Is freedom of speech a good thing in long term?

Question

Freedom of speech have lots of good benefits. The free flow of information is the one and only safeguard against tyranny. The free press allows the people to have great access to news and information, allowing them to make judgement on the events happending. Also, the free flow of data will help a nation to develop economy and make the people rich.

But on the other hand, free speech may(or should I say 'will') result in hate speech and lies. Look at Yahoo! Answer for instance, some people are just giving out hate speech and lies just to insult people because of diffent Political Ideologies or views on things.

So, do freedom of speech help a nation on long term? Or should there be some control as of what people are saying?

There are some misunderstanding over here. I like and support freedom of speech. The reson I am asking this is because I want to know what people think about this issue, not becuase I want a police state.

Answer 1

The classic test case for freedom of speech is, 'Can you yell fire in a crowded theater?'

And no, even with the right to free speech you shouldn't be allowed to.

You could, however, publish an article in the newspaper or shout on a street corner that there is fire in that theater.

Likewise, you could publish a website or write a book that says all your coworkers are n*****s and f**s and w*****s, but you can't say that to their face while you are on the job at the workplace.

You can say anything you want to as loud as you want in a public space, but if it causes a disturbance or is too late at night, then your right ends and the public welfare begins.

I think that, on account of this, that 'free speech' is an approximate term, at best, for what the constitution grants Americans. I would prefer if we could come up with a better phrase.

I actually know what this phrase would be, but I'm not going to say it on Yahoo Answers because Yahoo could claim they own the phrase.

Freedom of thought is what nations need to have to excel in the new global economy. If the citizens of a country are afraid to think of new ideas and invent, if information is restricted such that government decisions are made in very cynical ways, then it will hurt the country.

Authoritarians, the Chinese, Russian and American aristocracies for instance, all think that the general population is dumb and so they want lots of restrictions and punishments for the simple crime of thinking the wrong way.

The simplest way to understand these things is to read 1984 by George Orwell.

There is no idea that has ever hurt anyone. Ideas are harmless. Anyone who says otherwise is a paranoid lunatic, probably a murderer of journalists.

Answer 2

People do not understand the free speech guarantees of the Constitution. Sigh. Hate speech and lies are completely protected and within anyone's right to choose.

Just because something is Constitutional doesn't mean there are no repercussions, though. If someone wants to say lots of hateful things about black people, you'd better believe they won't be doing it in Harlem, even though their hate speech would be ok Constitutionally.

The First Amendment should not be changed.

Answer 3

Free speech is the cornerstone of our nation. The adage "sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me" is a good one in this instance. The control you wish for needs to come from individuals and only them, if the govt (or some other entity) were to "police" our words then tyranny would be sure to follow. It is incumbent upon us as a society to inform when words are inappropriate, and to ignore those that will not conform to common standards of decency (and I hope the common standard never sinks to that level) but again the ultimate control must come from the individual.

Answer 4

Nope we need free speech. Thomas Jefferson quoted, " Where the press is free and every man able to read, all is safe.". Problem is, the press which is the #1 benefactor of free speech is now owned by private interest parties on both side of the political spectrum. There lies the problem.

Answer 5

Freedom is not free. Sometimes we have to indure things we find objectionable so the other guy can excercise his freedom just like us.

Like patriot and founding father Patrick Henery said to a meeting of the Virginia House of Burgesses, "Although I disagree with what you say, I will defend to the death your right to say it". That, in my opinion, simply espresses the American viewpoint on free speech, press etc.

Answer 6

Freedom of speech is a good thing long term.
It's not the freedom that we have that causes the bad, it's
those who choose to make decisions based on personal
emotions that make it bad.

Answer 7

Its because of freedom of speech that you even get to sign onto the Internet and voice your opinion on yahoo answers

Answer 8

I think it is good to have freedom of speech because you can't go through life not saying what you want to say.

Answer 9

Freedom of speech is good as long as it is correct speech. Religious speech and political speech directed at democrats are not correct because they hurt the good people.

Answer 10

There is a difference between 'freedom of speech' (which involves expressing oneself politically without fear of punishment, holding politicians responsible for their actions IN REGARDS TO THEIR ACTUAL JOB, NOT THEIR PERSONAL LIFE) and just plainly stating whatever is in your head to be mouthy and rude. That's not freedom of speech, it's just lacking tact in conversation.
Please don't confuse Yahoo!Answers for a political forum, however, this is not real life or the United Nations, only a casual place for people to let down their hair and converse.