NationStates Jolt Archive

See, what I see people saying sometimes, (not necessarily here, but in general) 'Oh God! You insulted what I said, you Nazi/Facist/Totalitarian/CorporateLackey/Gestapo/Pigdog! You're restricting my free speech!

My theory is that free speech lets me express my political views, no matter how wacky and/or stupid they may be.

My doing so entitles others to tell me exactly how stupid and/or wacky they may be. It' s not even necessary that they do so in complete sentences, but it would certainly help if they're actually trying to convince me.

Comments? Insults? Arguements? Bring 'em on!

Agreed. Disagreeing with someone is not restricting their free speech.
Telling them to shut up might be, if they were intimidated enough to listen.
Arresting them and throwing them into a pit filled with crocodiles -- that's restricting their right to free speech. ;)

See, what I see a lot of is people saying, (not necessarily here, but in general) 'Oh God! You insulted what I said, you Nazi/Facist/Totalitarian/CorporateLackey/Gestapo/Pigdog! You're restricting my free speech!

My theory is that free speech lets me express my political views, no matter how wacky and/or stupid they may be.

My doing so entitles others to tell me exactly how stupid and/or stupid they may be. It' s not even necessary that they do so in complete sentences, but it would certainly help if they're actually trying to convince me.

Comments? Insults? Arguements? Bring 'em on!

Maybe I'm not too attentive, but I haven't seen many people saying things like that. Do you have an example?

Well, Free Speech is one thing...defamation, "hate speech" and the like is another.

It's a difficult thing to decide sometimes.

Not specifically unfortunately. Just something I've noticed every now and then. Hold on while I edit out 'a lot'

My doing so entitles others to tell me exactly how stupid and/or stupid they may be. It' s not even necessary that they do so in complete sentences, but it would certainly help if they're actually trying to convince me.

Comments? Insults? Arguements? Bring 'em on!

Very good. You will receive 15 space dollars. They will apear in your bathtub at 9:27PM.

Well, Free Speech is one thing...defamation, "hate speech" and the like is another.

It's a difficult thing to decide sometimes.
Agreed. Free speech, however annoying it can be, should be protected, whereas hate speech should be prosecuted IMO. Problem is, as you stated, that its difficult to draw the line sometimes.

Well, Free Speech is one thing...defamation, "hate speech" and the like is another. It's a difficult thing to decide sometimes.

Defamation's especially tricky; what constitutes satire and what constitutes libel, since what is intended as satire is often the source of libel lawsuits.

I prefer to let the haters spout their hate speech rather than restrict it and serve as a magnet for people who want to rebel against conventional society.

Hate speech is bad, yes.

But the trouble is that outlawing it would lead to the slippery slope of exactly what is considered hate speech. That has the potential to muzzling free speech in general.

i hate people who use the word 'defamation' or 'hate speech' to be an ass though. like the anti-defamation league trying to make rotten.com take down a picture of baked pillsbury doughboys because it "reminded them of the holocaust?" like... sorry but get over it. i'm against censorship even. O:

Agreed. Free speech, however annoying it can be, should be protected, whereas hate speech should be prosecuted IMO. Problem is, as you stated, that its difficult to draw the line sometimes.
The problem is that people will draw the line at the furthest point from "free."

For example, If I responded to your comment with "That's the stupidest ****ing thing I've ever heard," it could be construed as hate speech. However, all I said that your idea was bad, in my (albeit somewhat "indecent") opinion. I never insulted you, just one of your ideas.

Sadly, most people do not see that. They would think I'm saying you're stupid. The easiest solution, and the most fair, is to let people say whatever they want. If someone is offended by something, they should STOP LISTENING. In addition to Freedom to say what you want, you have the freedom to hear whatever you want (generally). If you are required to get within in an earshot of something you find offensive, then either ignore, or take up the issue with the offender. Don't just rely on government to make your life pretty and prim. If someone offends you, just offend them back 9or ignore them, which is generally the better solution).

The problem with unrestricted free speech is that you can't criminalize anything as long as it can be described as expression or speech. For example, if speech was 100% free, you couldn't criminalize terrorism because it can be considered political speech.

The problem with restricted free speech is that lines have to be drawn somewhere. Also, the lines will move.

The problem with completely restricted speech is that nothing would really get done. Couldn't build a city because that requires some form of communication. Can't grow and sell food because that requires communication.

you couldn't criminalize terrorism because it can be considered political speech.

Blowing up buses is considered speech now?

My theory is that free speech lets me express my political views, no matter how wacky and/or stupid they may be.
My doing so entitles others to tell me exactly how stupid and/or wacky they may be. It' s not even necessary that they do so in complete sentences, but it would certainly help if they're actually trying to convince me.
Comments? Insults? Arguements? Bring 'em on!
Oh God! You insulted what I said, you Nazi/Facist/Totalitarian/CorporateLackey/Gestapo/Pigdog! You're restricting my free speech! :D
*blatantly ripped from quote* XD

My theory is that free speech lets me express my political views, no matter how wacky and/or stupid they may be.
My doing so entitles others to tell me exactly how stupid and/or wacky they may be. It' s not even necessary that they do so in complete sentences, but it would certainly help if they're actually trying to convince me.
Comments? Insults? Arguements? Bring 'em on!
Oh God! You insulted what I said, you Nazi/Facist/Totalitarian/CorporateLackey/Gestapo/Pigdog! You're restricting my free speech! :D
*blatantly ripped from quote* XD