I keep seeing this in defence of Winston. Yes of course he can have an opinion, but that doesn't mean you have to respect the actual opinion. Why can't people see that having a problem with someone's opinion doesn't mean you have a problem with them HAVING an opinion. There's a difference.

If you make your opinions publicly known they are not immune from criticism and rightly so. It was the opinion of many white people that black people were so inferior that they had to give up their seats on the bus, should Rosa Parks have accepted that opinion and left it unchallenged because racists were "entitled to their opinion"? No I don't think so. It's unacceptable to be discriminatory or prejudiced towards people for the biological traits they were born with, and it's not an infringement on entitlements of opinions or "freedom of speech" to call that out.

Mentioning freedom of speech, I think its worth pointing out what it actually is as those who cry it don't seem to understand it. Freedom of speech means the government/authorities won't prevent you from speaking at the point of making said speech. Let's just use Winston as an example - he's not being gagged so he can't vocalise and he's not being denied access to other mediums of speech such as social media, TV etc. He's not having any rights infringed upon. Freedom of speech doesn't protect you however from the contents of what you actually said being criticised. Freedom of speech is not freedom from consequence and with it comes responsibility.

Your on a hiding to nothing attempting to explain the concept of 'free speech' Aaron!!! Many have tried in these halls and nobody really wants to know. I've just kind of accepted that in bb-ds-forum terms it means if you disagree with someone then it's akin to the government wanting to imprison them... And that you probably don't disagree anyway but that your just pretending to... (Or 'faux offence' to give it its handily bite sized debate stopping term!)

Exactly OP. You are of course totally correct but little point trying to use logic and reasoning around some of the numbskulls on here. Don't waste your breath, people love a victim and a good moan. Very well written post though

People can have as much free speech as they want but they have to accept that others are just as free to tell them their views are a load of bigoted bollocks.

I can't believe how many people are saying Winston was bullied. Bullshit. If he truly believes that he is free to spout off about his beliefs however repellent his views, then surely he knows that others are free to call him on it.

A majority disagreeing with an individual doesn't constitute bullying.

I did think I was probably wasting my time, but my disbelief at people's ignorance got the better of me I'm afraid.

Thank you

People seem to think it only works one way. You're free to say ignorant remarks but others aren't free to challenge that.

Yeah, the amount of Winston apologists on this board is quite shocking.

Who cares if BB engineered the drama, it makes no difference, he still said those things and reconfirmed his views in the house, when given the chance to explain himself.

Replace the word 'gay' with 'black', and let's see if it's just an opinion that he's entitled to.

'I think I'll cope with black people in the house, I'll just *insert stereotypical racist joke*. I'm not racist. I don't go around hating people. But black people shouldn't be able to adopt a white child. It's child abuse, the child has no say.'

If everybody does as the apologists say and leaves him and his 'entitled' views unchallenged, how will society progress?

And no, I'm not part of the 'PC brigade', I don't get offended easily etc, in fact, I'm not offended at all by Winston's views. I'm just shocked that people think he should be allowed to say those things and go unchallenged.

GRRR you quoted before I took out the superfluous 'not'

And also with free speech also comes the responsibility to accept criticism of your words.

Problem is is if everyone is allowed to express these kind of opinions then there's a danger we could go back to those hideous times where this kind of attitude was the norm, and then I guess if that then happened then Winston would be applauded for his views and the people on here claiming he's a victim would then suddenly side with the lgbt society, so as some poster said in another thread Britian is obsessed with victims and the underdog,

I think that he is entitled to HIS opinion that HE doesn't agree with two gay people adopting, if he genuinely lives according to strict Christian beliefs then I can see that would be a problem for him but to consider it abuse is horrific.

I completely agree, while he didn't say the adoption comment during the course of the show, he had previously made the "back against the wall" comment, dug a hole for himself during the task, then went on to make comments after being evicted about rylan's "lifestyle". He'd done enough to warrant being questioned on his views.

Apologies haha. But absolutely, there are responsibilities to living in a "free" society.

Indeed it is.
Thing is though that I'm pretty sure many of them fail to understand exactly what they are supporting.

Completely agree OP! Surely by airing his views, and being given a platform to air his views is advocating his right to freedom of speech? Freedom of speech isn't a free pass to make hurtful or hateful comments without being challenged by others who disagree.

Absolutely, you said it better than myself.

He is entitled to his opinion

The rest of us are entitled to our opinion that his opinions make him an utter ****.

Government/authorities... and the mob. You my friend are part of that mob.

Are you going to engage in debate or just make silly remarks that have no substance?

OMG a sensible thread at last ! Thank you OP, but I think you're probably on a hiding to nothing on here these days, sadly.

What mob. Or do you disagree thst freedom of speech works both ways

He is certainly entitled to his opinion which I might add is also the opinion of a lot of conservative politicians down under especially Tony Abbott our ex PM. Thankfully he is now gone.

What I think where Winston is wrong was not having his opinion but a previous remark he made to the media about gay couples adopting children was like child abuse. That was clearly offensive to a lot of people and he could of just said that he still holds his opinion but regretted marking the remark at the time. But he didn't so does he still believe what he said?

But apart from all that I didn't like the sleazy way he was treating the woman in the house making some uncomfortable and for that reason I am glad to see the back of him.

You're very welcome

Absolutely this. Excellent post.

He is entitled to his opinion, but I must admit I've been slightly surprised by how often I've seen that used as an excuse for his behaviour. People almost seem surprised on here about the fact he's been given a hard time since leaving, which I find a bit odd.