Does the Freedom of Speech allow you the Right to Insult?
Item: Egyptian satirist Bassem Youssef, frequently compared to American comedian Jon Stewart, was arrested and released on the charge that he insulted President Mohamed Mursi, who was propelled into power by the Muslim Brotherhood of Evil Mutants.
Item: Bill Maher and Rush Limbaugh representing the left and right respectively, who make their living insulting people, have never been arrested, although many feel that both have exceeded what would be termed as "acceptable."
Query - The Freedom of Speech in the United States is protected by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution but it does have legal limitations. a) Does it give one the right to insult anyone, at anytime and to any degree? b) Does it or should it also have limitations?
In many Middle Eastern cultures there are 'insult' laws that don't allow you to insult others, though they are very 'protectionist' for those in power that don't like to hear criticism and are rarely applied to just the regular guy and say, his next door neighbor.
Ir really depends upon where you are standing or where you are at when the insult is delivered. if your on a forum whith rules against insults then no you do not have that right,..however if you are standing on a public street and you wish to deliever an insult you have the right to do it,...keep in mind you need to be bigger or faster than the person you are insulting,.....
You can say whatever you want... as long as you are willing to deal with the consequences.
Freedom of speech does not imply protection from speech. It also doesnt imply protection of speech.
If you want to go out and protest gay marriage by barraging people with hate speech, curses, and damnation; you go ahead... but if some gay person starts calling you names right back... them's the breaks.
Likewise, you yell fire and get three people trampled, you're up for murder charges in my book.
So... dont dish it if you cant take it.
Just my opinion.
Being offended starts and ends with the "insulted" individual.
Too frequently, freedom of speech runs counter to oppressive governments and archaic religions and such speechrestrictivelaws are used tosuppressand eliminate competition.
In this example: neither the Egyptian government or the absurd creed of Islam can withstand scrutiny and critique.
The US has more freedom of speech than most countries in the world (including, btw, much of Europe).
To cite but one example-- in most Muslim countries there is a widespread obsession with religion. There you do not have the freedom say or publish anything critical of Mohammed, (PBUH) or even Islam in general. And if you do, you will go to jail-- or worse:
Expressing political view that differ from your own, or burning the Koran (or the Bible, etc) may piss some people off-- but they are all examples of the right to free speech that we have in the U.S. (and often take for granted).
In addition, as most of those countries are either dictatorships or democracies in name only, with much less freedom of speech than in the U.S., you can also go to jail for criti8ci8aing the government-- even speaking or publishing the sort of relatively mild criticism of the government that appears on sites like NT every day!
There should be no limit to free speech. Once you limit speech, you limit freedoms. Our rights are being eroded exponentially and free speech is under attack now. We are being watched as we type and I'm sure we all use some of the words that automatically get flagged. We are under constant surveillance and not many seem to care. If they are not looking to limit rights, why are they watching?
Well.
To me, personal freedom of speech is in allowing one to say what one is thinking/feeling. Some people may be offended by the fact that you feel differently than they do, but most of the time, people aren't offended if you respect their thoughts, as well.
But, I also think that with freedom comes responsibility. I have to be responsible enough to say my differing opinion in a way that is respectful, not trying to harm others. I have to say what I want in a way that doesn't create turmoil, like NOT screaming "Fire" in a theater. Freedom/responsibility go hand in hand.
At least that is what I think. I'm glad that I live here in the US-- most countries are not so free.
Bang on Dowser
Yeah... It does SO much good! LOL!
Not in most countries in the world.
However in he U.S. we do have that right:
This is a good place to discuss the difference between freedom of speech and bigotry. For some reason, the religious can't understand this important difference and it's what frustrates me more than anything about the self-righteous.
Freedom of speech applies in your personal life, not your public life. You can say anything you want in public, anything at all. The line is drawn on neutral territory, where you can't treat people differently in a public setting, no matter your personal views. When you have a business that is "open to the public", you have no right to express your personal views to the exclusion of some. When you hang an "Open" sign, it's unconditional and neutral to differing views about things that have nothing to do with a business deal.
Freedom of speech is only a true freedom when it is tested.
Insulting a person is a test.
As long as it doesn't endanger the public welfare, it's a go.
The Bill of Rights should have zero limitations whatsoever from any government entity.
Nobody is faster than a bullet. Maybe people should think twice before attacking people over what they say.
Okay honest we as Americans have freedom of speech in my opinion you can say whatever you want to whom ever you want. The problem is that people get offended way to easily these days. When I am out in public I don't try and offend people but if I do so what you are offended and I don't have to care or say I'm sorry. I'm not going to try to offend you unless you offend me so say what you want but I'll dish it right back. If you aren't prepared to pay the consequences then watch what you say.