[republicuk]

Do you believe in freedom of speech, if not, then what are your objections?

I believe in freedom of speech or at least I haven't yet thought of a situation in which I would oppose it.

[RhetoricThug]

I think transparency is more important in the 21st century, hell even the 20th.

Freedom of speech is great, but if you don't have freedom of information...

There is never a situation where it is bad (to my knowledge). If a society deems it unworthy to have free speech- something is fundamentally wrong with said society.

Look at how the intelligence community dances around with words. What was even the point of having a senate confirmation hearing on John Brennan if half the stuff is classified, and a closed to the public hearing follows?

Our Constitution should of included the freedom of information. But to have a Gov work properly in a state of perpetual war they will tell you secrets are norm and standard procedure.

Propaganda indeed.

[Rainbow Crow]

Freedom of speech is a lot more complicated than a lot of people realize since words can have physical impact. It's generally something worth aspiring to, even if it is impossible to perfectly define.

[Rothbardian]

Freedom of speech is a lot more complicated than a lot of people realize since words can have physical impact. It's generally something worth aspiring to, even if it is impossible to perfectly define.

You are free to say whatever you want. And you are responsible for your actions. It is that simple.

[Americanroyalty]

Yes I believe Freedom of speech is critical to any functioning democracy. Just look at what's happened in russia with Putin's oppressive and lawless regime. Any citizen should be able to call their leaders assholes without fear of being jailed.

[RhetoricThug]

Yes I believe Freedom of speech is critical to any functioning democracy. Just look at what's happened in russia with Putin's oppressive and lawless regime. Any citizen should be able to call their leaders assholes without fear of being jailed.

But Pussy Riot is a terrible band. They were mainly locked up for lack of musical taste.

[Americanroyalty]

But Pussy Riot is a terrible band. They were mainly locked up for lack of musical taste.

Well It's the principle that counts not the crappy self-involved music a person makes.

[Rainbow Crow]

You are free to say whatever you want. And you are responsible for your actions. It is that simple.

Except when it's not, like when the speech is planning violence but you don't actually partake in violence as well, or when you otherwise say things that result in people getting hurt.

This is the "shouting fire in a crowded theater" hypothetical. Hopefully you aren't one of those anarchist types that would let people go around causing panic and stampedes for their own amusement.

[republicuk]

Except when it's not, like when the speech is planning violence but you don't actually partake in violence as well, or when you otherwise say things that result in people getting hurt.

This is the "shouting fire in a crowded theater" hypothetical. Hopefully you aren't one of those anarchist types that would let people go around causing panic and stampedes for their own amusement.

Saying things which lead to people getting hurt eg. if my employer lied to me that an electrical cable was dead when in fact it was live and I was killed, he would probably be charged with voluntary manslaughter which is not a freedom of speech issue and we can't criminalise lying.

[Andalublue]

I don't believe in an unrestricted freedom of speech, and indeed there's nowhere in the world where you'll find it. I believe that with every right comes the responsability to do no harm. I also believe that sayingyou may say anything you wish is not the same as believing you should say anything you wish. People should be held to account for the violent consequences of their free speech, just as they are held responsible for the consequences of their freely-engaged-in actions.

I am against wholesale censorship of any ideas that do not incite violence or violent hatred of others. I am against that censorship being imposed either by government control of the media or by the private exercise of the privilege of owning media outlets.

Media activity and ownership in the current modern world requires a degree of governmental regulation, however the regulator must have a high degree of independence from the executive of government and be accountable to the legislature and the judiciary. There should be especially strict anti-monopoly regulations; I'd say that no organisation or individual, government included, may own more than a 5% share of outlets in any single media.

[Social_Critic]

I don't know about 5%, I'd say 20 %? But what happens when almost all or all are silenced by non government actors with economic clout? This is a puzzle I would like to solve, because non government actors are muzzling USA media in some areas, for example Israeli human rights abuses.

[Andalublue]

I don't know about 5%, I'd say 20 %? But what happens when almost all or all are silenced by non government actors with economic clout? This is a puzzle I would like to solve, because non government actors are muzzling USA media in some areas, for example Israeli human rights abuses.

Well, that is the argument for publicly funded media with a democratically arrived upon charter that insists on a plurality of opinions and which provides a proportion of open access to all voices, not just those of the dominant political powers of that state. Someone has to have the nerve to create a truly independent voice, not one controlled by the capitalist profit motive, nor the party politically correct agenda that serves the government's short-term electoral interests. A democracy shouldn't fear dissent, in fact it should thrive on it. US democracy is ever the weaker for the lack of political plurality in its media.

The same goes for here in Spain where private media offers just tits, games, business and Real/Barca. Public TV is the plaything of the ruling elite, witness the total gutting of RTVE since the PP took power. The same will happen (God make it soon!) when Rajoy gets the boot and someone else brings in their media puppets. No one is interested in a free media, they are interested in either profit or controlling a political tool.

[Rainbow Crow]

We can and do criminalize lying,,, it's called fraud, defamation, misrepresentation, etc.

[Rothbardian]

Except when it's not, like when the speech is planning violence but you don't actually partake in violence as well, or when you otherwise say things that result in people getting hurt.

I believe I stated that you are responsible for your actions. Such as playing a role in hurting people.

This is the "shouting fire in a crowded theater" hypothetical. Hopefully you aren't one of those anarchist types that would let people go around causing panic and stampedes for their own amusement.

I am an anarchist because I know the question of whether or not it's okay to harm people is not dependent on what clothes you're wearing at the time.

[republicuk]

We can and do criminalize lying,,, it's called fraud, defamation, misrepresentation, etc.

You're right about defamation, the rest are lies of a different context. Plus I don't really care for defamation legislation.

[Rainbow Crow]

Let's say person A photoshops person B doing something really bad and person B gets fired. Do you want them to sue for defamation or shoot the other guy?

[republicuk]

Let's say person A photoshops person B doing something really bad and person B gets fired. Do you want them to sue for defamation or shoot the other guy?

If they're the only 2 options (which they wouldn't be) then defamation. What's your point?

[Verv]

Yes I believe Freedom of speech is critical to any functioning democracy. Just look at what's happened in russia with Putin's oppressive and lawless regime. Any citizen should be able to call their leaders assholes without fear of being jailed.

Why should there be a Democracy?

What is so good about it?

[redcarpet]

If the world became democratic tommorow morning........humanity would barely last a day.

[fuser]

If the world became democratic tommorow morning........humanity would barely last a day.

Are you sure that you are a socialist?