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policemenconnoisseur t1_iycmkwx wrote

In Germany, if you upvote a post, you are liable for the content of that post.

For example if someone posts "Politician X is an asshole" and you "like" that post, then Politician X can sue you.

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PandaCommando69 t1_iycvbih wrote

Germany punishes you for having an opinion? That's honestly horrifying.

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policemenconnoisseur t1_iyd6233 wrote

No. You can have your opinion. But every person has a right to dignity which is held very high. And insults are an attack on the dignity.

Germany has some odd but sensible laws. For example escaping a prison is not a crime because the natural urge for freedom is intrinsic to every human.

The case where I said that your dad can insult you or you your dad or brother is also an interesting thing. The law specifies that the sphere of the family is a dignity-free zone, therefore insults are allowed. This is done to ensure that a trustworthy environment is created, where family members can express their opinion without having the fear of getting sued. This is limited to insults and even this is limited, for example mobbing is not allowed.

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h0nest_Bender t1_iyejr72 wrote

> Germany has some odd but sensible laws.

That's not sensible at all.

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PandaCommando69 t1_iyecbr4 wrote

Thank you for the explanation. It seems dystopian and horrifying to me that you could be subject to any amount of criminal penalty for an insult (not defamation, that is a separate thing). I'm an American, and we don't punish people for insults--you couldn't survive in this country if your skin was that thin.

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policemenconnoisseur t1_iyeiwu4 wrote

Yeah, I've seen those Walmart and McDonalds videos.

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PandaCommando69 t1_iyejgst wrote

Sure but that's not average life lol. Europeans get a wildly distorted view of life here because we show our lunatics on the internet for entertainment/criticism purposes. Enjoy the show brüder.

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policemenconnoisseur t1_iyenhqp wrote

I get what you say. An people do insult here as well. It's just good to know that you have the right to sue and have the law on your side if you do so. It's not like insulting is something which makes freedom of speech a good thing. Freedom of speech is about having the permission to say a thought which opposes the mainstream without fearing to get beaten down by the police or thrown into jail.

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PandaCommando69 t1_iyeoyql wrote

I respectfully disagree. There is freedom in being able to call an asshole, an asshole (and in saying any other damn thing you please, provided it does not run afoul of law in terms of inciting violence or insurrection, or is actionable defamation). In the United States, you can insult the President to his face (shout out to that fat treason weasel Donald fuckingTrump), and there is not a single thing the law can do about it. Nor should there be. I think there are many nice things about Germany, but I would never trade our 1st Amendment protections for freedom of speech with yours. Not being able to say what you think is tyranny.

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Respektiv t1_iyel837 wrote

Mobbing = Bullying?

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policemenconnoisseur t1_iyenq5g wrote

Yes, you made me look it up, while they mean the same, mobbing is more in the context of school, at least here in Germany.

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BE_MORE_DOG t1_iyd7ydv wrote

No way. Wtf.

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policemenconnoisseur t1_iydlp27 wrote

Yes, but retweeting or re-sharing is ok (as long as it isn't illegal content like some child photos or Nazi stuff) since this doesn't express your view towards to the content.

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Gornarok t1_iycp7o4 wrote

Sure he can sue you, but I doubt he will win.

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