Hi Simon,

I was going to go into the legal issues but changed my mind. I simply don't totally agree with your statements. What construes hate speech is totally dependent on context. Is the use of that word hate speech when Eddie Murphy used it in comedy? Do you see youtube taking down the thousands of videos that use that word?

I assume you are Canadian but that is only an assumption. I have a good bit of experience with eastern Canada and Newfoundland and know some of the slang and derogatory words used there.

"Hoser" for example without getting into some really rude words.

The classic Canadian insult. Originally refers to the losers of a hockey game, who, in pre-Zamboni times, would have to hose the rink down once the game was done. Now it’s a synonym for “loser” — but with a particularly Canadian flavour.

Plenty of fights have been started over that word. Plenty of people take serious exception to its use. Is it hate speech? It could be but only in a certain context.

Look, I am not a proponent of using any of the millions of derogatory words. I have played in a all black blues band all my life and I am well aware of how many black feel.

Discrimination is rampant across all races of people and black people have suffered more than most. Well, if you exclude the American Indians and the Jewish.

What is insulting is having some jerk taking video in the middle of the night of some drunk guy and using it to try to destroy a man's life, plus his kid, plus his wife/girlfriend.

I can also guarantee this thread never was and never will be about music.

Cheers,

Billy

“Amazing! I’ll be working with Jaco Pastorius, Charlie Parker, Art Tatum, and Buddy Rich, and you’re telling me it’s not that great of a gig?
“Well…” Saint Peter, hesitated, “God’s got this girlfriend who thinks she can sing…”