Why don't people understand what freedom of speech really is?

Question

There are so many people on here and elsewhere, who believe that freedom of speech gives you the freedom to say whatever you want without consequences.
Freedom of speech is the ability to say what you want, short of libal, slander and of course threats, without the fear of prosecution by the government.
So many people assume that it means that the public cannot "prosecute" an individual or group.
Is it ignorance or stupidity?

Answer 1

both- too stupid to read the law, so they are ignorant of the law

take Imus and Bill Maher for examples. they were fired for what they said on their shows. but their first amendment rights were not violated because it didn't involve the gov.

Answer 2

You're right in your assessment. People confuse freedom with liberty. We have the freedom of free expression. We do not have the liberty to say anything without facing the logical consequences of what we say, if it is slanderous, libelous or traitorous.

Answer 3

It is interpretation and lack of complete understanding. Take for example the Imus case he quotes "rap music' and gets booted and called racist - how fair is that. The music creates a cultural language that is only repeatable by a given culture? That makes no sense. If it is acceptable to produce millions of recordings for one then it should be acceptable as the accepted language for that culture.

Answer 4

If you dont know or understand your rights, then it is easier to take them away.

It is ignorance-people seem to think that the rights protecting us from the gov't form some sort of right to be a jerk that apparently overrides the rights of all other people (be they actual people or corporations).

Few people are ever taught otherwise, so they go on believing it and spreading their ignorance.

Answer 5

True, but sometimes you have to speak up. Like:

Let's elect hillary and let another clinton make a joke out of the whitehouse.

Answer 6

You have no right to say that.