DISCUSSIONS about a right to free speech, and ergo a right to offend, get very entangled and lose sight of what differentiates a civil society from a barbarian society.
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If a society maintains a right to offend and the right for a bigot to express that bigotry, it can descend into a barbarian rabble.
Being civil means being respectful and courteous to each other, regardless of what we may think of the other. This is part of the "warp and weft" of living together.
Being a civil citizen in a democracy enables rights and also requires accompanying responsibilities. The right to free speech is accompanied by the responsibility to be respectful to others.
As for sticks and stones, we all know jibes and names do hurt and are rude. Let's encourage civility.