Page 1 of Freedom Of Speech?

That phrase seems to have been bandied around a lot the past few days.
Can there be such a thing, without drawing a line somewhere? Which means there can`t be total freedom of speech.
I submit (freely admitted, pinched from various other sources, but in line with my mode of thought at this present moment in time):
A key obligation of free speech is that you don`t gratuitously insult those with whom you disagree.
Freedom of speech involves responsibility and choices.
A civilised society is defined by its adherence to freedom of speech.
Someone else (I shall look him up in a minute) on another thread wrote "and common decency" (Choagy).

This item was edited on Sunday, 5th February 2006, 01:27

Freedom of speech is both a right and a responsibility; you should have the right to say (whether orally or written) whatever you want without breaking any slander/libel laws. However, a degree of common sense should be applied and, although its not against the law, one should avoid writing or saying anything that will obviously cause offence to a person or group of people. Evidently, f***wits like Nick Griffin will push the boundaries of free speech so that they do cause offence but don`t strictly speaking break the law.


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A key obligation of free speech is that you don`t gratuitously insult those with whom you disagree.
Isn`t that George Bush`s idea of free speech? Surely some people deserve to be gratuitously insulted?

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However, a degree of common sense should be applied and, although its not against the law, one should avoid writing or saying anything that will obviously cause offence to a person or group of people.ah....that`s where I`m going wrong.... ;)

This item was edited on Sunday, 5th February 2006, 13:22

RJS, just wondered. What would you do if someone posted a pic of Mohammed. Would you leave it up at the risk of offending some people but defending the posters right to freedom of speech, or would you remove it? Not planning to post one btw.

All the best,

Dr 42%er.


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According to recent reports, the prophet looks like Bombhead:

Looks like there`s gonna be a fatwa on the makers of Hollyoaks.

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ah....that`s where I`m going wrong...
One is on a learning curve, I see. ;)

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One is on a learning curve, I see. ....nah, not really - I`m past caring a lot of the time, lol!

Even if you actually think something, "Freedom" of speech only appears to be ok as long as it doesn`t upset or offend anyone else... (which in a lot of cases it will, so you`re not supposed to say it - hence it is hardly "freedom of speech"..... if you get my meaning!). :/ :)

Hence my question mark at the end of the subject heading.

The problem is whos common sense and whos bounderies?

Would "The Life of Brian" ever have been publised if it was the Churchs common sense and bounderies? What about Lady Chatterlies Lover?

Of course, it`s ironic that the Muslim world is protesting about caricatures that show their prophet (and their religion) as violent, threatening and terrorist by burning down building, threatening to kill people and threatening to plant bombs.

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