This law against "fighting words" apply in R&S?Christians,Athiests,ect.Do you watch what you say?

Question

I know that this was along time ago, almost 10yrs. but it is still a law in effect. Not brought to light as much as it was b/c profanity, cursing, ect. has become "the norm." but still...
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Fighting Words and Other Threats to the Peace.—In Chaplinsky v. New Hampshire, the Court unanimously sustained a conviction under a statute proscribing “any offensive, derisive, or annoying word” addressed to any person in a public place under the state court’s interpretation of the statute as being limited to “fighting words”— i.e., to “words . . . [which] have a direct tendency to cause acts of violence by the person to whom, individually, the remark is addressed.” The statute was sustained as “narrowly drawn and limited to define and punish specific conduct lying within the domain of state power, the use in a public place of words likely to cause a breach of the peace.”

Do you use "fighting words " to express your opinion?

I didn't say "watch what you say." I was asking "DO you watch what you say?" it got cut off.

DARK KNIGHT- thank you for understanding my question and answering with a basis of knowledge. You really helped clarify my point.

Steven25t---VERY GOOD POINT!

alanagkelly- thank you for your honesty.

NaturalBornKie---I'm sorry, did my spelling offend you?...I do apologize for that. I didn't know it would hurt your feelings. Forgive me?

Diogenes- NH isn't the only state with these types of laws. And There is a more civilized way to express yourself, rather than using profanity and offensive language. There are 100's of better words we could choose from, and there is a good way to say it too. Disagreeing doesn't have to end in profanity and offenses. That is the problem with society. That some are not civilized at all. Just ignorant and uneducated. There is alwasy a way to put something that will not be totally offensive and rude. I agree...disagreement is a part of life, but there is a good and civilized way of going about it.

Diogenes- you are right, it is white or black...Just like either we are civilized educated people or we're not. Obviously we have freedom of Speech. At the same time, we SHOULD have respect for one another. Just like you don't like hearing Christians raving and ranting, I don't like hearing profane and degrading language... Will we both ever be fully satisfied? probably not. But personally I will not rant and rave(either way) but you try not using profane and degrading languae and let's make the world a little better place. It only takes 1 person to start a trend...

Answer 1

"Fight Words" are words used to provoke a negative or violent psychical response. They are not protected under the first anendment. May people do not really know what it says and believe they have the right to say what ever they want to who they want with its protection, that is not true.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
— The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution

It is well understood that the right of free speech is not absolute at all times and under all circumstances. There are certain well-defined and narrowly limited classes of speech, the prevention and punishment of which has never been thought to raise any Constitutional problem. These include the lewd and obscene, the profane, the libelous, and the insulting or “fighting” words — those which by their very utterance inflict injury or tend to incite an immediate breach of the peace. It has been well observed that such utterances are no essential part of any exposition of ideas, and are of such slight social value as a step to truth that any benefit may be derived from them is clearly outweighed by the social interest in order and morality. “Resort to epithets or personal abuse is not in any proper sense communication of information or opinion safeguarded by the Constitution, and its punishment as a criminal act would raise no question under that instrument.”

Answer 2

Of course I use "fighting words" or any other words I feel I need to get my point across. I would argue that the R&S forum does not constitute a public place, in that none of us are really here. It's impossible to lay a hand on each other and none of us know who the others actually are. There is no way for us to perpetrate acts of violence against each other. Not only that, but the New Hampshire Ordinance pertains only to those who are currently within the boundries of New Hampshire.

Have you considered that the "language" you find so offensive is simply how civilized people who disagree work out their differences. It's a perfectly normal part of life in a free civilization where each individual citizen is entitled to their own opinion. The alternative is to sacrifice individual intellectual freedom and embrace the tyranny of an official state religion.

Edit: I see that you've decided to single me out for special attention. Yes, it is true that there are many people in our civilization who are neither educated nor civilized. Guess what? Those people have the same rights as everyone else. That's precisely why we have Freedom of Speech. Everyone has the right to express themselves as best they can -- especially if others don't like it. Name calling and "offensive" language ARE part of ordinary speech and it is the responsibility of those who take offense to avoid that which offends them. Rights come with responsibilities. Those who enjoy the benefits of Freedom of Speech have the responsibility to manage their own emotions, if they read something which offends them. For example, the superstitious blather that Christians so freely spout is extremely offensive to me. I've had to listen to (or read) their vile manipulative lies nearly every day of my life. Do I have the right to curtail their speech? Of course not! Do fundamentalist Christians post egregiously hateful opinions? Yes, every single day. Do I have the right to make them stop offending me? No, I do not! It is my responsibility to manage my own emotions and, if necessary, to avoid that which I find so horribly offensive. At long last, the shoe is on the other foot and now the religious right must deal with the fact that their blatant propaganda is utterly despised by a significant minority of American citizens. We either have genuine Freedom of Speech, or we don't. There is no middle ground.......

Answer 3

Being that we are ALL imperfect, it takes a lot sometimes to keep our words clean, it can be done though. There are people everyday, who live to try to make another break his integrity to God and His laws.
In Psalm 34:13-14, it speaks on how we should safeguard our tongues against badness; to turn away from it and do what's good; to seek peace and pursue it. In these troubled times, that can be a challenge, but WE can do it.

There are many folks out there who would try to incite us otherwise. Psalm 39:1 says " i will guard my ways, to keep from sinning with my tongue. I will set a muzzle as a guard to my own mouth as long as anyone wicked is in front of me.

Remember the old saying about misery loving company? A lot of time that is the case. Many can't stand what's good. They love what's foul and degrading and if they can pull you into that mode of thinking then they are happy.

Do I use fighting words to express my opinion?
I try to be clear and concise and to the point, sometimes I may come off a little harsh, but never vulgar or disrespectful I hope!
I want to be treated with kindness and respect and I hope that is what I give to others.

Answer 4

Let's be real. We have very little 1st amendment freedom of speech rights. If you speak out against something in the work place or state a strong belief in something you can lose your job or position within the community. Everything is about "political correctness" for example my job does not want me to use the term CHRISTMAS. I have to say holiday even though Christmas is a legal U.S. holiday. I say the problem runs deeper than just fighting words. I believe the courts like to say we have freedom of speech but we will make life uncomfortable for you if you dare use it.

Answer 5

I can sometimes be quite combative. I'm the first to admit that it's "counterproductive" - if you're concerned with "winning flies." But I can't pretend to respect opinions that I find idiotic. If I get in a fight, at least it's an honest fight, and may the best man win.

But this legislation sounds like the old "Don't yell 'Fire!' in a crowded movie-house." It's a practical expedient for dealing with inevitable sociopaths. Of course it's liable to be abused, and people are justifiably wary of stuff like this as infringing on the First.

Answer 6

The problem with this is who DEFINES what a fighting word is??

Obviously, if you call a person the N word, those are fighting words. But, they call each other the N word all the time with no fights...
Between non-beleivers, we may refer to belief as a delusion. This word insults the believer and may be taken as a fighting word - but isnt meant as such by the atheist.

So, Ive got issues with this "law".

Answer 7

yeah there is also seperation of state and church. this is a religious section. like going to a church if you get offended when someone is preaching out of the Bible then nothing protects you as a person. i.e. gays or tattoos or anything else. some views are personal but some are plain and simple in the Bible. personal would be tv or no tv. i believe to not have a tv but others say it is ok. the Bible does not specify tv. of course the Bible was made well before tv as well. it does talk about worldy things though. and things that effects our souls. gays however or that lifestyle the Bible plain and simply talks about it being an abomination. so just talking about being against that sin can cause a fight however it is a Biblical statement.

now yes they are trying to pass saying that pastors cant preach against that anymore even though it is in the Bible because of discrimination but not passed yet.

Answer 8

I got your fighting words right here:

Technical Knock Out
Spar
Knockout
Left Hook
Jab
Roundhouse
Full Nelson

You want some more of this!

Answer 9

I think if you opened your mind a little and stop being defensive, you might learn something!

"Any point of any nature is not worth defending unless it is a matter of life and death, open your mind to things beyond yourself and you might recieve a different point of view" -Teddy Roosevelt

Answer 10

People can say whatever they want, but they must deal with the consequences.
I try to stick to facts and things I believe, but sometimes i can't help but call someone an idiot.