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Lèse-majesté is not only a thing of the past. As the BBC reports, Thailand still makes it a serious criminal offense to defame, insult, or threaten the king, queen, heir apparent, or regent. Each charge can carry a prison sentence of 3 to 15 years.
Critics say the law never clearly explains what counts as an insult, which gives authorities plenty of room to apply it broadly. In 2017, one man was sentenced to 70 years in prison over Facebook posts. His sentence was later reduced to 35 years after he confessed.
Plenty of modern laws also draw lines around things like hate speech, threats, and defamation. But there is a difference between a clever insult and language meant to harm someone or spread lies.
The best insults usually work because there is some truth behind them. They point out a specific habit or flaw in a way nobody else thought to put into words. That is what makes a great burn feel sharp without simply being cruel.
#26 Gx Got No Chill
#28 Insults Are Best Served Cold
#31 He Ain’t Wrong Though
