What is the limit of "free speech"?

[MrLuckDuck]

Really, all I am wondering is what you guys think is the limit of free speech. Like, is booing George Bush off-stage because he just announced that he is hiking income tax by 50% to pay of the debt of the Iraq war an example of free speech or just plain disrespect?

Or for example if someone says "I want to kill the president of the United States" would that be too far?
considering it's a federal offense.

What's your opinion on free speech and the context and limit of how it is used?

[Jaketheclonetrooper]

I think a person can express any of his opinion, beliefs etc. freely. Public criticism is one thing, libel,slander and defamation in general are something else.

[ThePretenders]

There has to be limits on free speech. For example, inciting racial and religious hatred by saying kill/injure all blacks/Jews/infidels is abuse of that right because you're stirring up agitation and hatred within communities and should be illegal.

Holocaust denial is another abuse of free speech because it seeks to legitimise their theory of Nazism by appealing to vulnerable youths and telling them that the government and their parents are lying to them. Criminalising that act would close an avenue for them to preach their hateful ideology and again prevent from using their voice to stir up hatred.

In all Western countries they have one or both laws to prevent those acts I have mentioned.

[BAWLS]

Hm. It appears that with regard to hate speech, America stands alone.

Canada, England, France, Germany, the Netherlands, South Africa, Australia and India all have laws or have signed international conventions banning hate speech. Israel and France forbid the sale of Nazi items like swastikas and flags. It is a crime to deny the Holocaust in Canada, Germany and France.

...

By contrast, American courts would not stop a planned march by the American Nazi Party in Skokie, Ill., in 1977, though a march would have been deeply distressing to the many Holocaust survivors there.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/12/us/12h ate.html?scp=1&sq=hate+speech&st=nyt

[AapoJoki]

Anything short of death threats or instigating violence.

[hotfacts4you]

People should be allowed to speak their mind. I don't think threats should be allowed though. However, saying "I would kick the President's ass" is not a threat in my opinion. I mean they will never have the chance to kick his ass. If you say, "I would shoot the president" that is a threat. You could have the chance to shoot him.

[D2Kvirus]

Been done. Sort of...

[homor]

freedom of speech: saying "i hate geogre bush"

not freedom of speech: threating geogre bush's life.

freedom of speech: protesting outside wal-mart over something stupid.

not freedom of speech: going into wal-mart and shouting at everyone for trying to shop there.

freedom of speech: asking john kerry a tough question at a speech

not freedom of speech: shouting at him, refusing to leave, and struggling against the police when they come to take you away.

freedom of speech: protesting outside your office building because you don't get paid enough to make a living.

not freedom of speech: attacking people for crossing the picket line.

freedom of speech: setting a flag on fire, but you're still an asshole.

not freedom of speech: shouting fire in a crowded room.

there, i hope that helps.

[BAWLS]

At 6/22/08 02:07 PM, D2Kvirus wrote: Been done. Sort of...

dude, this forum's like eight years old. EVERYTHING'S been done. =]

[ImaSmartass2]

I wish the Goddamned Constitution would be more specific on these matters.

I say it's crossed the line when someone us conducting hate speech, protesting on privite property, visiting people multiple times just to annoy or advertise them, etc.

[Memorize]

Just because something is distressing to a certain group doesn't mean it should be outright banned. If a Nazi group wants to have a rally, then we let them.

After all, it's not like we have laws against bringing up the Crusades if it makes either the religious or Native groups offended. It's not like we have laws bringing up the death of Christ if it makes Christians or Jewish people offended.

[D2Kvirus]

At 6/22/08 02:30 PM, BAWLS wrote:

At 6/22/08 02:07 PM, D2Kvirus wrote: Been done. Sort of...

dude, this forum's like eight years old. EVERYTHING'S been done. =]

I filed this under the Topic Within The Last 30 Days Rule.

[BAWLS]

At 6/22/08 03:06 PM, D2Kvirus wrote: I filed this under the Topic Within The Last 30 Days Rule.

Understood, sir.

[animehater]

At 6/22/08 02:16 PM, homor wrote: freedom of speech: setting a flag on fire, but you're still an asshole.

I always thought of that as being as divisive as hate speech so I would disagree.

Though both are A okay in America

[Polaron]

Probably suicide bombing.

[Memorize]

At 6/22/08 04:14 PM, animehater wrote:

At 6/22/08 02:16 PM, homor wrote: freedom of speech: setting a flag on fire, but you're still an asshole.

I always thought of that as being as divisive as hate speech so I would disagree.

I'd ban it for the simple fact that a group of packed people shouldn't be lighting things on fire...

[The-evil-bucket]

If you meet with four other people in a basement every night and work on your elaborate scheme to hijack a armored car and kill the driver, that's illegal, conspiring to commit murder.

[aninjaman]

At 6/22/08 04:42 PM, The-evil-bucket wrote: If you meet with four other people in a basement every night and work on your elaborate scheme to hijack a armored car and kill the driver, that's illegal, conspiring to commit murder.

Conspiring to kill and free speech are different.

[gunner-564]

there is no limt i can curse all day long by the white house if i want...and i will

[Vyzer]

There is no true free speech if speech is regulated by government. Free speech would only work in a place without government.

[streetbob]

I think a person can express any of his opinion, beliefs etc. freely. Public criticism is one thing, libel,slander and defamation in general are something else.

I agree but sometimes jokes are taken to far like in Oklahoma they outlawed a button that said "If Obama wins can we still call it the white house"

[streetbob]

At 6/22/08 02:16 PM, homor wrote: freedom of speech: saying "i hate geogre bush"

Who doesn't hate him.

not freedom of speech: threating geogre bush's life.

I can't stop threating him.

freedom of speech: protesting outside wal-mart over something stupid.

Trust me little umm.....girl. Everything about wal-mart is stupid once you think about it!

not freedom of speech: going into wal-mart and shouting at everyone for trying to shop there.

Well people shoudn't shop there. The world has alot of retards who like the sound of themselfs shouting.

freedom of speech: asking john kerry a tough question at a speech

I don't know about you but I like makeing john kerry think!

not freedom of speech: shouting at him, refusing to leave, and struggling against the police when they come to take you away.

Okay man your busting my balls here. Your telling me to stop doing everything I like to do.

freedom of speech: protesting outside your office building because you don't get paid enough to make a living.

Okay i'll agree on that

not freedom of speech: attacking people for crossing the picket line.

but thats my line so there for my land lol jk

freedom of speech: setting a flag on fire, but you're still an asshole.

ok I agree on setting a flag on fire meaning your an asshole!

not freedom of speech: shouting fire in a crowded room.

ok thats just mean

there, i hope that helps.

it doesn't sorry better luck next time

[streetbob]

dude, this forum's like eight years old. EVERYTHING'S been done. =]

Do we give a shit?!
Oh thats right we don't!

[ChuckAP]

You can say anything you want...as long as you don't piss off the wrong lawyer.

[NDawg07]

The thing is that there ARE laws of obscenity in America. There are countless examples of people being arrested for either "Disturbing the Peace" or "Obscenity." It's happened to Aerosmith, George Carlin, ME! Usually these charges are quickly dismissed or just ticketed, but sometimes not.

If you go to a convent full of nuns and start screaming, "FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK!" Eventually you can and most likely WILL get apprehended.

The starting post asked if this is freedom of speech or disrespect. Unfortunately we, as Americans, have the freedom to disrespect. Respect is something very lost in recent generations, and no law can bring it back. Only the people can fix that problem, and they're too busy complaining about President Bush.

[JT1]

First, I do not think that the federal government has any authority to limit free speech. The First Amendment states, "Congress shall make no law ... abridging the freedom of speech..." It goes without saying then that the executive and judicial branch cannot define or restrict the freedom of speech.

The states and local governments have limited authority to restrict the freedom of speech. I still can only conceive of very few circumstances in which speech should be limited. Disturbing the peace obviously should be restricted. Obvious harassment and intimidation should be banned. There should be very little, if any, censorship of political viewpoints, even if they are racist. Booing at an event by no means should be banned.

An important part of freedom is self-control. We should not yell obscenities or preach hatred, etc. If we want to preserve Liberty, we should act with a decent respect for others.

[KingAdamTheGreat]

I think the limit is to the point that people stop listening to you or when you do something illegal such as a death threat

[aninjaman]

At 6/23/08 12:47 PM, KingAdamTheGreat wrote: I think the limit is to the point that people stop listening to you or when you do something illegal such as a death threat

Well if a death threat is a crazy hobo on the side of a street you can ignore that but if the peson has a weapon or the threats are reapeted that is when free speech ends and you should tell the police. Also yelling fire in a crowded theater when there is no fire is not free speech its being a douche.

[hereforrock]

The limit? Don't say 'fuck' in front of little children or their mothers.

[aninjaman]

At 6/23/08 02:35 PM, hereforrock wrote: The limit? Don't say 'fuck' in front of little children or their mothers.

Thats more of a moral problem then a legal problem. If you do that cops wont aresst you but take you away from the kids. Also racial slurs should be past the limit of free speech.