What does "freedom of speech" mean to you personally?

Question

Any limits, responsibilities?

Answer 1

There have always been certain limits on free speech such as screaming fire in a crowded theater. There are civil laws that protect a person from financial loss associated with a libelous or slanderous comment. The problem with the attacks on free speech today is people have mistook free speech to mean popular speech.Freedom of speech was not meant to Be freedom to say what is popular as most places allow popular speech true freedom of speech is being able to express an unpopular opinion. And I think that is what we are in danger of losing. There is an old saying I don't agree with what you say but I will die for your right to say it. That saying at one time represented what the majority of people in the United States believed. I am sad to say that I don't find that to be the case today. And I am afraid that we are in danger of losing this freedom and so many others until people actually start to understand what freedom means and that it is still as important to us today as it was to our forefathers.

Answer 2

nothing, lawfully. i don't appreciate the fact that someone can "give" me the right to speak freely. as long as i am able to speak, i have the "freedom of speech." no limits, no responsibility to anyone but myself. freedom doesn't have limits. if people look at things in full view, no blinders, they would know that when a system, group, or person "gives" you a right; it means they are taking other rights away. there are so many contradictions in "freedom of speech" eg. i censor myself (out of want) to be able to have my views heard by the people who gave me the right in the first place.

Answer 3

I personally see my freedom of speech to be like a subclass of my freedom of expression. Just as freedom of press is. To me it is a manifestation of the idea that I have the power to speak in my own opinion. The manifestation of my ability to opine criticism and praise without penalty or pain. My freedom of press is the same thing but only in writing.

However, I also understand that my Freedom of Speech and Press does not encompass slander.

Answer 4

Freedom of speech is a right we Americans live, and die for...We are not robots nor are we limited to discussions only of approved of, government idea's... Be thankful for this freedom, and all our others. We may have differences, but we are all free..

Answer 5

Freedom of speech means to express my own views about a topic without trespassing into someone else's privacy and territory. I might have an opinion about everything but speaking it out is not wise. I believe that my rights should not trespass or interfere with someone else's rights.

Answer 6

To me freedom of speech means i can talk about something i want to talk about anytime, anywhere. But there are still limits.

Answer 7

I have the right to express my opinion, as long as my words or actions do not cause any physical harm to another - i.e. yelling fire in a crowded theater. We should be responsible in how others may be affected by what we say, to an extent. It is a slippery slope, that often ends with no one saying anything, for fear of offending someone else.

Answer 8

Freedom of speech for me means that I can say anything that I want without certain restrictions being imposed upon me.

Answer 9

Not getting reported for everytime I voice an opinion on here that someone doesn't agree with,,,,,now THAT, would be true freedom of speech

Answer 10

As long as my speech doesn't infringe upon any of the other freedoms in the Consititution for other people, then I'm free to say whatever I want whenever I want to whomever I want.