In your opinion, is it a violation of freedom of speech...?

Question

for another individual to want to choose what to listen to??

I guess my bent with this question is based on my own desire to want to choose. The stores that play nasty music, the trash on tv, the lack of clothed women on the covers of magazines... it seems so hard to control what I find bombarding my ears and eyes when I go to public places. Is there any kind of laws that apply to what is pushed on people in public places?

Answer 1

Freedom of speech is only freedom from the government doing anything to prevent you from speaking your mind. You do not need to listen to anyone; nor does anyone have to listen to you.

Keeping that in mind, when you go shopping, or to the doctor, and are bombarded with music, offers, beggars, etc -- that is because you are on private property (with exception in California) and the owner of that property can decide what his/her guests are exposed to. Thus, the owner may require you to listen to someone in order to be on the property, and you may not choose otherwise without leaving the property.

You always have the right to leave and go away from a place with music, offers, etc you do not want to be around.

In fact, commercial speech is the most regulated kind of speech that has the least degree of freedom in the United States, so I believe your question has little to do with freedom of speech and more to do with your own privacy and freedom to choose.

Answer 2

No. See, there's where the media (a plainly liberal community) shows it's true colors. Hypocrisy runs rampant throughout both conservatives and liberals.

Unfortunately, no one ever focuses on the fact that liberals want freedom of speech for EVERYONE, right? Everyone, except those that don't agree. Look at the minutemen incident that happened earlier this week.

Some minutemen (those that guard the border) were speaking on a campus in southern CA. A group of immigrants and regular civilians rushed the minutemen, attacking those who were speaking and listening.

They beat a 7-month pregnant lady unconscious, yelling how CA should be returned to Mexico. No charges filed. If that had been the other way around, every person would be in jail for the next 10 years.

It's your right to choose, as long as you choose what's popular with the media/liberals.

Answer 3

Sorry not much you can do about that. It seems like the majority rules in public. But, if you are offended by the music in the stores, then you have the right to not go into that store. If you don't like what is on the covers of magazines or T.V., don't buy them or watch T.V.


I am sorry to say that it has gotten to the point where no matter what somebody says, or does it will offend someone.

Answer 4

No. This is a misconception some people have about freedom of speech. In our country an individual has freedom of speech, not the right to be heard. You can stand on your soap box all day, but you can't make people listen.

Answer 5

You have the right to choose what to listen to. You can decide not to go to certain stores, you can hang up the phone, you can turn off the TV. What you can't do is expect free speech to be suspended because you don't like it. Free speech we DON'T like is exactly why that right is important in our country.

Answer 6

I believe we ultimately have a choice in what we see/hear; i myself tend to not look at magazines while waiting in line, i do not have cable for this very reason...in regards to the music in stores...i've only heard 'nasty' music in music stores...and unfortunately there are no laws against sex/violence on tv or elsewhere...afterall...sex sells (there are a lot of shallow people out there)!

Answer 7

No. You can turn off the radio, not watch TV or not look at the magazines you refer to. Just because you don't like it doesn't mean we can't say it.

Unless you want to talk about God, or pray, or have the 10 commandments posted on a building, or say anything against race, creed, illegal immigrants.... Double standard...

Answer 8

The hold point of freedom speech is idea that speech does not need to be censored because people are smart enough to choose what they want to listen to and what they want to ignore.

Answer 9

Well, if a store is blaring music you don't like, don't go in. Or, if you have to go in, complain about it to the store manager. If you don't get the answer you like, write to the parent company. Most mall stores are corporately owned these days.

For me, I can tolerate bad music... what I can't stand is row after row of obnoxious fluorescent lights.

Answer 10

If I understand the Question right, You have a right to listen (or not) to whatever you want (or don't want) to. The exception being Laws which technically are written and therefore would not apply to your right not to listen