Words cannot hurt you. The only form of expression that can actually harm people are extremely flamboyant gestures, and even then, only up close. I've seen it happen.
Actions hurt people. And someone who can be persuaded with mere words to harm people was already dangerous.
Even threats. The threat itself does't harm you (though it may spark a cycle of psychological self-harm), but it can serve as useful intelligence regarding your safety. A warning, if you will. A threat is nothing more than the broadcasting of intentions. Much better than an unforeseen attack. Again: much better to know who these people are. They still think that way whether or not they are allowed to say so.
There is a British historian called David Irving. He is a holocaust denier. He has been deported and banned from more countries than I can name for his views. Between 2005 and 2006 he was actually in prison in Austria for them, for violating an Austrian law that only one version of World War II history is allowed. He didn't actually say anything, and wasn't accused of it. He was accused of perhaps planning to say something. As far as I can tell this is not just the suppression of free speech but the legislation of thought crime as a punishable offense.
I don't care how wrong or disgusting or offensive his views are, they are not nearly as so as this tyrannical suppression of ideas. The worst result I can think of for having heard them is to wonder how it is one actually knows that such a holocaust really took place, to which the correct response is to investigate for yourself how it is that anyone ever knew it, which is no bad thing. Again, we benefit from hearing these minority views. But suppose you did you investigation and found that he was right? With all the consequences that that should entail. Suppressing minority view is perhaps even worse if they re right, but you cannot know if they are right or wrong before you hear it, and before it is allowed loose in the public forum. Which cannot be allowed by those with the censorious instinct. Whether or not an opposing view is right or wrong is far from the minds of such people when they crack down upon them. All they care about is control of our thoughts.
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