Should there be limits to free speech?

I'm seeing the turmoil and tragedy allegedly caused by this deliberately incendiary video. Should ALL speech be protected? Would this anti-Muslim video be considered hate speech, and if so, should it be protected or should we do something to stop it?

Just some thoughts.

Should there be limits to free speech?

That is a loaded question.

I believe in our freedom of speech. I may hate what you say, you may know I’ll hate it but its up to me to not react and justify it with violence. That is what we need to strive for. Everyone says hateful things (or can be interpreted as such). We can’t pick and choose.

I feel there’s more to this story. I heard the fake name Sam Bacile was set up to hide himself. Ironic as I always said its as “The Imbecile”. Who knows maybe he knew exactly what he was doing and reaction he’d get. Maybe he just wanted a rise? Has this really been out for over a year and only NOW is getting attention? Who knows?

Does he have a ‘right’ to say whatever he wants in any form? Yes.

I think its interesting because there’s SOOOOO many shades of gray in freedom of speech. What YOU may find hateful, others may agree with. What some find outrageously dangerous hate speech, some may find it just rants of a crazy man not worth getting riled up about.

If ‘hate’ was just a general term and disallowed, I fear progress would be stopped. Our freedom of speech has given this country so much. What is wrong today may be right tomorrow.

I would not let this one idiot take that right from us. In any form.

Should there be limits to free speech?

Now let me be clear. You can SAY whatever you want however you want, but as an owner of a website (youtube, even LIF) they have a right to censor and disallow it.

So yes THAT should be better monitored but the government stepping in? No.

Message edited 9/14/2012 2:15:33 PM.

Re: Should there be limits to free speech?

I asked a similar question recently, not related to this example, but in general.

It is loaded.

If this site is any proof, most anything could be offensive to SOMEBODY.

All it takes is 1 person to take things out of context and twist it and turn it to make a point that turns into everything but what the person was originally saying.

I know the examples I used recently in my ? had to do with something my mom told me.

Her senior club does not allow anyone to bring up anything related to politics because 99% of the time, an argument is going to happen.

In some places, I think this is good.

You can also learn stuff too from other peoples views/opinions so I think limiting stuff is not always useful.

Re: Should there be limits to free speech?

Free speech is what it is. Free.

We can say what we want. When we want. How we want.

Its vile that whassinae in Westboro can have a website "I hate F...ts". (gay slur) But he has a right to do it.

I don't like that people can burn the flag, but they have EVERY right. I would personally fight any regulation to criminalize this. ("they" ban this, whats next??")

I don't like the KKK. But they have a basic right to spew what they want.

We cant regulate free speech. It then changes, and is no longer free speech.

Plus, WHO would be the--person, entity, official-department--to do the regulating?

So no. There should not be a limit to free speech, even if what they are saying is vile.

Re: Should there be limits to free speech?

Is there line though if your "free speech" is causing a threat to national security?

Though one could argue if someone wants to get violent because they don't like my opinion, that's their problem.

Re: Should there be limits to free speech?

Re: Should there be limits to free speech?

Judging by Facebook. Yes.

Re: Should there be limits to free speech?

Posted by nrthshgrl

Judging by Facebook. Yes.

Should there be limits to free speech?

We do not have absolutely free speech. There are limits in place (i.e. - you can't yell fire in a crowded theater, libel and slander laws, etc). That being said, I haven't seen this video, but it sounds like it is something that is and should be protected. I do not think that we should change our way of living/or protections, to give in to terrorists who do not respect one person's right to air view points that differ from theirs.

Re: Should there be limits to free speech?

Should there be limits to free speech?

No you can not draw a line with national security because its our national right to freedom of speech.

As you said yourself, they don't NEED a reason to hate us they already do, why should we change the essential freedoms of our country to pacify them? Why should our national security be in jeporady because their national security is lax? No matter how much we may hate Lybia we aren't (as a country) ok with just nuking them or retaliating. And for me, thats what makes us better.

Re: Should there be limits to free speech?

WOW! Strong opinions here.

I definitely agree. Once you let someone say what is and is not acceptable, it means that ANYONE could be that person in power and it's not a good precedent.

When i was telling my mom the story about the video and the protests she came back at me and asked me why I don't protest plays like Corpus Christi and the Most Fabulous Story Ever Told that would seem sacrilegious to Christians. Well, I don't protest them because they're by 2 of my favorite playwrights... but also because I don't really believe in boycotting or protesting against movies, books etc. My power of protest is to not watch it, I don't feel the need to stop others. My mom was saying we don't react violently to those things (whihc is arguable, since Terrence McNally did receive death threats).

I think the problem I have with this anti-muslim video and others like it is that I feel it was deliberately made to stir up hatred. I just think it is SO wrong. I honestly wish there were some way to stop it from hurting people. Maybe the best bet is a counter offensive, like the angel action protests to the Westboro a-holes.

To play devil's advocate some more, what if there were a movie that contained specific calls to violence against a certain group?

Should there be limits to free speech?

Yes. I think free speech is a huge privilege. But like spidermans uncle said, with great power comes great responsibility. The freedom of speech is a great power. It is powerful. Society is impressionable. Sorry, but I believe in certain censorship. There are too many crazies in our world to give the tremendous freedom out without regard to consequences.

Eta-hate should not be tolerated in this country, therefore hateful speech should not be tolerated.

Etaa-speaking out against injustice, even injustice by our government, is what I think the freedom of speech was created for. I don't think it was intended to defend hatred.

Message edited 9/14/2012 4:54:05 PM.

Re: Should there be limits to free speech?

Re: Should there be limits to free speech?

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Re: Should there be limits to free speech?

The video is a ridiculous excuse for the riots.
These were pre-planned since july/August- for 9/11.

Honestly i cannot even fathom contemplating limiting OUR free speech because of THEIR rioting. They hate us no matter what and will likely continue to do so no matter what.

Re: Should there be limits to free speech?

Re: Should there be limits to free speech?