to be sunshine and WNU, like last time...


the reason why I think it's okay to prosecute it is, that 'denial' means you actively disclaim something you know to be true. Any reason for doing so is probably leading to worse...

 

Personally, I have no connection to the holocaust, and as such the debate to whether it happened or not has never bothered me.

I do appreciate the tragedy of the event, but if people want to believe otherwise then it's up to them. We shouldn't make laws against opinions.

My great-grandfather was a POW in a Japanese camp for several years. He never spoke of it, but if someone denied that the Japanese ever mistreated their "guests" - I wouldn't be offended.

And besides, we've already had a controversy thread. This should be #2.

 

People like to get mad. That's why the Internet was created.

 

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