Message boards :
Politics :
Free speech
Message board moderation
Author | Message |
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The Simonator Send message Joined: 18 Nov 04 Posts: 5700 Credit: 3,855,702 RAC: 50 |
That you are able to pose the question should be in itself an answer. Life on earth is the global equivalent of not storing things in the fridge. |
.clair. Send message Joined: 4 Nov 04 Posts: 1300 Credit: 55,390,408 RAC: 69 |
One can get away with such a thing in quite a lot of countries, And in others you will be put away for a long time if you try to use it Or just dissapear permenantly I dont fancy trying it in Tibet. |
zoom3+1=4 Send message Joined: 30 Nov 03 Posts: 65689 Credit: 55,293,173 RAC: 49 |
One can get away with such a thing in quite a lot of countries, Yeah, in some countries free speech could be quite dangerous, maybe that will change eventually. The T1 Trust, PRR T1 Class 4-4-4-4 #5550, 1 of America's First HST's |
Carlos Send message Joined: 9 Jun 99 Posts: 29720 Credit: 57,275,487 RAC: 157 |
The original question was asked by a British citizen. I cannot answer your question for where you live. In the US I can say yes, without a doubt we have free speech. In constitutional law we are taught that free speech is the freedom of expression, you can say anything you want. However, you may still be held responsible for what you said. There can be liability after the fact. For example if you yell "FIRE!!" in a crowed theater you can be held responsible for the injuries that the people suffer trying to escape. There are also types of speech that are not protected, You can say that someone is a lying, cheating, XXX. If it's not true you could be held for the damages you cause the target of your lies. But truth is a defense. So yes, there is free speech, but like with any freedom, there is responsibility. |
zoom3+1=4 Send message Joined: 30 Nov 03 Posts: 65689 Credit: 55,293,173 RAC: 49 |
The original question was asked by a British citizen. I cannot answer your question for where you live. In the US I can say yes, without a doubt we have free speech. In constitutional law we are taught that free speech is the freedom of expression, you can say anything you want. However, you may still be held responsible for what you said. There can be liability after the fact. For example if you yell "FIRE!!" in a crowed theater you can be held responsible for the injuries that the people suffer trying to escape. There are also types of speech that are not protected, You can say that someone is a lying, cheating, XXX. If it's not true you could be held for the damages you cause the target of your lies. But truth is a defense. Correct, some all too often simply don't get that, sigh. The T1 Trust, PRR T1 Class 4-4-4-4 #5550, 1 of America's First HST's |
Angela Send message Joined: 16 Oct 07 Posts: 13130 Credit: 39,854,104 RAC: 31 |
Gray, gray... I see only gray. Yes here in the USA we have free speech, but I rarely post my views in Politics because I fear repercussion. Eric makes his living off of publicly funded grants, especially for his non-seti projects. In the current rabid political climate we have in this country, it would not take much for me to offend some people. This is a very public place. I fear some idiot senator on some powerful committee getting wind of my social, religious or political leanings and somehow being biased against my husband. I know this sounds silly, but I fear it none the less. Yes I may legally have free speech, but if you want to know what I REALLY think, you will have to get to know me on a more personal level. |
zoom3+1=4 Send message Joined: 30 Nov 03 Posts: 65689 Credit: 55,293,173 RAC: 49 |
Gray, gray... I see only gray. No it is certainly not silly, hopefully things will change for the better after Nov 6th 2012 or My time here might be ending... I'm a bit more free online, but then I'm pursuing a bit of a guerrilla war beyond Berkeley, I stay out of politics here as I don't like that cesspool all that much, there are other sites where I vent, it's safer and I get plenty of likes... The T1 Trust, PRR T1 Class 4-4-4-4 #5550, 1 of America's First HST's |
kittyman Send message Joined: 9 Jul 00 Posts: 51468 Credit: 1,018,363,574 RAC: 1,004 |
I have abused the right. And admit it here and now. What one has the right to say does not necessarily mean one should say it. My bad. Meow. "Freedom is just Chaos, with better lighting." Alan Dean Foster |
bobby Send message Joined: 22 Mar 02 Posts: 2866 Credit: 17,789,109 RAC: 3 |
We basically have free speech in the UK. Not as it is understood in the US you don't. The US has no such thing as "Outraging Public Decency", it would curtail 1st amendment rights, the Westboro Baptists are testimony to the fact that some provision of the 1986 Public Order Act could not be law in the US (A person is guilty of an offense if he displays any writing, sign or other visible representation which is threatening, abusive or insulting), there's no equivalent to DA-Notices or super injunctions, the list goes one ... I'm frequently amazed at how little Brits appear to value their freedoms, successive governments (left and right) have been curtailing them for as long as I can remember. I think you'll find it's a bit more complicated than that ... |
Gary Charpentier Send message Joined: 25 Dec 00 Posts: 30591 Credit: 53,134,872 RAC: 32 |
The United States is a land of free speech. Nowhere is speech freer - not even here where we sedulously cultivate it even in its most repulsive form. -- Churchill |
bobby Send message Joined: 22 Mar 02 Posts: 2866 Credit: 17,789,109 RAC: 3 |
I think its important to separate freedom of speech from freedom of the press as in my view they are different. I could not have asked for a clearer illustration of how little Brits care about their freedoms. Thomas Jefferson wrote: Our liberty cannot be guarded but by the freedom of the press, nor that be limited without danger of losing it. "Outraging Public Decency" is another matter altogether. It is classed as a lewd act in public, e.g. Nudity or urinating. Not sure how your examples apply to the case of Rick Gibson. I think you'll find it's a bit more complicated than that ... |
Bernie Vine Send message Joined: 26 May 99 Posts: 9954 Credit: 103,452,613 RAC: 328 |
For those that have never actually read the 1st amendment: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. |
Gary Charpentier Send message Joined: 25 Dec 00 Posts: 30591 Credit: 53,134,872 RAC: 32 |
To illustrate: How many people have called our sitting President illegitimate - the birther controversy? Can you imagine what would happen to a person saying that about the Queen? In the USA I can burn the Stars and Stripes in front of the White House. Can you imagine what would happen if I burned the Union Jack in front of Windsor Castle? |
Bernie Vine Send message Joined: 26 May 99 Posts: 9954 Credit: 103,452,613 RAC: 328 |
To illustrate: How many people have called our sitting President illegitimate - the birther controversy? I suspect you would be considered a bit strange, then if you continued to press you point, you would probably receive a visit from the local police fore. If you managed to get the newspapers interested. Well who knows. I still believe unless you were suggesting the Queen should be tarred and feathered you would be seen as a bit of an eccentric. There are plenty of stories of Queen Victoria and the presents Queens late mother being illegitimate. In the USA I can burn the Stars and Stripes in front of the White House. It actually is not illegal to burn the Union Jack, there was talk of making it so but in never happened. Also not in northern Ireland republican/nationalist do it every day. PS Actually having thought it through all you would need to do it put the story on the internet, Until the USA crack down on that any story is world wide instantly. As we saw recently over certain "royal nude photos". |
Gary Charpentier Send message Joined: 25 Dec 00 Posts: 30591 Credit: 53,134,872 RAC: 32 |
As we saw recently over certain "royal nude photos". Loved the recent coverage that the security forces hand picked the women for the private party upstairs ... just doing their job I'm sure. |
Sarge Send message Joined: 25 Aug 99 Posts: 12273 Credit: 8,569,109 RAC: 79 |
To illustrate: How many people have called our sitting President illegitimate - the birther controversy? Interesting. I hear an American was arrested in 1984 for burning a US flag on American soil. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5wTpFIW300 While I go to teach the evening class, perhaps someone else can look to find if there's more to the story? |
OzzFan Send message Joined: 9 Apr 02 Posts: 15691 Credit: 84,761,841 RAC: 28 |
The United States Supreme Court in Texas v. Johnson, 491 U.S. 397 (1989), and reaffirmed in U.S. v. Eichman, 496 U.S. 310 (1990), has ruled that due to the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, it is unconstitutional for a government (whether federal, state, or municipality) to prohibit the desecration of a flag, due to its status as "symbolic speech." However, content-neutral restrictions may still be imposed to regulate the time, place, and manner of such expression. |
bobby Send message Joined: 22 Mar 02 Posts: 2866 Credit: 17,789,109 RAC: 3 |
I would suggest that a much higher percentage of British people would be upset and object to the burning of the Union Jack, than would be the case with the American people and the Stars and Stripes. You are joking aren't you? I think you'll find it's a bit more complicated than that ... |
bobby Send message Joined: 22 Mar 02 Posts: 2866 Credit: 17,789,109 RAC: 3 |
I won't rise to the obvious bait Bobby, I've been around too long. Seems to me these issues would be better addressed by making it cheaper to sue for libel than regulating the press. I think you'll find it's a bit more complicated than that ... |
Es99 Send message Joined: 23 Aug 05 Posts: 10874 Credit: 350,402 RAC: 0 |
Gray, gray... I see only gray. Self censoring. As described by Chomsky in his book Manufacturing consent. Reality Internet Personality |
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