Poll: The Defense of the First Amendment

[fuzzball]

Do you think people hide behind the First Amendment in absolutely wrong times? If so, give examples of when someone said 'First Amendment, i can say whatever' even when what they say is not protected by the First Amendment and can actually cause them trouble.

On a side note, if anyone knows whether i actually must capitalize the words "First Amendment" then that would be a great thing to learn.

 

[MaskedMori]

Well, the first ammendment has some restrictions, like yelling bomb in a plane or somthing like that.

 

[Eldarion]

The first amendment doesn't make it so you can say ANYTHING.

Most people don't understand that.

 

[DannyBoy451]

The first amendment doesn't make it so you can say ANYTHING.

Most people don't understand that.

Yelling "Movie!" in a crowded firestation, for example.

 

[Internet Kraken]

What exactly do you mean by hiding behind it? Can you give an example?

 

[Eldarion]

The first amendment doesn't make it so you can say ANYTHING.

Most people don't understand that.

Yelling "Movie!" in a crowded firestation, for example.

Indeed, what court case was it that set that president? I don't remember.

Other things as well, defamation of character, threats of violence, any speech will the intent to encourage violence, ect.

 

[ReincarnatedFTP]

What exactly do you mean by hiding behind it? Can you give an example?

A regular columnist with Newsmax, an influential conservative blog, a veteran journalist and a former white House Adviser (to Carter and LBJ strangely enough) basically wrote an article calling for a coup against Obama a couple of days ago.

 

[DannyBoy451]

What exactly do you mean by hiding behind it? Can you give an example?

A regular columnist with Newsmax, an influential conservative blog, a veteran journalist and a former white House Adviser (to Carter and LBJ strangely enough) basically wrote an article calling for a coup against Obama a couple of days ago.

So long as he's just expressing an oppinion, then there's nothing wrong with it.

If he were stockpilling guns, body armour, and napalm on the other hand...

 

[cleverlymadeup]

yes i do, most people don't understand what freedom of speech means. it does NOT mean you can say what you want, it means there's no restrictions placed on what you say or how you say it

 

[Blow_Pop]

yes i do, most people don't understand what freedom of speech means. it does NOT mean you can say what you want, it means there's no restrictions placed on what you say or how you say it

unless its putting others in danger.

Like yelling "FIRE" in a crowded theatre. You CAN and WILL get arrested for it if found. I've seen it happen

 

[WrongSprite]

What IS the first amendment? I'm assuming this is an American thing...

 

[Lord George]

What exactly is the first Amendment, its roughly something to do with freedom of speech isn't it?

 

[Danpascooch]

The first amendment doesn't make it so you can say ANYTHING.

Most people don't understand that.

Yelling "Movie!" in a crowded firestation, for example.

ROFL!

Wouldn't want all those firemen getting distracted by a movie while a house burns down now would we?

 

[sneakypenguin]

The 1st is there to protect mainly political and religious speech(+ the establishment clause on religion), though lately its been used to cover most anything. What you can say depends on where you say it. If it's a traditional "public forum" ie town square, washington mall, or many government establishments you can say pretty much whatever. Private forums not so much, look at society of Krishna vs Lee.

 

[maddawg IAJI]

What IS the first amendment? I'm assuming this is an American thing...

Basically it's Freedom of Speech, The Press, The right to gather Peacefully (Protests),Freedom of Religion and I do belive there is another one but I can't for the life of me remeber.

They basically allow you to voice your opinon without fear of the Goverment. However your not allowed to do it if it put's others in danger. (Like yelling Bomb in a Plane or Fire in a movie Theater.

 

[Housebroken Lunatic]

Freedom of speech should entail freedom of speech. As long as people don't use physical violence against eachother it is silly to accuse anyone of a crime simply for saying something inflamatory...

 

[Baron Von Evil Satan]

A recent example of this would be the G-20 protests. They said "We're protected by the first amendment, you CAN'T arrest us!"

ummm.... I'm pretty sure when cops have to show up in full riot gear, and tear gas starts going off. You've overstepped your bounds...like a lot...

 

[-Orgasmatron-]

I think it mostly applies to everything. If you're being a dickhead and shouting 'N*****' or something in the middle of the street, that's more a public order offence, so people couldn't say, 'Freedom of speech' in defence if they got nicked for it, because it wouldn't of been about what they were saying, but instead how they were saying it.

I'm a strong supported of freedom of expression and whatever though, for example, as much as I hate the BNP, I think they should be able to say what they wanna say.

 

[Undeed]

Not only do people use the right to free speech as an excuse to spout hateful, useless, stupid tripe in inapropriate places and times, but people use other amendments and laws to impinge on our right to free speech!

In any case, the issue is easily resolved by remembering that your right to speak does not create an obligation for me to listen.

 

[Skeleon]

There are some limits to uphold, such as blatant hatespeech.
Basically, when the rights of another are infringed, yours must be limited.
However, this statement is too vague to work properly, so I'd say we have to weigh the ifs and buts individually for each case.