Hate speech - an overview and recommendations for combating it

A persons thoughts affect only him/her and not other people unless he/she expresses them or acts them out. Then these thoughts set events in motion which are likely to have effect. Therefore it is always important to take words seriously and listen, because it may become necessary to react when words do not express positive thoughts or views, but harmful, demeaning and hateful opinions towards a specific individual or a group of individuals. If not counteracted, hate speech will gradually be normalised and accepted. We catch new words and shortly they become part of the day to day discourse. Words are also the first tool we use to change attitudes, norms, dos and donts in our society.