Free Speech or Bullying?
What is political bullying? Like other bullies, political bullies try to dominate others. This is different from wanting their party or candidates to defeat their rivals in an election or enjoying friendly competition. Bullies hate and sometimes fear their targets and view them as enemies to be destroyed, not as neighbors or fellow citizens.
How can we tell when political argument is sportsmanlike, legitimate disagreement (fair fighting) or bullying? It’s so easy, it shouldn’t need to be explained, but it does. The test is: Does the person show interest in the truth, in understanding the other person’s views and how they came to hold them, and/or in doing right by their fellow citizens, including those they disagree with? If so, that’s probably a good-faith disagreement.
Does the person fanatically insist on the truth of their position despite valid evidence against it? Does the person blame others for “making” them take the stance they do, make personal attacks, or employ the other tricks bullies use to avoid honest discussion? If so, it’s probably bullying.
Bullying is behavior, not just speech, and words are not essential; body language can be bullying without words. It’s about how you communicate, not so much the words you say. Is political bullying constitutionally-protected free speech? Sometimes. But when bullying is severe, becomes a pattern, or creates a hostile environment, it can violate anti-harrassment policies or laws.
A example would be someone playing a mean-spirited political TV or radio show at work that disparages people like co-workers who can hear what is said. If it happens once, that may be an honest mistake, but if it keeps happening after the co-workers ask for the show to be turned off or listened to so they can’t hear or see it, that’s creating a hostile environment and may violate the workplace’s anti-harrassment policies. (If it doesn’t, it should.)
If the person playing the show says, “I have a right to express myself,” a perfectly valid response would be, “Yes, and in doing so, you’re acting like a bully. That’s not OK and has to stop.”