Complete Freedom Of Speech?

[Peter Parka]

I know this is a big thing in the USA but do you agree with it? We have freedom of speech here in the UK but to a certain extent and personally, I dont think it extends far enough.
My opinion - people should have freedom of speech but should pay the consequences of bad reaction to what they say. For every action there is a reaction and this aplies to what you say too. For instance, if I walked up to a complete stranger and called them a cunt for no reason, they shouldn't be held responsible if they punch me in the mouth. Thoughts?

 

[Springsteen]

I agree. I mean I say anything I damn well please, but if a fella decided to smack me because he decided he didn't like something I had said then so be it.

 

[Brujahpriest]

I'd say that, however a punch in the face might be a bit of an escalation of stupidity of the moment. I am all for the idea of paying for your first action with action in kind, but not necessarily with increased aggression.

 

[RedRyder]

I believe Freedom of Speech is taken advantage of here in the United States by some working their own agenda and using FoS as a shield.

I realize that change comes and is necessary at times, but the things being rammed down all American's throats is getting ridiculous.

I suppose if those in charge were to pick and choose which things to allow or not, then that would in and of itself cause an uprising. Which when thinking about it, it has.

Everything needs to be placed on a ballot and let the people decide. Oh wait..... that has also been done with some things.

Obviously, I don't have the answers. I do think that if one opposes what another says or does, then they also have the right to say so and express their FoS rights.

..... but no hitting allowed. Do it peacefully.

 

[Peter Parka]

I think a lot of it, which comes into people moaning about Political correctness ect, comes down to the fact that some people will always find loopholes in the law instead of using common sense.

 

[RedRyder]

..... just as they find loopholes in our tax system......

 

[sierrabravo]

Everything needs to be placed on a ballot and let the people decide. Oh wait..... that has also been done with some things.

letting the people (or their appointed representative) decide things is called a democracy. i don't remember voting for a public health care system. I've heard people say that was president bob's idea, straight from his... brain... to congress. (i almost typed control instead of congress, hey they're almost the same thing) :willy_nilly:

all in all, i just have to lol :24: and smoke a ciggy to calm down in regards to the current politics. I tried not caring, but I do care - I can't not care :willy_nilly: :lala: ah i don't care

 

[RedRyder]

letting the people (or their appointed representative) decide things is called a democracy. i don't remember voting for a public health care system. I've heard people say that was president bob's idea, straight from his... brain... to congress. (i almost typed control instead of congress, hey they're almost the same thing) :willy_nilly:

all in all, i just have to lol :24: and smoke a ciggy to calm down in regards to the current politics. I tried not caring, but I do care - I can't not care :willy_nilly: :lala: ah i don't care

Politics give me a headache.

If the people voted the offices and don't like what's happening.... they need to be at the polls come election time and vote them out.

If the people who piss and moan about what's happening didn't go to the polls in the first place and/or voted uninformed.... that's a whole nuther matter.

Regarding the public health care thing and other issues getting through by appointed reps..... it is what it is until the people want change and.... well.... see..... It's a cycle. :willy_nilly:

 

[Meirionnydd]

Everything needs to be placed on a ballot and let the people decide. Oh wait..... that has also been done with some things.

Oh yes, direct democracy.

It might work in a very close knit and small society, but today it's not very practicable in most western nations. Placing everything on a ballot for people to vote for is also very expensive.

If you look at the amount of bills the Australian Parliament passes in it it's 60-ish sitting days a year, i'd waste alot of my time having to go out and vote for things that may not even concern me.

 

[RedRyder]

Oh yes, direct democracy.

It might work in a very close knit and small society, but today it's not very practicable in most western nations. Placing everything on a ballot for people to vote for is also very expensive.

If you look at the amount of bills the Australian Parliament passes in it it's 60-ish sitting days a year, i'd waste alot of my time having to go out and vote for things that may not even concern me.

It's when we give up our right to vote that we give up our right for a say on what we want.

I've voted to put people in office and some were a huge disappointment because they didn't follow through on their campaign promises. If we elect these people to represent us and they end up not.....

Waste of money or not...... the people must determine things. Not a pawn placed above the people to do as he/she wishes...... ignoring promises made.

Yes..... politics gives me a headache..... but I try to be an informed voter.

...... and BTW.... I'm thinking anything that requires a vote is going to concern you in some way or another whether you realize it or not. Even if minutely.

Just my opinion.

 

[Accountable]

I know this is a big thing in the USA but do you agree with it? We have freedom of speech here in the UK but to a certain extent and personally, I dont think it extends far enough.
My opinion - people should have freedom of speech but should pay the consequences of bad reaction to what they say. For every action there is a reaction and this aplies to what you say too. For instance, if I walked up to a complete stranger and called them a cunt for no reason, they shouldn't be held responsible if they punch me in the mouth. Thoughts?

Warts and all, baby! Warts and all.

The thing about freedom that people seem to forget (sometimes conveniently) is that freedom comes balanced with responsibility. Sure a person has and should have the right to say what he wants, but he shouldn't expect to do so with impunity. Rights and freedoms overlap, so for one person to have a reasonable expectation that his rights will be respected, he must show comparable respect to others' rights.

 

[ssl]

Chaos breeds order, so I say (with the freedom to do so) let the Freedom of Speech go without limits. People will find that limit, and start imposing it on their own speech, and over time, the assholes will be found (and removed, if necessary) and everything will come into place.

And I am not dreaming.

 

[Lord Stanley]

Chaos breeds order, so I say (with the freedom to do so) let the Freedom of Speech go without limits. People will find that limit, and start imposing it on their own speech, and over time, the assholes will be found (and removed, if necessary) and everything will come into place.

And I am not dreaming.

agreed

the truth will out and bigots will be exposed, give them the oxygen they crave, it will choke them

 

[Tim]

From reading the above posts, I think that you guys have a misunderstanding of what freedom of speech is.

Freedom of speech is only protected when it's between you and your government. Freedom of speech protects you (the citizen) from being locked up for speaking out against our government. It protects your speech in public.... that's it.
Freedom of speech is not given anywhere else. For instance, we could sensor what the members say here and there is nothing that you can do about it. Your mother could tell you to shut up and go to your room and you would have to. Your local mall can put up a sign that prohibits profanity. etc...

There is no such thing as complete freedom of speech, there are consequences for many things, even what you say. But the US constitution protects it's citizens that the government will not sensor you or take your ability to speak out.

 

[ssl]

From reading the above posts, I think that you guys have a misunderstanding of what freedom of speech is.

Freedom of speech is only protected when it's between you and your government. Freedom of speech protects you (the citizen) from being locked up for speaking out against our government. It protects your speech in public.... that's it.
Freedom of speech is not given anywhere else. For instance, we could sensor what the members say here and there is nothing that you can do about it. Your mother could tell you to shut up and go to your room and you would have to. Your local mall can put up a sign that prohibits profanity. etc...

There is no such thing as complete freedom of speech, there are consequences for many things, even what you say. But the US constitution protects it's citizens that the government will not sensor you or take your ability to speak out.

They won't censor you, but they can sure as hell as label you a terrorist, and lock you up indefinitely now, now can't they?

Sounds like they can shut up anyone they want.

 

[Tim]

They won't censor you, but they can sure as hell as label you a terrorist, and lock you up indefinitely now, now can't they?

Sounds like they can shut up anyone they want.

And to do that is unconstitutional... I hope they get that fixed sooner than later. I don't want my government to have that kind of power... ever

 

[Lord Stanley]

From reading the above posts, I think that you guys have a misunderstanding of what freedom of speech is.

Freedom of speech is only protected when it's between you and your government. Freedom of speech protects you (the citizen) from being locked up for speaking out against our government. It protects your speech in public.... that's it.
Freedom of speech is not given anywhere else. For instance, we could sensor what the members say here and there is nothing that you can do about it. Your mother could tell you to shut up and go to your room and you would have to. Your local mall can put up a sign that prohibits profanity. etc...

There is no such thing as complete freedom of speech, there are consequences for many things, even what you say. But the US constitution protects it's citizens that the government will not sensor you or take your ability to speak out.

not sure about that, i think Freedom of Speech only knows bounds when other freedoms are infringed - i do not belive it applies solely to dialogue between and indidividual and his/her government

 

[squ1r3ll]

For instance, if I walked up to a complete stranger and called them a cunt for no reason, they shouldn't be held responsible if they punch me in the mouth. Thoughts?

I agree with the punching but what if they set you on fire or stabbed you repeatedly in the ballsack? I think that's a bit too far to go for calling someone a cunt, don't you?

 

[Accountable]

Chaos breeds order, so I say (with the freedom to do so) let the Freedom of Speech go without limits. People will find that limit, and start imposing it on their own speech, and over time, the assholes will be found (and removed, if necessary) and everything will come into place.

And I am not dreaming.

I agree. Unfortunately we don't have any trust among ourselves to do the right thing anymore. If "government" were to suddenly disappear, very few would take advantage of the situation to go about raping, murdering, and pillaging. Those who did would be dealt with quickly.

 

[ssl]

I agree. Unfortunately we don't have any trust among ourselves to do the right thing anymore. If "government" were to suddenly disappear, very few would take advantage of the situation to go about raping, murdering, and pillaging. Those who did would be dealt with quickly.

Those people need vigilante justice. :nod:

The idea is to have chaos breed into order, so that rules are agreed upon by the masses, and as the masses change, the rules would as well. The goal is to have a society that governs itself by its values, not the values of ages past (which may be the same or quite similar), with the flexibility of change.

After a time, the nature in the human society of survival would triumph over other issues, and that will be the driving force behind any major changes the society experiences.

Well, hopefully. :thumbup