Hate Speech?

(Updated below)

Via PZ Myers, I understand that Pat Condell's latest video has been removed from YouTube's site. Condell's YouTube page confirms this. He says he got a notice that it violated YouTube's policy against hate speech: "The specific portion of the video found to be in violation occurs around 2:20."

Like PZ, I have the sense that Condell goes a little too far, in this video and in some of his others, although it is hard for me to articulate precisely why. PZ's thoughts come close to what I think I think. However, I don't accept that this video is hate speech, especially in comparison to other stuff that I've seen on YouTube that has been up for months or years. Offensive? Sure. Sometimes even to me. But not hate speech.

I am inclined to think that because Condell is gaining prominence, he's also picked up a following of enemies who likely bombard YouTube with complaints every time he posts a new video. I am also convinced that criticisms of organized religion are treated much more severely than are criticisms of any other line of thought, even by many secular-minded people.

This isn't Condell at his best (here's a better and funnier rant), but I'm going to embed it anyway, partly in protest of YouTube's actions, and partly to hear what your take on it is.

(alt. video link)

More Condell vids are available on his YouTube page, as noted above, and on his own personal site. Subtitled versions are available here. Audio-only versions are available here.

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[Added] PZ notes more YouTube censorship.

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Update

2008-10-04 01:56

Reinstated, and it feels so goo-oo-ood …

The following now appears on Pat Condell's YouTube page:

Enormous thanks to everyone who uploaded the video and to everyone who contacted YouTube. And my thanks to YouTube for reinstating the video. I'm very much obliged.

Thanks to John Evo, who brought this to my attention in the comments.