Why is 'Freedom of Speech' so misunderstood?

[Double A]

Actually, you can say whatever the hell you want about the president, nothing is slander.

This means you CAN say Obama is a raving, psychotic, Nazi-loving maniac and easily get away with it.

Anyway, to answer your question, people are idiots. That's pretty much the answer to every single political question.

 

[Verlander]

The concept of freedom of speech, and the American first amendment are different. When people talk about freedom of speech, it should mean freedom of speech. When people talk about the first amendment, it should mean that.

Just because people refer to the First Amendment as being "freedom of speech" doesn't mean it is.

Like when the WBC were banned from preaching in England. I mean I hate those guys as much as anyone, but freedom of speech exists to defend unpopular speech. We don't need to defend things the majority agree with.

"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it."

That's because Britain, like America, does not have freedom of speech

I was talking more the concept than legal right.

I'm an Irish atheist so last year's blasphemy laws really hit home the fact that I'm not living with free speech.

I hear you, blasphemy law is the same as banning a religion, it's ridiculous

Wait... that actually passed?

What's the actual law? And the charges?

Not sure of the charges (I'm UK based) but I think it passed at the beginning of last year

If you are really interested, there are pages worth of details ehre:

http://www.oireachtas.ie/viewdoc.asp?fn=/documents/bills28/bills/2006/4306/document1.htm

 

[Rayne870]

Simply stated everyone has the right to say something just as much as others have a right to tell them to STFU. Sometimes the STFU people are actually backed by the law and are doing so to protect the interest of other people that want to say things, or don't like what is being said about them.

 

[LostintheWick]

people are dumb...

People are dumb? Relative to what? There isnt anything out there that's smarter than people.

Correction time...

THE MASSES are dumb, WHEN COMPARED TO THE FEW WHO HAVE TO LOOK AFTER THEM.

(you are forgetting that humans are actually the third most intelligent species on Earth. Stephen Fry said so himself...)

Do you really think that "the few" are looking after us?

 

[skitzo van]

I fully support free speech, and the kind I'm talking about is the slander, violence threat etc. because everyone has a right to say something, and if want they want to say goes against your ideals who gives a fuck?

 

[Dogstile]

The main thing that bothers me with free speech (although I agree with the OP, if you call a co-worker a ****** or ****** then that private organistaion has every right to fire you) is people who support free speech as long as they agree with what's being said. Like when the WBC were banned from preaching in England. I mean I hate those guys as much as anyone, but freedom of speech exists to defend unpopular speech. We don't need to defend things the majority agree with.

"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it."

WBC was banned in England because they practice hate speech. That's banned here.

Yes but making laws against them picketing funerals is one thing totally banning them from preaching to anyone who would care to listen is another. They are not telling people to go out and kill gay people or anything. What they preach is disgusting and bigoted but it's there view. They have a website, godhatesireland.com it pisses me off but I don't think they should be stopped from saying it I just get on with my life. They have every right to say that, just like I have a right to say "they're a bunch of homophobic cunts who no reasonable person would agree with and due to the fact that the church is made up of Phelps' own family I'm inclined to believe it's due to a flaw in their genes that may or may not be a direct result of inbreeding."

Not in England they don't. The law is different here.

I shouldn't have said every right. Because I wasn't talking about legal rights in this case. I meant it in a more idealistic sense.

Ahh right, of course, in an ideal world you wouldn't have people using god to sue everyone they piss off.

 

[messy]

people are dumb...

How dare you say that!

Why? Or were you joking?

Yeah I was joking. I figured someone would make this joke in the thread at some point.

 

[subtlefuge]

Because they get attention for it.

 

[NinjaDeathSlap]

people are dumb...

People are dumb? Relative to what? There isnt anything out there that's smarter than people.

Correction time...

THE MASSES are dumb, WHEN COMPARED TO THE FEW WHO HAVE TO LOOK AFTER THEM.

(you are forgetting that humans are actually the third most intelligent species on Earth. Stephen Fry said so himself...)

Do you really think that "the few" are looking after us?

Do you have food on your table? Police on your streets? Or money in your bank? If so then yes, I think they're doing their job much better than we give them credit for, and I'm sure that most of us couldn't do it any better no matter what we like to think.

 

[NinjaDeathSlap]

people are dumb...

How dare you say that!

Why? Or were you joking?

Yeah I was joking. I figured someone would make this joke in the thread at some point.

Oh good, I can lol now then

 

[WitchD0ctor]

people are dumb...

People are dumb? Relative to what? There isnt anything out there that's smarter than people.

at times, dumber than a brick

 

[Kortney]

The main thing that bothers me with free speech (although I agree with the OP, if you call a co-worker a ****** or ****** then that private organistaion has every right to fire you) is people who support free speech as long as they agree with what's being said. Like when the WBC were banned from preaching in England. I mean I hate those guys as much as anyone, but freedom of speech exists to defend unpopular speech. We don't need to defend things the majority agree with.

"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it."

Wrongsies!

The WBC were banned in the United Kingdom for planning to Incite hatred. Inciting hatred and/or violence is illegal in the United Kingdom. I see no reason as to why that is a bad thing.

One thing that has always confused me is the complete lack of outrage in the USA over how seriously television is censored. American television networks censor nearly every swear word in the sun in the attempt of not offending people, and the populous doesn't really seem to care all that much. However, when someone wants to ban funeral protesting - then the populous gets up in arms and says "You can't do that! We have freedom of speech here!". It's strange to me.

EDIT: Also, I can't stand that quote. Stop it. It's over spammed, self righteous nonsense!

 

[TStormer]

6 rounds so far, all are wins, I would screenshot but CBA.

Not actually luck, just going off what the average idiot would choose then countering it.

 

[Booze Zombie]

Full freedom of speech would be so... arbitrary, anyway.
I'm glad we don't have it, much too many issues would arise for no good reason.

 

[Dejawesp]

Ahahahahah, if I didn't check your profile at all, how is me using the wrong pronoun doing it on purpose?

Wouldn't using the wrong pronoun on purpose require me to check your profile and see what sex you were before posting?

You even have logical fallacies in your condescending *I quit* posts.

*facepalm*

I said you may want to check my profile before calling me a specific gender, unless you want to be wrong on purpose.

It's kinda, you know, one or the other, not both.

I don't even... *sigh*

Dude. Everyone knows there are no females on the internet. Lets not make this weird. I do appreciate your pimped out female avatars on MMOs though.

 

[Dejawesp]

According to scientific studies there are no females on the internet because the vagina releases hormones into the bloodstream which makes the person unable to operate heavy machinery or complex technical devices such as computers and remote controls

 

[Jonci]

Do not use only part of my post and believe you are winning a point. "Freedom of Speech" isn't a law, it's a concept. There are consequences to what you say. This isn't related to the government. If I started talking about how bad my boss is at his job, I could get fired. Freedom of speech doesn't mean I'm safe from consequence of saying something.

The point of freedom of speech is to be free of GOVERNMENT consequences from expressing your opinion.

Yes, that is what the First Amendment guarantees in the US. But point people are making in this thread is that just because the government can't interfer doesn't mean there aren't consequences to your actions and statements. You can't scream freedom of speech when someone gets pissed off, fires you, blocks your account on WoW, etc... because freedom of speech means you can say it without the government arresting you, but it doesn't mean the general public and private organizations/corporations has to put up with you.

 

[LostintheWick]

people are dumb...

People are dumb? Relative to what? There isnt anything out there that's smarter than people.

Correction time...

THE MASSES are dumb, WHEN COMPARED TO THE FEW WHO HAVE TO LOOK AFTER THEM.

(you are forgetting that humans are actually the third most intelligent species on Earth. Stephen Fry said so himself...)

Do you really think that "the few" are looking after us?

Do you have food on your table? Police on your streets? Or money in your bank? If so then yes, I think they're doing their job much better than we give them credit for, and I'm sure that most of us couldn't do it any better no matter what we like to think.

They don't put food on my table. And I don't need a bank. The police and feeling of security come from the community, for the most part.

Maintaining a system in which they hold their power and looking out for us are not the same thing. If there is no semblance order, the people will not support you. Just doing enough keep the people complacent enough isn't a good measurement of care on the leaderships part. Only when our leadership is willing to risk their personal wealth and position for the sake of the people (the true people, not just the wealthy contributers) are we able to say they are looking out for us.

To the leadership in the US, we are more of a cash crop that needs maintaining than citizens that need looking after.

 

[twistedmic]

If this belongs in Religion and Politics I apologize for mis-posting it, and ask the mods to post it in the correct forum.
But my question is this: Why Freedom of Speech, aka the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America, so misunderstood? And I don't mean just on the internet, people on t.v. news and talk shows misunderstand it too.
So many people think that 'Freedom of Speech' means that they can say what ever they want, wherever and whenever they want without consequences. And if they do get in non-legal trouble (i.e. suspended from school, suspended/banned from a forum or fired from a job) they complain about having their right to free speech violated.

If they get suspended from a public school that does violate their free speech, since it is the government punishing them for it (and before you make any comparisons to post offices or whatever this is a place kids are required to attend).

Libel and slander are not protected by free speech and therefore leaves them open to legal action, and being expelled or suspended from one school for violating school rules, is not the same as being arrested for what they said/posted. If you make libelous or slanderous statements, no matter who you are, you will get in trouble, sometimes in legal trouble.

 

[NinjaDeathSlap]

people are dumb...

People are dumb? Relative to what? There isnt anything out there that's smarter than people.

Correction time...

THE MASSES are dumb, WHEN COMPARED TO THE FEW WHO HAVE TO LOOK AFTER THEM.

(you are forgetting that humans are actually the third most intelligent species on Earth. Stephen Fry said so himself...)

Do you really think that "the few" are looking after us?

Do you have food on your table? Police on your streets? Or money in your bank? If so then yes, I think they're doing their job much better than we give them credit for, and I'm sure that most of us couldn't do it any better no matter what we like to think.

They don't put food on my table. And I don't need a bank. The police and feeling of security come from the community, for the most part.

Maintaining a system in which they hold their power and looking out for us are not the same thing. If there is no semblance order, the people will not support you. Just doing enough keep the people complacent enough isn't a good measurement of care on the leaderships part. Only when our leadership is willing to risk their personal wealth and position for the sake of the people (the true people, not just the wealthy contributers) are we able to say they are looking out for us.

To the leadership in the US, we are more of a cash crop that needs maintaining than citizens that need looking after.

Ah, the government may not be directly responsible for all the benefits in your life, but the reason that they are all there is because your country has a system of beliefs and freedoms that allow them to be there, and it IS the government who protect and maintain that system.

I'm coming from this from a UK perspective, which is different in the sense that we have a welfare state much more intrusive than America's, but as far as I know your present government has been trying very hard to take better care of it's citizens (Except they can't because free healthcare is bad for some reason... like I said, people are dumb). However, our system has the problem that people keep cheating it, which brings us back to freedom of speech.

I know I've gone more than slightly off topic with this, so what I basically meant at first was that it annoys, no, INFURIATES me when people are ignorant and naive enough to take stuff like freedom of speech for granted. They don't understand just how privileged they are that their country (and their government) give them these freedoms. They don't get that well more than half the people in this world would kill to have the freedom they have. So rather than use it appropriately, they abuse it as an excuse to say whatever the hell they like, and it pisses me off.