Free speech elitism

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About

Free speech elitism is a socio-political stance which claims to support universal free speech but in fact selectively defends speech by the powerful while denigrating and suppressing dissenting opinion. Its proponents frequently engage in free speech trolling. When successfully countered on rational grounds, they will generally resort to rhetorical deception in an attempt to defend their undefendable claims.

Free speech elitists may refer to their stance as free speech absolutism as a way of framing their apparent lack of compassion for those harmed by disinformation as being in the cause of a greater good – but of course they show complete disregard for the speech of anyone who disagrees with them, betraying their true position.

A favorite target of theirs is universities who decide to cancel paid speakers known to spread harmful disinformation. Students who used their speech to criticize those speakers and call against their presence are condemned, while the speaker who would have been paid by the funds provided by those students is painted as yet another victim of a groundless left-wing silencing campaign.

They are also fond of captive audiences and referring to paid speakers as exercising their "free speech" rights. This is consistent with the idea of money as speech, a position with which the US Supreme Court apparently agreed in the Citizens United decision.

Organizations

There are many right-wing organizations which take this stance, but so far the only one we're aware of that is primarily devoted to it is the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education.