General Chat

Yes I know...another debate :-D

I was just wondering if there are various interpretations of the term 'freedom of speech'.

To me, it means the right to have an opinion and voice it. It also means the right to disagree with another opinion.

With that freedom comes responsibility of course and as long as it isn't defamatory, libellous or slanderous, personal or just downright nasty, freedom of speech is a right all of us have.

What do you think?

not always true do we really have freedom of speech
somebody somewhere will always think
that freedom of speech is about them
when maybe its just not about nobody at all
but somebodys true feelings

I suppose everything we say is open to interpretation, or misinterpretation sometimes, as there are always the poor sensitive souls who think it's about them, or a dig at them, when it's actually not. But that shouldn't put us off saying what we feel should it? None of us would say anything to anyone if we all thought...oo someone might take that a different way to what was meant... AT the end of the day, it's their problem, not the person voicing their feelings.

couldnt of put it better myself TW

I was looking earlier at the US First Amendment ( re the US citizen test)

edited by me as it is US referenced (legal cases etc):

Categorical exclusions to United States First Amendment right to free speech are

Incitement to crime

Fighting words... incitement to immediate violence or defamation.

True threats

Obscenity. It is speech to which all the following apply: appeals to the prurient interest, depicts or describes sexual conduct in a patently offensive way, and lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value. (This is usually applied to more hard-core forms of pornography.)

Child pornography

Invasion of privacy

Intentional infliction of emotional distress

All of those seem reasonable to me to protect the rights of others to live without threat.

As Teresa has said freedom comes with responsibilty. That might be a responsibility to 'make every effort' to ensure one gets all the facts right before publication.

In personal terms I may not agree with someone's opinion, and if I could I would (LOL I do!) try and offer my own views to counterbalance it, preferably with some 'proof' .

i dnt think we have no freedom of speech :-\

Catching up lol...People can get very touchy and think any comment about a subject is aimed at them, when quite often it's a general comment not aimed at anyone in particular.

for eg if someone posted on here about single mums with teenage lads, I might if I was paranoid lol, think it was aimed at me.... but it clearly wouldn't be.

Well said Rose.

I would defend to the death an person's right to voice their opinion...whether or not I agree with it. But I also expect in return the right to disagree with someone, either in what they say or something they do, and be able to say so without being gagged for it.

Informed opinion is a great tool, and there is usually enough information to support an opinion on something whether it be one way or another...as there are always two sides to every coin. But sometimes it's good to see the more immediate reaction to something too, as we all have to think on our feet from time to time, things crop up which we don't expect, and our opinion of it often leads to whatever action we might take...or simply just voicing our first thoughts.

Freedom of speech ended in this country when politicians and the PC brigade started interfering and legislating because they did not like their OWN interpretation of what was being said,

You only now have any sort of freedom to say what others agree with other wise you are subject to the laws on discrimination whether that be religious, racial, or any other type that the law can throw at you

This process started in the 1970's



Roy

we defo dont have it on here, ya cant have a decent debate without someone taking it personal n it kickign of or getting reported,

but even in real life there is boundries to what you can and carnt say,

what Roy said :-D

Ohhhhhhh dont' get me started on PC. The PC brigade are jsut do-gooders who take delight in being offended on BEHALF of other people, never mind whether those people are actually offended or not.

*zips mouth or I'll be treading on dangerous ground*

:-D :-S

Laws on racial discrimination, sex descrimination etc are there for a reason though, and I am glad that they are. There is nothing "politically correct" about ensuring, for example, that men and women have the same employment rights, it should go without saying of course...but since it didn't laws had to be made. The same applies to race sexual orientation and religion.

On here I would much rather someone countered my opinion with a reasoned argument ( even if they are still wrong lol) than press 'report' to silence me... that way at least others get to read both opinions and make their own decision.

Stray, I nearly said that you only have to read the GR T&C or T&C on any web site where you can interact with any another human to confirm that we have NO Freedom of Speech.

Roy

I'm always more than happy to be disagreed with during a debate....quite happy to hear another point of view without getting my knickers in a twist ..

Well ..that's not strictly true.....I DO sometimes have to remove objects from the room when I know certain politicians are going to be on Question time LOLOLOL...but I wouldn't suggest that they be silenced just because I don't agree with them.......though sometimes I find the thought appealing if only for the sake of my blood presssure lolololol

There was a thread about abortion the other day on here and I absolutely disagreed with some of the comments...but I wouldn't dream of RR'ing them or objecting to them.......they have as much right to their views as I do...........even though I know I'm right (tongue firmly in cheek) lol x

You see I don't really agree that we have no freedom of speech....because I am never silenced by anyone lolol...if it gets deleted I will just rephrase it slightly and post again till I get banned ;-) pain in the **** that I am ;-)

No I wouldn't say we have NO freedom of speech. After all Roy,you just said that, and have a right to say it :-)

I would say that in part that freedom is restricted, but by what? Responsibility? Rules? PC? Yes all of those, but also by common sense. If you say something racist, abusive, discriminatory, offensive, or just downright nasty, of course you are going to be stopped. It's common sense to know the difference between genuine heartfelt thought and opinion, and something like the above, and it is OUR choice to give one type of opinion or the other, not someone elses. Most of us make a decision based on common sense and decency...other make a decision because they don't care?

Having a rule on a site saying you should not be racist or abusive has not removed your freedom of speech. You can always say what you want to say in a more conservative way ;-)

RamblingRose, totally agree with your points on discrimination,

But that is totally different to someones right to Freedom of Speech

Free speech is just that it is the spoken word,

and should not be seen as freedom to act or behave in a manor that is unfair/ discriminate agains others

Roy

Muffy.
the thread you posted on the other day about abortion,was mine,and im sorry if it offended you..the debate was about sex selection and not the many other reasons why woman decide to abort their baby"s.but must admit that some went off thread abit ,but all the postings were very interesting wether it be for or against abortion....i also agree with what you said about freedom of speech,although i dont agree with a few things said on this site,i wouldnt think of RRing a thread.we all have our own opinions. :-D

sorry for going off thread teresa :-D :-D

No problem Suzanne :-D

I didn't see the abortion thread but there would have been a fine example of what I'm trying to say about freedom of speech. I know Muffy well enough to know she would never have been offended by a point of view she didn't agree with, and like me, would defend to the death the right of that person to have that opinion, agreed or not.