Is saying something like "f-a-g-g-o-t" lawful?
Or is it just that people don't bother to go to the police when they're called things like that? For that matter, what about racist abuse? Or any type? I'm all for free speech, but surely there is some sort of law against this?
P.S. I'd like to know about both UK and US law...
Answers:
Free speech. It is ethically wrong to insult someone though.
I don't know where you live, but in AMERICA, we can say whatever we want due to our constitution. We don't ban words because that is a slippery slope, and the people are smart enough to know that.
We don't just ban words if someone is offended by them. That would be most offensive to me.
You can say it as long as you are not committing a crime when you do. If you do that it is then deemed a hate crime and you get 3 times the punishment.
It's a civil matter not criminal but you can be fired from a job, suspended from a school or sued. Unless you use a hate word while attacking someone for no reason other than their sexual orientation, race or religion, then your going to jail for a long time.
as far as U.S. law is concerned you can say anything to that affect as long as nobody finds it offensive, it's just like insulting someones race or religion. At the same time you see the KKK with stirring there crap on street corners in towns because they have a special permit to be there. The point is it's probably not a smart thing to do in general, you could get arrested for disorderly conduct or even a civil rights violation-remember civil rights laws apply to people of all races. blacks folks can be arrested just as quick as white folks can for violating someones civil rights.
If you just say the word, then it is covered under freedom of speech in the US; however if you refer to a homosexual person as a fa**** to them.. you could be charged with harassment or something; however if you call someone a fa**** as you are kicking them, then you are definitely going in for gay bashing etc.
I wish you well!
If you think there should be a law against it, you're not "all for free speech," are you?
In the US, the word, in and of itself is not a crime.
However, if you called someone that word, while at work, and they complained to their employer, and their employer did nothing about it -- then there is something that could be done legally in some states.
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