From: evelynchimelisleeper@gmail.com   
      
   On 11/13/25 7:10 AM, Gary McGath wrote:   
   >   
   > Now we come to the speech rules. Montreal's aren't as bad as some; they   
   > don't say that anything that anyone takes offense at violates the rules.   
   > Still, they could make people wary of what they're allowed to say, and   
   > could in principle lead to unwarranted warnings or expulsions.   
   >   
   > "Costumes and clothing may not include racist, sexist, homophobic,   
   > transphobic, or otherwise prejudiced or bigoted messages or sentiments,   
   > obscene or offensive language, or images including uncensored   
   > profanities and pornographic content." This rule is vague and could   
   > easily be abused. The boundary lines of unconventional opinions,   
   > prejudiced messages, and humor are often vague. Profanities are often   
   > part of ordinary language and can appear on shirts without causing   
   > alarm. Don't wear your "Shit Happens" or "To Hell with [whatever]" shirt   
   > to the con. Some people will consider a slogan supporting Israel   
   > bigoted; others will think that one supporting Palestine is. The rule's   
   > broadness could scare off legitimate expression or provide an excuse for   
   > banning it.   
      
   Do not forget that Montreal is in Canada, and their free speech laws   
   differ from those of the US. In specific, Canada has laws restricting   
   hate speech, obscenity, and defamation. Montreal is, so far as I can   
   tell, merely trying to incorporate this information in their Code of   
   Conduct.   
      
   --   
   Evelyn C. Leeper, http://leepers.us/evelyn   
   In the words of Cato, "Fasciculi de Epstein emitti debent."   
   In my words, "Invoke the 25th in 25."   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)