[Ruth]

People who bang on about freedom of speech in this country usually mean that they want freedom to be as bigoted and ignorant as they want, without anybody being able to have a go at them about it. They should be ashamed of themselves. When you consider how much freedom of speech we have in this country compared to some.

I mean, I read somebody moaning about their violation of freedom of speech on another thread, because people suggested calling someone a **** was offensive. This person wanted to be able to call someone a **** if necessary. Well, guess what? Calling someone that is offensive, and with freedom of speech, comes responsibility - you should use your freedom wisely and fairly. Try moaning about that to my friend (for example) who was brought up in South Africa under the Apartheid system and was jailed for speaking up against the government. Try telling that to the people in Zimbabwe whose lives were threatened if they did not vote for Robert Mugabe.

And people have the nerve to moan because they feel they are not allowed to be as racist or as homophobic as they like. It makes me sick.

[brandstifter]

Originally posted by bigbr0ther
Do you support absolute freedom of speech?

[I know most people will probably not pick the 3rd option but I put it in there just in case. You never know!]

Absolute freedom of speech is a stretch in reality.

Examples of where freedom of speech is inappropriate:

Incitement to violence
Threats
Race hate
Name-calling
Breach of the Official Secrets Act
Libel
Slander
Promotion of terrorism

As soon as you say anyone should be allowed to say whatever they want wherever and whenever they want, you're in trouble. Acid test: should someone have the right to shout personal abuse at you in the street? How would you react? Isn't that them just exercising their right to free speech? If not, how does that differ from some journalist doing the same in a publication?