Freedom Of Speech Options

[Jim]

With freedom comes responsibility. Freedom does not entail infringing on other peoples rights.

In society, all free societies, there are rules of conduct. It is no different here on our forum or anywhere else.

• You go to work, there are rules of conduct.
• You go to school there are rules of conduct.
• You run a business there are rules of conduct.
• You sign up for memberships at your local gym there are rules of conduct.
• You sign up for membership on any forum, there are rules of conduct.

Most of us abide by the rules within a free society.

Freedom doesnt mean allowing chaos or people to infringe on the rights of others.

Its as simple as that.

Freedom of Speech doesnt mean we can shout obscenities at all of the patrons in a local supermarket because we dont like the way they look.

It doesnt mean being able to walk into a Church, Synagogue or Masjid and shout obsenities and insults at everyone.

It doesnt mean coming on a blog, website or forum and typing offensive text either.

Its funny how the same people who wouldnt think of walking into a Church, Synagogue or Mosque to shout insults at everyone are the same people who would come on a website and type offensive text, then cry and complain that they are being oppressed and denied their freedom of speech.

You cant come into our Masjid (Islamfactor) and shout obscenities.

Again, plain and simple.

In a free society there is rules of conduct that all of us are responsible for upholding. If we cant uphold those rules in society, people will kindly show us the door and in some cases bring the police to help!

Freedom is not without responsibility.

The same goes for our forum. Those who cant understand this concept should keep walking.

[Billy]

The real bad guys just kill you, They don't talk about it.

[Jim]

The real bad guys just kill you, They don't talk about it.

[zmhs5]

Bro Jim, I'm sensing some repressed (or maybe not) frustration here.

[Jim]

Bro Jim, I'm sensing some repressed (or maybe not) frustration here.

lol Z. Perhaps, but there is some lessons to be learned I think.

Well, I think that people have much less respect for each other on the internet than they would in person. I believe it is an act of cowardice that people dont realize they display. Its ever so easy to tell off or insult someone on a "faceless, nameless, impersonal" set of electronic blips on our PC monitors than it is in person. People take much greater liberties on the net than they would dream of doing in person. Perhaps out of fear of getting their block knocked off!

I must admit some recent happenings have made me think of this. Internet forums, blogs and websites (including ours) have people who display prime examples of this sort of behavior.

I think i is important to create an internet culture of respect ad tolerance.

People, when faced with sanctions from society (even internet sites like ours) for violations of rules of conduct often resort to vicious attacks claiming their "freedom of speech" is being infringed upon. I think the root of this is in ignorance as to what having "freedoms" really means.

For example, does my "freedom" to speak my mind freely in society give me the right to infringe on another persons rights and freedoms? Say to walk into a Church and shout to the congregation members that they or their founding fathers are liars for preaching Jesus as God?

That is silly. You'd be carried out on your heels and possibly with a police escort if you kept coming in and doing it even after being warned many times.


I remember an situation once a year or so after 9/11 where a DJ entered a mosque at prayer time blaring the National Anthem. The masjid members surrounded him and called the cops to have him removed.

Freedom is not without responsibility in society. The two are married and cannot be separated. In the case of the example, to prevent a person or sanction them for speaking their minds freely in such a manner in a Church is not an infringement on their free speech nor is it censorship.

[History]

Wonderful post, Jim.

In Judaism, we have something we call lashon hara ("the evil tongue"), and it is considered one of the greatest sins, and one people have the greatest difficulty overcoming.
The emphasis is more on "do no harm" than on "free speech" (in its modern connotation of no restrictions).
To the point that even harmless untruths are permssible--e.g. you may not call a bride "ugly" on her wedding day, even if you believe this is true.
I still chuckle when I recall this axiom, for when my older brother was born my father shared he truly looked like a hairless wrinkled white rat, but when my grandmother, of blessed memory had her first look at him, she was silent many moments, then said, "He's got good character." :smile:

Perhaps I should do a Thread over in the Judaism Forum on Lashon Hara.

Respectfully,
History

[Billy]

"Freedom" is often dragged out as an argument when one is challenged for breaking the rules. Most rules are pretty straight forward so it is difficult to argue you didn't break them. Instead people try to say that the rule was wrong in the first place and that their "freedom" takes precedence. But, as you say Jim, freedom is not an absolute. Not only in terms of human interaction but the physical world as well. A person exercising his right to climb Mt Everest dressed in only his Y-fronts with only an ironing board as equipment is going to die with nicely pressed Y-fronts. He's free to try of course but if he wants to do the Matterhorn next year he's going to need to get real.

[Haq al lugi]

Freedom of Speech doesn't require one to listen. It doesn't give one the access to all venues. the radio isn't required to give me airtime - similarly, a website isn't required to give someone a space to write.

Certainly, one may publish their own newsletter, or start their own blog, but no on has to read it.

My problem comes with POVs like NPR. Why should I have to pay for that drivel?

Wazza matter you, Jim?

[Rhoda]

I agree about NPR. If any group should edit itself to remove any hint of bias, it is NPR.

My tax dollars at work?

Let them be self - supporting. More fund drives!