First, this by Jim at Moore than this:
Free speech means the right to give and take offence, the right to argue your point against others, the right to be wrong, stupid, bigoted, hateful and offensive. There will be a lot of arguing. But if you’re on the side of truth, you will eventually win.

Who I encountered after he commented in the excellent post and discussion at Robert Sharp’s blog on the new Guardian Comment is Free uberblog, which I’m not sold on yet; more discussion of which is at Europhobia.