Is Freedom of speech that important?

Question

Isn't it about time we banned it?

**** So the general feeling is, Yes we need freedom of speech, but only if it's things we wanna hear? *****

Answer 1

D oh yeah

Answer 2

The most important speech is that which we do not like, or find distasteful. As long as someone can say what they think without fear of legal action or imprisonment, we have a free country. Take that away (as Bush has done with his 'free speech zones') and we are headed toward a dictatorship.

Freedom of speech is rightly the first amendment to the constitution - it is a bedrock standard of a free society.

Whatever someone might say, another person might object to; but that doesn't mean we should ban the speech. The offended person also has a right to free speech, and can tell the world why the first person's speech was so offensive; by creating a dialog in this way, we also have the opportunity to influence others and create change.

Of course there are limits on free speech - just because you are free to say what you want, doesn't mean someone has to pay for a venue for you to exercise that right. Sophiarose is incorrect in comparing Yahoo! to free speech. In this case, Yahoo! is a private business, and can put anything they want on their website - and can delete anything they want to. However, if Sophiarose wants to, she can PAY for a website and put anything she wants on that site, even if the rest of us detest what she says.

Similarly, some exercise of responsibility is needed - you cannot shout 'Fire!' in a crowded theatre, unless it is on fire, because the resulting panic might cause harm to others.

Answer 3

Yes, when the freedom isn't abused. I remember after 911 and people were so hurt and angry and ready to blow the middle-east off the map. I mean if you said one word questioning Bush or the war or even expressed doubts......man you were creamed for being anti-American and everything else. But here we are now and the very things some were concerned about are here and the tide has turned. Imagine if they locked you up on either side of the issue because the government didn't like what you were saying or didn't want certain information out? It's tough enough getting accurate information without having the other side of the story banned. I do agree some are abusing the freedom. Freedom of speech does not mean the right to shoot your mouth off whenever you feel like it.

Answer 4

define freedom of speech....
it seems one man's freedom is another's prison. a bit like one person's freedom fighter is another's terrorist.

it is all to do with your point of view. take this site for example. supposed to be free speech... but most pro islamic questions and comments get deleted, and yet neo facist, and incitement to hatred against islam is allowed. and so on.....

i would contest, therefore, that freedom of speech can't exist with in the boundries of morality, because there is always the people in power who object to another's opinion, and will therefore try to get it 'deleted' (for want of a better word)

so, ban free speech? what free speech?

Answer 5

Without freedom of speech, none of us could have answered your question, as the wrong answer could have landed us in trouble.

Without freedom of speech, you couldn't have asked the question, how repressed should we be?

Not repressed at all in my book. Were not female victims of Islam, who are covered and muted, well are we??

Answer 6

well people have died for our freedom of speech and we would miss it if it wasn't there, but to be honest we don't really have that much freedom of speech, for example certain things are not allowed to voiced in public, certain things muttered on a phone will trigger recording of said phone call etc etc

Answer 7

oh OK.. if you want to get hanged for your opinions...go right ahead and propose it.. I would like to see how many people agree with you...Common Sense of what you can or should say and Freedom of Speech are two different things

Answer 8

Well of course it is, unless you want to live in fear, only allowed to say certain things, not allowed to oppose corrupt government policy, speak out against social injustice etc.
No Freedom of speech = No Freedom, God's gift to us is free-will so let's keep it that way! All in favour say 'Aye'
I would rather someone was free to be offensive, that way I can help them see the error of their ways if they'll let me but if not then what they say, think and how they behave is entirely up to them. Do you want to live in a 'nanny state'?

Answer 9

If we abandon freedom of speech the politicians could do anything they liked, I know they do now but at least we the public can let them know our opinion.

Answer 10

The United States was founded on basic principals of freedom. The very fact that you are able to ask such a question in the first place is an example of how these rights keep us free. Are you really that ignorant?