I think to a large extent my tolerance for political vandalism is aesthetic. I'm reaching this conclusion by induction. Some cases:
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D. Black bloc store vandalism. This does deserve arrest. Crosses line from idea vandalism to straight up vandalism vs neutrals.
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E. PZ Meyers' Host desecration; Koran burning; flag (any) burning. Mostly tasteless. Obviously protected but needlessly, broadly offensive.
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F. Each case in (E) gets better when authorities attempt to forbid it. Especially when increasingly abstract (eg, SP Mohammed in a van)
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I think what's coming out of this is that I am more likely to approve of vandalism when it is (i) narrow, (ii) targets obnoxious expression,
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(iii) does not practically suppress others' expression, (iv) is comedic (somehow). Not much of a principle but probably an aesthetic. YMMV.
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Possibly a more succinct way to put it is that I like vandalism when it playfully extends a public argument and not when it tries to end it.
End of conversation
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