Freedom of speech is indeed of no use unless people exercise this right. In this day and age, people should know how to use this freedom and should not knock on the door of other people on the context of freedom of speech. According to Brian Cox, an English physicist, and Professor of Particle Physics in the School of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Manchester in the UK. “the problem with today’s world is that everyone believes they have the right to express their opinion and have others listen to it.”
However, it is important to note that the right to free speech doesn’t give people the right to be irresponsible. Because of the fact that we are living in a world that is connected by technology; one statement made in a specific city in a country can have a different meaning and may not be acceptable in other parts of the world. With that in mind, self-censorship is definitely necessary in a multicultural society, where provocation can incite violence.
This can be compared to the fact that while there are radars to monitor your speed on the road, you cannot take advantage of the absence of a radar and break the speed limit. So, while there is a need for self-control to save someone from an accident — self-censorship is necessary as it will help to keep the society intact.
The role of the public and the authorities should be to provide good education to the people, and in turn, it will help society make better decisions and guide them on how to deal with certain situations in a rational manner, as opposed to using violence.
- The reader is an Indian student based in Dubai
