Normative and descriptive statements: the moral and political implications

Definitions

Descriptive statement

A statement on a matter of fact, whether scientific, historical, or some other kind
Can be true or untrue, correct or incorrect, accurate or inaccurate, etc

Normative statement

A judgment on what ought or ought not to be, what is beautiful, ugly, just, unjust, right, wrong, etc

Implications

Both kinds of statement can be controversial or unpopular. But only a normative statement can rightly be judged to be morally wrong.

Put another way, descriptive-type ideas can only lead us down the path we let them. They are not inherently bad. The only bad they can do is in how they are interpreted normatively.

Therefore, a normative statement is the only kind of statement that can justly be subject to censorship or moderation of any kind. Descriptive statements are not relevant to moderation except perhaps off-topic rules, rules against personal attacks, and other rules meant to keep things sane.

Examples

Use your imagination.