why do people think that freedom of speech excuses the belittling of others?

Question

what about the unwritten basic human right of freedom
to be free of abusive behaviour

Answer 1

I don't know that people think that it "excuses" belittling others as much as it give them the right to do what they feel like doing and since they feel like doing it then it's "right" for them and who are you to impose your belief system on them anyway.

You know, like little children who went to college and only learned half of the political correctness message.

Answer 2

The 1st Amendment has limits. You cannot, contrary to popular belief, belittle, accuse, vilify or say anything you want about anyone. It IS supported by legality. Anyone ever hear of LIBEL (printing false or misleading statements)?, or SLANDER (saying false or misleading statements)?
You can be sued for stuff like that. As I said before, you have rights under the Constitution, however, your rights end where another persons rights begin. In other words, when your freedoms hurt somone else, your "rights" are over. The 2nd Amendment allows me to own a gun, however once I start killing people with it, my right to own a gun and be free is now over, because I'm taking away those people's right to life. Get it?

Answer 3

You don't need a "right" to belittle others. You just need to be prepared to deal with the consequences. I could call you what ever I wanted to, and there would be nothing you could do in the courts that could prevent me from doing it. Except maybe a restraining order. There is no "right of freedom from abuse"

Answer 4

While it is not illegal I will be the first to admit that most times it is neither nice or moral to belittle others.

However,

I feel I should have the right to express myself in certain situations. For example:

My brother is a highschool dropout and is living at my father's house. My brother has two children, owes nearly $20,000 in back child support for one of them, the other is less than a year old. My brother works at a furniture rental store for minimum wage. My brother is buried up to his eyeballs in debt.

My brother decides to spend his lunch hour to use the company truck to drive to my place which is approximately 30 minutes away to show me his new $80.00 tatoo.

The moron asks me what I think about it.

I think he's a ******* moron.

I think I should be entitled to inform him of this.


You somehow disagree?

Answer 5

Freedom of speach has to do with giving your opinions about the government and religion...not individuals.

Answer 6

Let's look at what happened to people, famous or otherwise, giving public speeches and using racial epithets. They are scorned and doomed. Unless of course it's "W." So, are you referring to private conversations instead?

Answer 7

or to be free from the govt spying on you without a warrant, like it says in the fourth amendment.

Answer 8

it does not excuse it... but most of the time it is not illegal...

there are exceptions.. which I will not get into here

Answer 9

sticks and stones........