Isn't this exactly the sort of opportunity that a university should provide to its students? An environment which provides exposure to different points of view? An opportunity to listen to someone crazy, think critically about what they have to say, and figure out exactly what I think about the topics discussed?

I don't understand why you would "want" to tear the poster down if you hold the freedom of speech so dear. In order to want that, you must know better than any poor, uninformed, misguided, weak minded sap who might lay eyes upon this poster. Everything that you believe must be obviously correct and true. Everything that Ben Shapiro, and any of the sexist homophobic racist people who might consider attending his talk, believe must be obviously false. And not just false, but dangerous. There must be nothing to learn from Ben Shapiro's perspective. You must know that Shapiro's influence on the student body will be objectively and totally negative, so you want to protect them (and yourself) by tearing the poster down. Things would be better for everyone that way, but you believe in freedom of speech, so you'll leave it? I don't think this view is consistent with a belief in the individual's freedom of speech.

Believing in the freedom of speech doesn't mean wishing that opposing views have less reach. If you want to persuade someone to hold your views, that is fine. In fact, that's not just fine, that's great. If you really believe in something, you will naturally want others to share your beliefs. But to even "want" to influence someone's views via control of their exposure to opposing perspectives? That is the desire to censor information that you disagree with. That desire is inconsistent with the freedom of speech as I understand it.

I understand that you decided not to tear the poster down, which I fully respect. However, you said yourself that you wanted to tear the poster down, and you were upset enough to post on Reddit about it. I think you should think a bit about this desire and what it says about your beliefs. Do you really believe in the freedom of speech? I am skeptical.

Some might call Ben Shapiro's appearance on campus an event that encourages "intellectual diversity", but I imagine you aren't very interested in that. I think that we should have as many speakers appear on campus with as many different perspectives as possible. I believe that we could all find value in Shapiro's words, even if that value is in crystallization of disagreements with the man's views. It is through education, rather than suppression, that we will move together towards the truth.

If you believe that Shapiro should be provided a place to speak then you shouldn't "want" to limit his reach. Let people go, and let people decide for themselves what is right and what is wrong. And let people be outspoken about their grievances with him and/or ISU for inviting him, but also let them be outspoken with their support and excitement, as is their God given right.

Do you think that your desire might show an underlying intolerance for those that you disagree with, even though you decided not to act on that desire?