To what extent do you think free speech should be practiced?

Question

ie, should it be okay to hurl racist comments to one person? If not, then should it be okay to hurl racist/sexist/etc over television/movies/internet? At what point should "freedom of speech" be curtailed, if at all? Especially considering the ramifications of true freedom of speech such as riots and oppression of certain people groups.

Just curious on opinons.

Answer 1

This type of thinking is scary to me. Where in the Constitution does it say that we have freedom from being offended? While we don't always like what is being said we have to respect the rights of others to say it. The only place where that stops is where it begins to abridge the real rights of others for example calling out "FIRE" in a crowded theater could put lives in danger. Hurling insults while rude and ignorant does not endanger anyone. But a very good question.

Answer 2

Way too many gray areas on this question. Insulting people should be protected. Even if it runs over into racism. But if a broadcaster on the nightly news used this type of speech then it could cause problems. It really depends on who is saying it. You'd expect it from some people so why even get upset about it. I think there are enough good people around to balance out the hate. Another problem arises when people try to determine and then stop what they consider inappropriate. It may swing too far the other way. I can't imagine anyone not knowing what is and isn't appropriate. When you say something to incite another person then you know you're walking on that line.

Answer 3

Freedom to say what you want should be governed by common sense. You can't yell FIRE in a crowded theater if there is no fire. You cannot say things that are not true about someone...eg..MARY SELLS SEX FOR MONEY..when in fact she does not. Not using common sense in freedom of speech can incite a riot. The thing that is hurting freedom of speech are all these POLITICALLY CORRECT WORDS/LAWS that are popping up. I have been friends with a guy since 2nd grade and when I get 'up home' we always get together. When we were kids, he was A COLORED BOY or a *****, then he was A BLACK GUY, now he's AFRICAN-AMERICAN(he says he's just an AMERICAN). Women in the work place call each other GIRLS...but don't let one of us GUYS refer to them as GIRLS...WHAM! and here comes the HR folks with a sexual harassment report! I read a report about this POLITICAL CORRECTNESS nonsense, and if it was carried out completely, book titles would be carefully scrutinized. For example..THE OLD MAN AND THE SEA would have to be titled SOMEONE WHO LIVED SOMEPLACE ELSE..so as not to offend the elderly or those who live/work the sea.
Some areas have FOUL LANGUAGE laws. A young lady was coming out of a 7-11 one evening and was freely using the F and MF words. A police officer heard her and arrested her and it cost her a $250 fine plus court costs.
Bottom line ...USE COMMON SENSE in your speech.

Answer 4

Free speech should be to the furthest extent possible! Hate speech is allowed a lot, like the basketball player who hates gays! Well, you also have to use some smarts and those little remarks are going to cost him big time!

They don't allow you to put everything, and anything on here!

Much of what is hurled over movies is to get you to think about what you believe and why? Because your daddy said to hate blacks? Not acceptable!

Think anything you want, but we don't have to listen to hate speech from people who are racist, bigots and homophobes! You can think what ever you want, but no one forces you to read a racist blog, or watch a move or TV program! Turn it off!

Answer 5

Freedom of speech has already been sufficiently curtailed, legally, to avoid the problems you have mentioned. I do not favor any more curtailments on speech. A little common sense and courtesy would be nice, however, but should not be legislated.

Answer 6

The concept we call freedom of speech was protected by the First Amendment precisely to protect unpopular speech. If we regulate racist speech, what's next?

The RIGHT to do something doesn't imply that it's necessarily a good idea.

EDIT: NeoCracker, my words are incapable of hurting you. You and I have the absolute right to call each other any kind of vile names we choose.

Answer 7

I dont believe in any limits. I think once you open the door and allow a limit on free speech for any reason, then it can easily spin out of control and go too far.

Even if I dont agree or like whats being said, I'd never dream of censoring the speaker.

Answer 8

I think the 1st amendment can be followed pretty strictly.

no violence insighting speech

no slander (including racial epitaths)

limit on lewd language
(some place allow it and some don't. I think this is okay. I'm fie having Chris Rock come to a concert hall by my house and swear to his hearts content. I'm not fine with him standing outside with a mega phone swearing, when there are people walking around and in their homes with their windows open, having to hear that language even when they don't want to)

the only issues I have is with the protests at funerals-
legally they are allowed
morally they are horrible
personally I'm confused on how to be fair on this one

Answer 9

i might want to consider freedom of speech being more desirable important than political correctness, yet i have self assurance that the guy in question has a top to be criticized over his inaccuracy. He has the right to submit.

Answer 10

Freedom of speech should be curtailed when it is already oppressive, against morals, unlawful and against public order.