Who decides whether or not what you have to say has merit? Shouldn't we all have a basic right to be heard?

Answer 1

You decide if what you have to say has merit. We all have a right to be heard, but we do not have a right to be listened to.

Answer 2

Your statement has merit on the surface; however, would you want you child listening to some pedophile explain why his/her way of life is good?

There are some very slick people out there talking. Many have been hired by some special interest to "stir up trouble" and people that are sucked in to their BS are being used. Should we just "cast our bread upon the waters" and see what we catch. People with little or no education are easily swayed by emotion. Look at what is happening in the Middle East and North Korea. Heck, look at what is happening in the US. When emotion comes to play, reason leaves. Where would you draw the line? Where would you draw the line with your children? At what point is a child able to decide for themselves what is truth or fiction? Answer these questions and you'll answer your own. If you are not old enough to understand parental responsibility then you (my opinion) are not able to comprehend what you are asking.

Good luck in your quests

Answer 3

There are 6 billion people in the world, that's a lot of voices to listen to. It's just impractical. So people generally look at credentials like degrees and experience which are supposed to be an indication of knowledge when deciding who to listen to. That's a normal and good way of filtering the noise. The problems are obvious, it's not foolproof. Should we listen to this guy because he's on CNN or that guy because he made a few hit movies? What about that guy that got a phd? To your other question, who says anyone has a right to be heard? Just because you can talk doesn't mean anyone has to listen.

Answer 4

We have the right to speak, but others have the right to put their fingers in their ears and say, "blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah". It is the listener who decided if what is said has merit. Freedom of Speech doesn't imply the right to be heard just to speak ones mind. However, nowadays it would seem the PC police want to stop you from saying anything because it might offend others who choose to listen instead of being given the right to put their fingers in their ears.

BB )O(

Answer 5

I think some questions are obviously for the purpose of being insulting and that might be OK except some of these have no socially redeeming value. I do not know who should judge but rarely I report when someone gets needlessly mean.

Answer 6

no you do not have a basic right to be heard, you have freedom to speak, but not to be heard, embracing trolls will only result in this forum becoming useless eventually

Answer 7

Absolutely. The U.S. Constitution guarantees the rights of free speech and of religion and freedom FROM religion. I may not agree with what you say, but I will, and have in the past, always fight for your right to say it. Conversly, I have the right to rebuttal and/or the right not to listen; as long as you are willing to afford that same right to others.

Censure one, we censure all.

Answer 8

Whoever has to listen, has to decide for themself. No, we do not and should not all have that priviledge. It IS a privilidge, not a right.

Answer 9

No. You have a right to express your views.

I may express my views by not listening to your expression, but I may not express my views by attempting to silence you from expressing yours, nor may you express your views by attempting to force me to listen.

Answer 10

the yahoo nazis and the abuse button abusers. and all too often, they're wrong.