Intergalactic Summit

1. Introduction.

Most of the time I was speaking about gallenteans, I was doing it with unexplained hatred. I was referencing to their misdoings only to the fact that they were gallente, and most of the time I didn’t even bother to tell what was on my mind. Today, I will change it.

I would like to invite you to discuss neither gallenteans themselves, nor their atrocities, but rather deceits of their society. I wouldn’t bother about their society if it remained their own, but, unfortunately, they are trying to spread it to other cultures, and before you mindlessly accept it as your own, I recommend you to think about them and make your own decision.

I am targeting for civilized discussion here and promise that I won’t be “mad” (at least) here, but it doesn’t mean I will be talking with those, who come here not for discussion. I will ask to restate incorrect questions, and in case of severe abnormalities you either will be asked to correct your mistakes or will be ignored. Because today I want to talk about and with gallenteans as they were humans like us, and talk about problem of their society, that people don’t notice either because they didn’t live in gallente society, or because they lived there for all their life and take it as granted.


2. Freedoms and merits.

Some time ago a certain person said, that people in Federation developed their own system of “freedoms”, that is their merit. With this I cannot agree. I was always denouncing freedoms as concept, but again, I was keeping abstract and never defined specific dangers each of freedoms represents. For me, freedom in general is a synonym of chaos, criminality, lechery, destruction and barbarianism, and, although just building a system and sorting freedoms I would call a merit, but I will never name a single freedom as a merit. But lets move aside from intuitive descriptions and analyze facts that lay under each of freedoms. I would like to start with the one, that I would consider as the most dangerous and destructive of freedoms: the freedom of speech.

And let this will be our topic today. I perfectly understand you that you would like to talk about other freedoms as well, but please, lets keep it only about freedom of speech, and if you want to talk about other of freedoms, feel free and just drop me a letter, and I will write about them too!


3. Defining freedom of speech.

Before talking about freedom of speech, we need first to define, what is it exactly. Obviously with freedom of speech you are, literally, can speak whatever you want. But what makes it different from absence of freedom of speech? Do you walk streets with gags in your mouth? Does government or police sew your mouth with threads? Or your vocal chords are pulled out from your throat? No, no and no. Literally nobody can stop you from telling what you want to say. So, what is the difference?

It is in consequences of your speech. Nobody can stop you from saying a word, but you can be punished for what you say. And this is the difference between freedom of speech and “absence” of freedom of speech, in responsibility. This freedom of speech literally protects you from responsibility of your words and from consequences of your speeches.

Some defenders of freedom can object to this with the idea, that word alone is just a shake of the air and can’t hurt anyone, and thus no consequences should be applied. But is that so?


4. Power of the word.

Of course, words are just vibrations of the air, and written words just change reflectance or emanation of the light. Physically they are very weak to even move large objects, like mug of coffee. However, they can affect objects indirectly, through human beings. You can ask someone to take the mug, and it will move. The power, that words have through humans, should not be underestimated. Words can kill or heal. They break families and build nations. Words can plunge you into deepest sorrow or grant you indescribable joy. And all this because words can get into our minds. It is the way we, humans, communicate, how we deliver information and affect each other. How we give and take commands.

Of course, different words have different value based on who and what speaks. For example, take a kid, who comes to public forums just to insult peoples and spread lies about people he doesn’t like. His words have no value and won’t affect anything, except the mood of readers. On the other hand, take a fleet commander, who brings supercapitals into field. His words will capture systems and will decide fate of millions of peoples.

But regardless their value, they are just words. Itself they do nothing, it is their consequences that change things. So tell me, if words are so strong weapons, whose consequences can manipulate millions of lives, why those, who speak them, should be free from responsibility?

So : how does it feel to use the benefits of a place enforcing freedom of speech to denounce freedom of speech ?

Could you please reiterate your question, since my feelings is not the subject relevant to the topic.
And saying about this place, I would prefer so called "benefits" of freedom of speech to be removed permanently. Actually, I wouldn't call applications of freedom of speech as "benefits" at all.

Upon seeing who wrote this, I didn't even bother reading the first sentence.

This is a shocking revelation. I briefly skimmed the post and the fervor expressed is far beyond what's deemed necessary in Dam-Torsad.

Apparently Kim is also not aware that limited - and in some areas, full - freedom of speech is allowed by the Megas. In the State, there is certainly pressure to conform to expectations, but we are also very aware that the freedom to express differing views is necessary for innovation and progress. Being the most technologically innovative society in the cluster, it might behoove those who wish us to act like the Empire to consider whether that would actually be good for us.

She doesn't have freedom of speech because there's no governing authority in place to protect her from reactions to what she says. In Gallente space, if someone expresses a political opinion I dislike, I can't stomp their face into a curb without breaking the law. If Kim expresses a political opinion you dislike, there are several legal ways to injure or 'kill' her open to you.

Even if she is wrong and you are right, Kim attempted to explain in detail her thoughts on the matter while you responded with a cheap zinger that suggests you didn't even read what she'd written.


You've defined literal freedom of speech as being different than Gallente freedom of speech. Would you then oppose something that reduces literal freedom of speech?

For example, I could have the vocal cords of the slaves under me removed or rendered inoperable. Speech would literally be denied them. Would you see that as inhibiting their basic human rights?

You've also limited 'speech' to vocal communication, while others tend to have it include written communication. If, for example, I raised a child who couldn't write, would you see that as limiting literal freedom of speech?

You've gained some respect back from me Ms. Kim. By explaining your thoughts coherently, you don't appear to be the deranged psychopath I thought you once were.

However, I still very much disagree with the things you said. The interesting part is that a lot of what you said is actually true. I won't comment on those parts, what I will comment on are the moments where you appear to stretch this truth.

You're just misguided, set on the wrong path by your tyrannical government. You know what the big picture is, but you don't know how to get there. Protip: It's not the current route you are taking.



You are correct. It is also synonymous with stability, lawfulness, honesty, creation, and class. Freedom is giving people the opportunity to do either good or bad. If you stop people from doing bad, you will also restrict them from doing good and vice versa. You must risk evil to allow good to flourish, thankfully, we have laws in place to prevent and punish wrongdoings.



Wildly incorrect. Speech always has consequences either personally, publicly, or legally. For example, I could tell my girl that she "Should really cut back on the quafe because she is getting rather wide". The consequence would be a subsequent slap in the face, and me having to check into a hotel for the night. I could also stand in a public area and profess that "I enjoy eating my own feces." and be mocked and ridiculed as a consequence.

Here in the Federation there are a few legal ramifications for speech. It's not restricting our freedom, rather restricting us from abusing it. For example, you could easily say "There is a bomb in the building everyone run!" while there is no bomb at all. You could be arrested and punished as a consequence of this, especially if someone was hurt as a result of your speech.



As I said, there are responsibilities for freedoms, failure to fulfill those responsibilities can lead to negative ramifications. I actually recall an old Amarr tale that actually applies to this. A man and woman, the very first, were given by God free will and freedom to do as they pleased as long as they didn't eat the fruit of this tree. Long story short, they ate it and were punished for it, as well as all future humans in New Eden.

The point is, Freedom isn't necessarily a call to "do whatever the hell you want", it's being able to make the choices between right and wrong yourself. With civilization, those who chose wrong are punished, either nudged back to the right path, or discarded in some way or another.



Like I said, being able to say what you please does not remove responsibility from your words. Your right, you can hurt others and wreak chaos with words. You can also spread joy and promote order with them. To me, the pros of freedom of speech outweigh the cons.



There are dissidents in every society that don't fear retribution whether it is there or not. If someone is going to steal in a situation there will get punished if caught, they certainly will in a situation where they won't and vice versa.



As for the IGS, you are wildly false. You of all people should know that what you say heavily impacts what people think of you.

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Case and point, Freedom of Speech is not freedom of responsibility. You should really look at the actual laws regarding Freedom of Speech that we have before criticizing them.

Oh stop it you, you're making me blush!

But on a more serious note, not being a fascist, discrimintating, ignorant and racist ******* would give you more credibility if you actually tried to make a serious conversation.

Unfortunately, my experience with federation is quite limited, and I didn't stay there for long. So, could you please comment your statement and answer simple question: is there freedom of speech in the Federation or there isn't?
Because, you know, you can't say: you are free to do whatever you want, and then, no, you can't do this, you can't do that and that and that and all these. Actually, do only these and these. That would break the whole concept of freedom, isn't it?