Finland has always had a knee-jerk penchant for practicing self censorship. 

There is no such thing a ”hate speech’‘, but only speech you agree or disagree with. “Sticks and stone may break my bones but names can never harm me”. If children are taught early on to pay no attention to those who belittle them, they will not be affected as much as today’s pansies who cry foul at the drop of a hat.

Hate speech affects mental health

Thursday, 03.03.2016 at 13.33

Hate speech and harassment to have been affected by it in the mental health and sense of security, says the Ministry of Justice make this statement.

Hate speech and harassment is encountered most frequently in the streets, in parks and other public places. (ANTTI NIKKANEN)

The report was accompanied by the representatives of sexual, ethnic and religious minorities, immigrants and people with disabilities.

More than half of survey respondents told of avoiding some places because of fear of receiving hate speech or harassment. One in three said they tried avoiding some places with loved ones.

Hate speech and harassment is encountered most frequently in the streets, in parks and other public places. It is typically verbal name-calling or humiliation. The doers are mostly unknown.

Second, the most common hate speech received is on the Internet, especially on social media and in public forums.

For example, migrants told the survey outward appearances or foreign language causes degrading hate speech, sexual minorities that include women and men have had sexual harassment.

Only a small proportion of the respondents had told their experiences hate speech to the authorities. Most reported that authorities did not believe in doing anything about it.

The report does not take a position on whether the experiences of respondents are punishable hate speech.

This is the first report on hate speech in Finland. In the future, one is supposed to do every four years.