Many times I have let words stop me from getting to know people, learning new things, and experiencing new experiences. Words hurt, and many people let words dictate their lives and how they conduct themselves. Not only have words affected how people move through their own lives, but now thanks to cancel-culture, words completely destroy the lives of those saying them.
Instead of using words to express ourselves and communicate with one another, the fear of words has been used to discourage socialization, the one thing that has propelled humanity forward instead of depleting.
Here comes a thought: If everyone tries to create a safe space for themselves where nothing anyone says is offensive, how would we get to make real connections? Weaving out all the negativity weaves out part of what makes us humans. Negativity is a part of reality, so is hatred, bigotry, and violence. We need to face these things and talk about them instead of taking away the right to freedom of speech.
Pointing at someone and calling them evil only creates an environment where everyone is so scared of being prosecuted to the point they are silent and let someone else bear the brunt of being human.
When I look back at all the times I have let words hurt me, all of the times I have wished I lived in a society where speech was limited just to protect my self-esteem, I look around and realize that I was foolish and immature. I did not want to accept that everyone has the freedom to say their truth, and that their truth may be something I don't like hearing. Now I am living in a very real dystopia where no one can speak the truth, not even myself. No connection to others, the world, or my true self.