How do you define hate speech?

Question

Can I sue someone for telling me they don't like the way I cut my hair and it hurts my feelings and causes me distress?

Answer 1

lol i dont think so its just opinion not more or less

Answer 2

Yes you can. You can sue for anything.

But you'd lose.


Ok -- I'll elaborate. Hate speech is speech meant to denigrate a person as a member of a specific group.

In general, in the US, you cannot sue for hate speech. For example, it would be hard for the people that Michael Richards verbally assaulted in the comedy club to win any lawsuit against him. Most discussion about banning "hate speech" is either 1) in private situations -- employers or colleges or the like will have rules against hate speech. But that does not allow someone to sue if the rule is broken, just allows the instiution to expel the person or take other action; or 2) when certain crimes that are already crimes are committed, they are punished more harshly if there is a hate crime element: if someone beats someone up, it is a crime and the person doing it can be prosecuted and also sued. If prosecuted, the punishment might be worse if the reason for the beating was racially-motivated.

In any lawsuit, the jury might award bigger damages if they decide the actions were done with malice -- and intentional infliction of emotional distress is a separate grounds for suit.

But hate speech by itself, not connected to another crime, and not meant as "fighting words" or meant to incite a riot, is protected as free speech under the 1st Amendment.

PS -- the person below is wrong that people are not prosecuted for hate crimes when attacking persons who are white, because they are white. There is a high-profile case just like that in California right now -- gang memebers who attacked white people in the street for being white are being prosecuted for a hate crime.

Answer 3

Hate speech is a term for speech intended to degrade, intimidate, or incite violence or prejudicial action against a person or group of people based on their race, gender, age, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, moral or political views, etc. The term covers written as well as oral communication.

Yes, you can sue someone because they said they don't like your haircut. We have the right to sue anyone for any reason we want. Would you win? No. You have to show irreparable harm. Irreparable harm would be borderline even if you could show that it put you into such a mental state that you had to be put under a doctor's care, institutionalized and medicated to prevent harm to yourself. Additionally, free speech is protected under the Constitution. No one wants to set precedent against Constitutional protections because once one protection is taken away from us, they all can be taken away. You cannot take away one person's Constitutional protection without taking away every American's Constitutional protection. That's the way it works. Besides, do you really want to spend $2,000 to $10,000 or more because someone made fun of your hair, because that is what it would cost. This is called, "get over it." Stop being so sensitive and accept the crap life sends your way. It's gonna get a lot worse than someone telling you they don't like your haircut. If you're going to be so sensitive, don't get a haircut that someone is going to comment on. If you choose to get a controversial haircut, be prepared to accept whatever comments come with it.

Answer 4

Hate speech is a controversial term for speech intended to degrade, intimidate, or incite violence or prejudicial action against a person or group of people based on their race, gender, age, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, moral or political views, etc. The term covers written as well as oral communication. It is also sometimes called antilocution and is the first point on Allport's scale which measures prejudice in a society.

Answer 5

If he had harangued people and incited them to lynch you or cut off some parts of your anatomy for daring to sport such a lousy haircut, you might have a case. If he just told you he thought your hair was horrible, it is first amendment protected speech.

Answer 6

You can sue, but that's not hate speech.
If a white and a minority, or a gay get into a fight, and the white says anything, it's Hate Speech". He will go to prison for many extra years.
No matter what the minority or the gay says, about the white, It's okay.
That's the way it works.
BUT, what happens if a minority and a gay get into it????
Who gets screwed and goes to prison for years for calling names???
You Democrats should know, You made up these laws.

Answer 7

You could try. What does anyone care how you cut your hair. The person that told you probably doesn't have the best hair do!!!!!!!! Don't let it bother you what other people think or say as long as you are pleased with it.

Answer 8

I think the above advice given by Venice Girl is very good and I would encourage all gay people and other "victims of hate speech" to read and reflect on it.

Answer 9

But what about tolerance? Shouldn't the person who made these comments be fined for intolerance and be required to take a sensitivity training class?

Answer 10

sure you can sue them, but you won't win the case. Plus you'll have to pay the court cost also, since you did not win your case.

Answer 11

You can try but I don't think that you will get very far.