Should free speach, always be free?

Question

I just wanted to answer a question in relation to whether Americans were, well, stupid. I was going to give a balanced answer, mostly in America's favour, but the question was taken off here as it "was against guidelines". Shouldn't this be a forum to let people's views be heard. Best wasy to stop extremism is to break it down with intelligence, surely, not let it go underground?

Answer 1

No speech is always free. In the U.S. governments are severely limited in restricting speech based on what is being spoken.

This limitation does not normally apply to private entities, including Yahoo.

Yahoo is a business, and in the long run its goal is to make profits for its shareholders. For this reason it will "protect" much of its audience by limiting some forms of speech.

The free speech principle you refer to is the "marketplace of ideas," which was proposed by U.S. Supreme Court justice Oliver Wendell Homes, Jr. in a case called Abrams v. U.S. It is a very powerful concept that has remained with us.

Holmes's opinion, by the way, was a dissenting opinion -- he supported the losing side.

Answer 2

What free speech? We don't have free speech anymore. If we did, a person could call a black person the N-word without it being called a hate crime. You could tell a cop to f___ off without being arrested. I'd like to know where you get the idea that we have free speech.

Answer 3

Yes but tell that to Bt, Sky etcetc.

Answer 4

No.
If it is detremental to individuals or society as a whole.

Answer 5

speech is free, its the consequences which cost...

Answer 6

yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes i think it should