I'm sick of this "freedom of speech" excuse

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12 Comments

To be clear, it is true that at least in the USA, people are free to say whatever they want without legal consequences. However, I am sick of people using "freedom of speech" as if it frees them from other people from turning the tables on them or that it gives them complete immunity from any consequences. For example, I see in comment sections about someone saying a bunch of inflammatory things and people start defending them by saying "It's freedom of speech, stop bashing him". Of course he is free to say that, and it is legal, but that doesn't mean that people aren't free to give him the finger and call him a *********. I'm also perfectly free to say "Your vocal chords deserve to be severed".

tl;dr: Freedom of speech is okay, but I am sick of people using it as if it gives them immunity from any (non-legal) consequences.

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66% Normal
Based on 50 votes (33 yes)
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Comments ( 12 )
  • ThisIsImpossible
    9 years ago

    What's the point if not to exercise it? Maybe all the free speakers are tired of your bitchy little whining's and you have just as much right to be told to shut the fuck up as anyone else.

    Haha, that's right, shut the fuck up!

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    • Anonymous Post Author
      9 years ago

      No you.

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  • pixie_dust
    9 years ago

    Freedom of speech protects a person from being arrested or otherwise punished by the government for having a particular opinion. It's not a license to be disrespectful in general. Whoever said that is taking it out of context.

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  • NeuroNeptunian
    9 years ago

    I fail to see why this is an issue that people still talk about. By the time you get out of High School, you should have realized that

    1) You have the right to speak freely but you don't have the right to an audience.

    2) You have the right of free speech but you do not have the right of immunity from how others might respond.

    3) Others have a right to respond to inflammatory speech with inflammatory speech and to threats with retaliation.

    4) You're not going to change someone's beliefs by acting like an angry child - in fact, you will only succeed in making your cause look worse by discrediting yourself and the individuals who support it.

    ...and most importantly...

    5) Just because you have the right to say it does not mean you should always feel the need.

    There is a time and a place for everything. Internet forum discussing such topics? Ok. Actual debate in real life with willing individuals? Ok. Protest or rally for a cause? Ok. When you see someone posting about Jesus on their Facebook or reading a Twilight novel next to you in class? Not ok.

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    • Anonymous Post Author
      9 years ago

      What I meant is that how people act like freedom of speech gives them immunity from your point 2 or 3. Some people act like freedom of speech entitles them immunity from how others respond.

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  • thegypsysailor
    9 years ago

    I don't get your point. Are you saying it's OK to say whatever you please only if others have the same right? Isn't that the way it already is?

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    • Anonymous Post Author
      9 years ago

      What I'm referring to is how people act like freedom of speech entitles them to complete and irrevocable immunity from any (non-violent or otherwise illegal) backlash. Often when you go online and they hear about someone saying something offensive, people will often defend them and say it is his/her right to say it and that people have to right to complain about it. It's true that it is his/her right, but what annoys me is how people act like freedom of speech means that nobody else has a right to retaliate in legal ways.

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  • JohnnytheBanned
    9 years ago

    speaking of freedom of speach.. the iin nazis that run this shit hole banned my account LOL... i'll just make another 1 you dumbass fucktards!

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  • Nokiot9
    9 years ago

    If someone uses that as a defense they're an idiot. Its a gaurentee of their right to speak, not speak and avoid all and any consequences of their backward diatribe.

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  • Ocean239
    9 years ago

    I'll be talking to some of my bitchy friends, and then they do something stupid like punch me in the stomach, and I say practically shout "WHAT THE HELL?! WHY THE FUCK DID YOU DO THAT?!??" and they respond with the same fucking excuse every fucking time : "It's a free country."

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  • Unimportant
    9 years ago

    I value freedom of speech a lot. It should be an unalienable right in all societies.

    If one uses this right to say stupid gibberish, others are obviously allowed to exercises THEIR freedom of speech to point out, how ridiculous he/she sounds.

    So, no. Freedom of speech is not an excuse to get away with nonsensical opinions. It is a conversation opener. After all, it is better if someone expresses his stupid ideas and gets embarrassed in a debate about them - thus making him rethink those ideas. The worse scenario would be someone harbouring his stupid ideas in his mind, because he doesn't have the right to express and discuss them.

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    • Anonymous Post Author
      9 years ago

      You missed the point of my post.

      I am NOT saying that people shouldn't be allowed to say stupid gibberish like this. I was referring to how people act like it gives them complete immunity from backlash from others. For example, someone can say stuff like "It was hilarious how the orphanage burned down and the kids died" but it doesn't mean that people aren't allowed to respond angrily by calling him a sick, heartless man. Online, I often see people say stuff like "You have no right to call him sick or heartless because he has freedom of speech". Freedom of speech goes both ways.

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