Poll: Free Speech, Necessary?

[CosmicCommander]

In another thread [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/18.112660], I discussed human rights in Saudi Arabia. Here, The Topic is Freedom of speech, is it good or bad?

Of course, the awnser by the majority will be yes, (I'll be among them) but many people, see free speech as a barrier to progress, a way for the bad guys to harm us, and bigots to make people evil, I can think of many flaws in their argument, but I'll stop a wall of text, and let you guys awnser.

 

[Brotherofwill]

Your topic title and question posed aren't exactly the same.
Is it good to have? Yes.
Is it necessary for people to be happy? No.

 

[MusicalFreedom]

Depends on the extent. I don't think anyone should be allowed to shout from the hills that the gays are godless and destroying the world. I don't think anyone should be allowed to be racist / bigoted / whatever the fuck. But then again, I can sometimes have a pretty strong authoritarian mindset, so I probably would say that.

i would rather have common sense (my sense) damnit

 

[Valkyira]

it depends

 

[Xvito]

Of course it's good!

Although, if it should exist it should be for everyone, everywhere, every time, about everything.

 

[CosmicCommander]

Depends on the extent. I don't think anyone should be allowed to shout from the hills that the gays are godless and destroying the world. I don't think anyone should be allowed to be racist / bigoted / whatever the fuck. But then again, I can sometimes have a pretty strong authoritarian mindset, so I probably would say that.

i would rather have common sense (my sense) damnit

Yes, but the point of Free speech, is that a person, can state their opinion no matter how stupid or evil it is, and if anyone has common sense, they will dismiss them as the morons they are.

 

[Brotherofwill]

Yes, but the point of Free speech,m is that a person, no matter how stupid or evil it is, and if anyone has common sense, they will dismiss them as the morons they are.

I'm not sure I fully understood your point here. Not sure if the 'point' of free speech is to dismiss morons, if I got that correctly.

Like it how you described stupid people as 'it', nice one.

 

[CosmicCommander]

By 'it', I meant their opinion

 

[MusicalFreedom]

Yes, but the point of Free speech, is that a person, no matter how stupid or evil it is, and if anyone has common sense, they will dismiss them as the morons they are.

Perhaps. I just want it to go further than that. I don't see how anyone who's abusing free speech can be making sense in any way.

Might be a question of moving the responsibility. Should it fall onto the people for what they say, or onto everyone else to ignore it? I'd say the former, but I need to think a little more about it.

 

[Brotherofwill]

By 'it', I meant their opinion

Oh okay, you corrected your mistake. Was still pretty funny.

 

[CosmicCommander]

By 'it', I meant their opinion

Oh okay, you corrected your mistake. Was still pretty funny.

Yes, you could say it was like... [http://www.splitreason.com/productdetail.php?id=582]

 

[Volcano_god]

if you look at it nothing is free in this world, and the term "Free Speech" is no exception. Yes it is Free in that we (here in America) have the right to say what we want. but we dont have the ability to choose the consequences of our actions. For example walk into any airport and say to any one "Hey i have a bomb in my bag" You can say it's your right to say that all you want. but your still getting strip searched.

What I'm trying to say is the word Free doesn't mean the same thing now as it did when wrote the constitution.

Just my two cents.

 

[Grimm91]

Your topic title and question posed aren't exactly the same.
Is it good to have? Yes.
Is it necessary for people to be happy? No.

I agree. Free speech is a right that most of us enjoy, however I don't think that its entitled to us.

 

[Abderian]

Just look at North Korea... Do they have free speech? No. Is it a fucking awsome country? Yes.

 

[CosmicCommander]

Just look at North Korea... Do they have free speech? No. Is it a fucking awsome country? Yes.

Okay...

I think your referring to South Korea...

 

[CuddlyCombine]

Of course, the awnser by the majority will be yes, (I'll be among them) but many people, see free speech as a barrier to progress, a way for the bad guys to harm us, and bigots to make people evil, I can think of many flaws in their argument, but I'll stop a wall of text, and let you guys awnser.

Wait, necessary for what? You've got to define that, as the scope of the question is way too broad otherwise.

I mean, free speech is necessary to maintain basic human rights, the flow of progress, democracy, etc...

 

[Abderian]

Just look at North Korea... Do they have free speech? No. Is it a fucking awsome country? Yes.

Okay...

I think your referring to South Korea...

I am referring to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea

 

[CosmicCommander]

Of course, the awnser by the majority will be yes, (I'll be among them) but many people, see free speech as a barrier to progress, a way for the bad guys to harm us, and bigots to make people evil, I can think of many flaws in their argument, but I'll stop a wall of text, and let you guys awnser.

Wait, necessary for what? You've got to define that, as the scope of the question is way too broad otherwise.

I mean, free speech is necessary to maintain basic human rights, the flow of progress, democracy, etc...

Necessary to live a happy, good life.

 

[Agayek]

Free Speech is mandatory for a society to progress.

Without it, any innovation will be stifled, and things will grind to a standstill, which is where societies have always collapsed shortly thereafter.

Anyone that argues against free speech wants nothing more than to control the populace, whether that be as a dictator, religious leader, or anything I can't think of. Words represent ideas, and without the words to express certain ideas, thoughts become limited.

A great example of why free speech is so important is newspeak from George Orwell's 1984.