Do you believe in free speech?

Sealily · Joined: 25 Feb 2004 Posts: 203 Location: Colorado

:lol: Hi,
What are you views on free speech? Let's talk..thanks. :o :lol:

Patty

ukevents.net · Joined: 15 Dec 2003 Posts: 2517

I am not sure 100% undiluted free speech exists in the real world. :smt009

If everybody said anything they wanted to there would be lots of :smt021

Sealily · Joined: 25 Feb 2004 Posts: 203 Location: Colorado

Ok, I understand your viewpoint. Maybe you could try to understand mine too.

Patty

Sealily · Joined: 25 Feb 2004 Posts: 203 Location: Colorado

ukevents.net wrote: I am not sure 100% undiluted free speech exists in the real world. :smt009

If everybody said anything they wanted to there would be lots of :smt021

Hey, I know what you mean. I just thought it would be interesting to take this poll. No one says everything they think, you know. It's just that to have the right to speak freely is important. What kind of country would you prefer to live in? In your world, how would you like it to be?

Patty :o

Jon1983uk · Joined: 12 Oct 2004 Posts: 4423

It's great to have free speech, but at the same time you can never really have it totally.

Some things are taboo (would you talk about how desireable a stranger is a bus stop for example?) and some rules/laws are there to protect the general public (racism, verbal provocation to fight).

So I think we need certain rules and guidelines of basic humanity at times to make sure free speech doesn't become offensive, yet at the same time it is a basic human right to have free speech.

Sealily · Joined: 25 Feb 2004 Posts: 203 Location: Colorado

:o I know what you mean, Jon. I started this poll just to see what people think..thanks for adding your views.

Patty :lol: :o 8)

orionrobots · Joined: 13 Oct 2004 Posts: 168 Location: London,Uk

The problem is that the poll makes it all to black and white, as does any government.

Some people say "the right to free speach and the right to retaliate".

My general view is that it is a right that should be given with the proviso of remaining responsible for your words, and being aware of who and how they will affect. There are times and places to say things - and those should be respected. So it is grounded in common decency. I think any citizen should be free to voice an opinion - as long as it is state as an opinion - until there is fact to back it up. I do not think racism or sexism have a place in our society.

I would never want a society like China, with so many taboos and people dissappearing for saying things against the government, but equally - there must be limits. A middle ground- non fundamentalist place must exist - and not on a simple 1 dimensional scale either. Fundamentalism - in any form, is fundamentally wrong.

So my answer can not simply be yes or no - as I feel the issue is too complex for a yes or no answer.

From a broader issue - I do not think the right should extend to corporations. I despise the way corporations claim human rights, while not being accountable or responsible in the same way.