why do people identify freedom of speech with the possibility to say EVERYTHING?

Question

including harassment, hatred expressions, violating...

Answer 1

Because they don't know the difference between liberty and freedom. Liberty is that right you have naturally while freedom is the right that others allow you to exercises out of that liberty. For example, you can speak what ever comes to your mind if you are talking only to yourself and you should speak selectively when you are with others because your speech may offend them. You can expand on this to the level of a country which has established the laws to implement freedom of speech. generally you are free to say as long as what you say does not interfere with the rights of others.

Answer 2

Because that's what it protects. Freedom of speech means ALL speech, no matter how ignorant/hurtful/etc. Just like freedom of religion means ALL religions, including the ones our founding fathers may or may not have approved. The only limitation the Supreme Court has put on free speech is speech that is classified as treasonous or speech that presents a clear and present danger to others.

Answer 3

Most likely because those people are morons who don't understand how society and morality work.

However, I note that you include "hate expressions" in your list of complaints. If you talking about words like "honkey", "kike", "****" or other derogatory terms, you are talking about seriously curbing speech. There is a reason that INFLAMMATORY speech is illegal (Fire in a crowded building for example), and that is because it can cause PHYSICAL harm to another. You cannot start telling people what they can and cannot say due to potential MENTAL harm to another, then you are regulating thoughts and ideas, which is crossing a very dangerous line.

PS: Yahoo! sucks for not allowing the word "sp ic" but suggesting that "honkey" and "kike" are acceptable. Way to be totally racist Y!.

Answer 4

Because most people haven't read the constitution they just quote it.