I was watch Glenn Beck a few months ago (actually, i watch it daily, but that's a different story) when he brought up an important topic: Does the constitution imply a total freedom of speech, or does it imply responsible freedom of speech?
Total Freedom of Speech
While it sounds good and preaches well, total freedom of speech would imply that anyone can say anything and there will be no problems. With it, we can practice religion, science, racism, sexism, etc.
Responsible Freedom of Speech
Responsible freedom of speech implies that we have a bit more responsibility in what we say. Ultimately with responsibility added, we find that racism and other offensive terms would be severely limited.
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I believe that everyone should be held responsible for what they say. I also believe that there is an implied responsibility in the constitution. Just as we are a free nation, we must also strive to be responsible with our freedoms. (It's like the freedom to vote: We take so much advantage of it that one day we might end up with a dictator because too many people blindly voted for him.)
What does everyone else think? Did the founding fathers want responsibility when using your rights, or did they want you to abuse it?
that last sentence is a little skewed. of course they intended rights to be used responsibly.
im not sure what youre getting at when you mention racism/sexism/etc. are you asking should it be limited?
(07-27-2009 11:50 AM)Meteorologist Wrote: [ -> ]that last sentence is a little skewed. of course they intended rights to be used responsibly.
im not sure what youre getting at when you mention racism/sexism/etc. are you asking should it be limited?
No, I am asking if it is abusing our freedom or if it is using it.
well, you have every right in the world to be sexist/racist/whatever. the kkk is still around, nazis are still around. while people might disagree with them, theres nothing that can be done. i dont like what theyre saying but ill defend their right to say it forever.
Freedom of speech is a nasty double edge sword.
Personally (and I did mention this in the 4chan topic), I abhor censorship. Looking at it in the extreme, if we were censored in what we were saying, we'd be living in fear of saying the wrong thing (like accidentally implying that someone is fat/unattractive/poor/unsuccessful/other derogatory word here) would result in a form of severe punishment. No one would ever speak their mind because they'd be so afraid of saying the wrong thing. What would we have then?
But then again, total freedom of speech is just as bad. Racial slurs and sexual comments thrown into the media make the words so casual that they lose their meaning (that, and little kids are picking up on it earlier now). People laugh while they insult someone else. People overreact to a misunderstanding. Total freedom of speech, while it sounds like it'd be amazing, really isn't. Mostly because people are stupid.
Responsible freedom of speech sounds like a nice balance. I think the only problem is (and I think this goes back to Raven's initial post in the 4chan thread) education. I highly doubt that people are educated on what's "appropriate" to say like they were, say, fifty years ago. I call it tact. Knowing what to say and when to say it. And yeah, maybe people say the wrong thing at the wrong time...fmylife.com is full of people accidentally sticking their foot in their mouth. On that same token though, the site has lots of stories of asshole boyfriends and girlfriends that, while being truthful, end up hurting their significant other and come across as a general asshole.
Our founding fathers, yeah, I think they'd want us to be responsible with what words we carelessly toss at each other. Again, I think it comes down to educating your kid that you don't say this or that a racial slur is not good for casual conversation. Whatever it might be, people need to learn that when something's not alright to say don't say it. I mean, when we were kids, weren't we (or at least most of us) subjected to the rule, "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all"? That doesn't mean we all turn into shallow flatterers, but I'd rather hear silence than someone commenting on how ugly/stupid/whatever another person is.
As for the Glenn Beck thing, I decline further comment. I used to watch his show until he started annoying me every time he opened his mouth.
I am new user here and coulnt resist on answering on that.
Well I believe that speech is a way of ppl to communicate with each other and shouldnt get over evaluated. However speech most of the times gets out of our fucking mouth without to think what we say or what are the consiquenses. So I dont believe we should rely on that so much. However I believe in freedom and I am a supporter of it. I believe we can do anything that wont harm the others on a psysical way and mentaly in some times. I believe we all should have the right to talk and say any crap we want with no consiquenses. Talk is a human right.
people say that they want freedom of speech but dont liek what peopekl ahev to say. country say they got freedom of speech but then arrest peopel when they speak. i think people take things overbord. they call peopel names and degrade them and then use freedom of spech as their excuse! i dotn buy it!
Freedom of speech is not the same as freedom to be a chauvinistic asshole.
well man, you have every right to say what you want hence "freedom of speech" so theres really no reason to complain about it.
(10-27-2009 07:20 PM)The Silent Orion Wrote: [ -> ]Freedom of speech is not the same as freedom to be a chauvinistic asshole.
That reply is full of win, sir.
What I hate is people who spout their hate and lies and whatever other negativity they have, and then hide behind "I have rights to free speech!" It's not so much freedom of speech as it is just cowardice, IMO.