There would be a lot less talking if you had to risk your life to prove your convictions about something. But... a few problems with that. Firstly- as annoying and confusing as it can be having so many voices- isn’t that the purpose of western style democracy? Of the freedom of speech? To give everyone a voice, even those we think are idiots or those who we disagree with? People say “offended” a lot. It’s not wrong to be offended or offend someone. Art is often offensive. It offends me to think of Slavery, Ellis Island. That which offends our humanity can Spur us to act, to think, to see things we wouldn’t choose to see otherwise. We don’t have to agree. But being offensive for just to offend or out of ignorance or carelessness isn’t constructive.
George Carlin was often offensive and so was Richard Prior. They had something to say if they’d said it nicely it wouldn’t have shocked people and gotten the attention it did. The guy spouting off without care or consideration to hurt and demean others isn’t saying anything of substance. That’s offense for no reason besides petulance and ignorance. You aren’t a hero for having the “courage” to utter a slur. Carlin made social observations. They offended because they were truths about ourselves many didn’t want to admit. Not everything that offends is worthwhile social criticism.
Next off- when two people disagree and duel over who is right... the winner isn’t the one with the more well thought out or supported case. The winner isn’t even the one with the popular case. The winner is either a better duelist- or lucky. What kind of world does that make? “Might is right” is not a great system. In practical terms- ultimately only they that can project force to maintain order have power. But in non philosophical abstracts- the person who’s the best shot or the best at twister or MMA or whatever shouldn’t be the person who is “right” by default. We literally have laws to prevent this- and for good reason.
Lastly- in a world where being wrong means you die- how does anyone learn? How do we ever become better than we are? Who among us has never been wrong? It is a rare person that makes it to their 60’s or even their 30’s without looking at some period or some moment of their life and seeing they’ve changed- seeing they were once wrong or would be embarrassed to behave as they once did. The Nazis wanted to breed perfect people. Fascists and dystopian theologians think in terms of a “master” class of people- born better- perfect, and those perfect people having the rights to live in the world.
In a world where a mistake costs your life- you’re either lucky, or born to fit that world- or you die. Nature, the savage utopia is life and death. Combat is life and death. One miscalculation or moment of poor judgment can be your end. Society exists to take us from that brutality. Even amongst the hardest of soldiers- few of any want to live in eternal combat. Even those selected for their disposition and trained and experienced in it are worn down by constant vigilance at the peril of death.
Always on the lookout, always mindful of every action, always prepared and ready for threat. No human can perform 100% 100% of the time for extended periods. And... is what we really want or need to remove dissenting voices, different views and perspectives from society? To belie the Soviets or others who have tried to create a mini culture? If you think about this idea much st all it is a very totalitarian and isolationist principal.
You should be glad that nowadays we can voice our concerns more easily. In the past, we wouldn't be allowed to be offended that someone said we should die, should not be near kids, should not marry, because we'd be killed or jailed. People aren't more sensitive now, we're just allowed to speak now.
(TITLE FROM REDDIT r/FunGags)