Freedom of Speech...should it be above everything?

meh

No, sometimes there will be other considerations that out way the freedom of speech/expresion, particularly concerning the consequences of exercising that freedom.

rushfan4 wrote: Of course there should be limits.  You should not be allowed to yell "fire" in a movie theater if there isn't a fire.

Edited by tuxon - September 14 2010 at 18:39

KoS wrote: Yes, as long it as it doesn't endanger anyone, yelling "bomb" in an airport, "fire" in crowded places, or "Catholic!" at an athiest convention.

What KoS said.

As for political and social commentary, anything goes.  Doesn't matter if it "offends" people.   Fight speech you find distasteful with your own speech, counter argue rather than have ridiculous attempts to shut down others with political correctness code.  Beat them with ideas, not with speech regulations. 

Though I do admit, Slarti should should be censored

All reality, freedom of speech is important
(oi like I needed to say that)

But IMHO its not above all.
And this is, I believe, accepted by most.
I maybe wrong, but I thought there were legal cases where speech is not protected.

Such as the classic "fire!" in a movie theater (public endangerment)
Slander and Libel
Jazz like that

We need a Kwisatz Haderach...that will sort out the soap box flotsam.

This is why law, useful though it is in some ways, will never completely work. People should have freedom of speech but there certainly are conditions and situations where people saying/writing a certain thing can lead to disaster so it's not absolute. However, finely specifying exactly what these conditions/situations might be so that people can be prosecuted over it is absolutely impossible. It can only be left to people's own judgement and cannot be legislated.

Freedom of speech is the most important right we have. You can interpret that however you want, but I'm not going to support any form of censorship when it gets to the fundamental level. I would like to think that our common sense would tell us when to hold our tongues. Those of us without that common sense will always speak out in the wrong situations regardless of what laws may be put in place to supposedly prevent it.

If we aren't speaking in legal terms, I think the answer should be obvious. It's up to the individual how he wants to handle the right to speak freely. The right to freedom of expression is also the right to stay silent if you feel that is more appropriate. But I don't really see how it's possible to do anything other than hold free speech to such importance. I mean, just by questioning free speech's importance, you're exercising your right to use it. That's pretty powerful stuff.

So, I don't really think it's a matter of how important you choose to consider it. The fact that you use it every second of your life to different degrees should show how important it is. You don't have to call it the holy grail, but if you don't think it's all that important, then stop and examine the way you take it for granted all the time. You don't have to say something radical in order to be using your right to free speech.

JLocke wrote: Freedom of speech is the most important right we have. You can interpret that however you want, but I'm not going to support any form of censorship when it gets to the fundamental level. I would like to think that our common sense would tell us when to hold our tongues. Those of us without that common sense will always speak out in the wrong situations regardless of what laws may be put in place to supposedly prevent it. If we aren't speaking in legal terms, I think the answer should be obvious. It's up to the individual how he wants to handle the right to speak freely. The right to freedom of expression is also the right to stay silent if you feel that is more appropriate. But I don't really see how it's possible to do anything other than hold free speech to such importance. I mean, just by questioning free speech's importance, you're exercising your right to use it. That's pretty powerful stuff. So, I don't really think it's a matter of how important you choose to consider it. The fact that you use it every second of your life to different degrees should show how important it is. You don't have to call it the holy grail, but if you don't think it's all that important, then stop and examine the way you take it for granted all the time. You don't have to say something radical in order to be using your right to free speech.

WHOA IS DAT SUM FREE THINKING?

sorry I couldn't resist