If freedom of speech is restricted at all, does it actually exist? If there is any restriction, who sets those restrictions? Who has that right if I don't? Why do they have that right if I don't? What if their standards are completely different to mine?
Freedom of speech
- Thread starter Adam
- Start date
CounslerCoffee
Registered Senior Member
A complete freedom of speech does not exist, if it did then I could post nude photos of women on my computer at school, but I cant, that's obscene.
Everyone's standards are different. For instance I don't think that showing a porno on Channel 3 at 4PM should be allowed, somebody's kids might see that. Now in channel 3 did that at 10PM when the kids are in bed, then that's okay.
Its not completely free, its just got restrictions for doing certain things at certain times or saying certain things in certain places.
In general, a right is no longer a right is it infringes upon someone else's rights. So the shouting fire in a theater interferes with others' well being (unless there's a real fire
). Being able to show porn in an easily accessible public place where kids might be exposed is pushing the limit of free speech as well, but never should a view be suppressed because of the view itself, only the effect of that view.
). Being able to show porn in an easily accessible public place where kids might be exposed is pushing the limit of free speech as well, but never should a view be suppressed because of the view itself, only the effect of that view.Tricky question...
I'd say that a Freedom is no longer a Freedom once its infringed. So while we don't have absolute freedom of speech, what we have is a freedom of most speech.
I'd say that a Freedom is no longer a Freedom once its infringed. So while we don't have absolute freedom of speech, what we have is a freedom of most speech.
You have freedom of thought,opinion,and what you do to your own body,or you should be able to have all those without trouble.
However i have had most of my arms tattooed,and thats both
an opinion and my body with some sort of imaginative thought process over the choice of the many desighns,doesnt stop people taking away my freedom of choice or speech over job applications of which others have,or someone making a certain judgement different accordingly.
Too much literal expression pushes you into a minority group it seems,
although im proud of it and thats all that matters.
Besides some people are intrigued including employers.
However i have had most of my arms tattooed,and thats both
an opinion and my body with some sort of imaginative thought process over the choice of the many desighns,doesnt stop people taking away my freedom of choice or speech over job applications of which others have,or someone making a certain judgement different accordingly.
Too much literal expression pushes you into a minority group it seems,
although im proud of it and thats all that matters.
Besides some people are intrigued including employers.
I think the ultimate arbitor of whether or not there is freedom of speech is whether or not there is anything to gain or lose by it, and this affects what rules are made and whether or not they're followed.
So, you might have a situation where technically it's forbidden but there's something to be gained by speaking out, even at risk, or at least privately with your peers, so you don't actually lose something (like your life or freedom). Or, it might be loudly proclaimed as a freedom but in practice not a good idea because of all the unspoken rules that would mean you lose status, credibility, popularity - and, at worst, people come to censor their own thoughts.
So really, to my mind, it's the unspoken rules that matter most and I'd much rather live in an environment of free thought, where I could at least be comfortable having dicverse opinions from my friends (whatever the laws on speech) than a place where I had to keep my thoughts to myself.
So, you might have a situation where technically it's forbidden but there's something to be gained by speaking out, even at risk, or at least privately with your peers, so you don't actually lose something (like your life or freedom). Or, it might be loudly proclaimed as a freedom but in practice not a good idea because of all the unspoken rules that would mean you lose status, credibility, popularity - and, at worst, people come to censor their own thoughts.
So really, to my mind, it's the unspoken rules that matter most and I'd much rather live in an environment of free thought, where I could at least be comfortable having dicverse opinions from my friends (whatever the laws on speech) than a place where I had to keep my thoughts to myself.