Does having rights mean people have the right to impose on our rights?

Question

What one does in the privacy of their own home, as long as it doesn't reach out and affect others. Should be their business.
But shouldn't their be some decorum in the Public Sphere? Expecting people to act like they have some manners?
There are plenty of outlets for Free Speech. Do we have to suffer from any kind of obnoxious behavior from selfish immature types who lack common courteousy, and human decency when we are in the Public Sphere?

Anthony Silva
Citizens for Ethics
USA

Answer 1

I say the same thing everyday about the heterosexual couples I see hugging and kissing in public. Ick.

Answer 2

There is always someone willing and able to disrupt the proceedings in the public sphere.
Some do it as a result of ignorance, some though insight and perspective, some though expanded knowledge on a particular subject and some for attention.
Governments, rules and laws have not quelled it, debates and violence neither.
Since the human race seems destined to have both a public life and the ability of influence, I feel we are forced to accept the fact that our lives are not truly our own.
'For every action there is and equal and opposite reaction'.
Physics. It's not just for breakfast anymore.

Answer 3

The rule has traditionally been to support freedom unless it causes actual harm to another - discourtesy has not been held to be harmful. Annoying, but not harmful.

That's why people who don't like smoking have latched onto second hand smoke as their rallying cry - with that, they can argue actual damage.

people who don't like cell phone use can arfgue against driving with a cell phone is use - one of the local New York legislators even tried to float the idea of a law that would make it illegal to cross an intersection on foot while talking on a cell phone or even listening to an mp3 - the argument, again, was to prevent harm and injury.

I don't think you'll get too far arguing courtesy. The standards are too vague

Answer 4

You might as well ask if we have the right to stop other people exercising their rights? Since that is the implication of your question.
However, I'm not sure you are talking about rights as such (as you are in the USA I am sure you approve of the right to free speech?), but about how we exercise our rights, which tends to be more about standards of behaviour. In that respect I think we can expect that people treat us with respect and not harangue us with their opinions and offend us with their bad manners if we do not want them to. At least, for as long as we treat them the same.
Where people breach those standards, society has enacted laws to encourage compliance and punish breaches.

Answer 5

you have to allow sum1 there opinion and to express it however distasteful that find it