Yes, words really affect people that much, but not in the way you're thinking.
The problem that these laws are trying to address isn't (only) that some people might get their "panties in a bunch", but that those comments are often posted with the intention of promoting underground political movements with roots in the hateful ideologies that have provoked much of the violence in the past century. This isn't dead history, it's very much alive and growing, particularly since the crisis.
Now, I personally think free speech is a crucial value, and besides I don't think these laws will help much with the real problem, but I don't think it's helpful to characterize this is just some easily offended people trying to avoid reading bad words.
but that those comments are often posted with the intention of promoting underground political movements with roots in the hateful ideologies
Ouch...do you see where you might want to re-think that. Hint..."underground political movements".
Any regime can call something "intention of promoting underground political movements with roots in the hateful ideologies that have provoked much of the violence" in order to quell dissent.
I see a lot of hate speech that "could" promote violence from the Social Justice Warriors, but just because I disagree with their ideology doesn't mean I want to shut down their forums.
Neither do I want to shut down any forums; I apologize for not making it clear, but that was what I meant in my last paragraph. I don't support hate speech laws.
That said, I don't want to rethink anything. Just because the regime can call something an hateful political movement unjustly, doesn't mean none exist. The movements I'm talking about aren't boogymen, they were the dominant not that long ago in many European countries.
hateful ideologies is subjective. nor should it be illegal in any country that claims to have free speech. furthermore, forcing them underground really doesn't help anyone.
personally, i think its in companies best interests to promote the best arena for users to interact, they don't need the governments sticky fingers in the mess, nobody does. it can also be used as a way of taking out competitors, just keep posting things with fake accounts and keep requesting the government to ask them to remove the comments or get shut down.
The problem that these laws are trying to address isn't (only) that some people might get their "panties in a bunch", but that those comments are often posted with the intention of promoting underground political movements with roots in the hateful ideologies that have provoked much of the violence in the past century. This isn't dead history, it's very much alive and growing, particularly since the crisis.
Now, I personally think free speech is a crucial value, and besides I don't think these laws will help much with the real problem, but I don't think it's helpful to characterize this is just some easily offended people trying to avoid reading bad words.