No, there could not be a good debate about banning hate speech.

I know of at least one instance of a man jailed for speaking against homosexuality. Whatever your view is on that, he was not condoning any sort of violence, promoting a violent group, or in any other way inciting violence. But he was jailed for what he was saying.

That’s a terrible idea.

One glimmer of the law’s utility might be seen in the decision by many Canadian media outlets not to re-publish the offending Charlie Hebdo cartoons

No, Canada’s laws are not good. They’re great for the people in power, not great for any serious dissenter. Canada does not have free speech. All it does is prevent serious discourse.

The best defense against hate speech is to out the hate speakers, not to ban them.

No, we definitely don’t.

I believe it’s mentally more taxing to look inward and direct energy towards progressing in work, life, or relationships. So the cretins among us opt for the path of least resistance... and don gorilla masks.