Why do so many people on this forum misunderstand what 'freedom of speech' means?

[IceForce]

(There are many more examples of this, but these are just a few I could be bothered finding)

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/jump/18.824019.19959784
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/jump/18.838924.20596939
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/jump/7.835482.20466200
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/jump/658.837662.20565926

Okay yes, I admit it's a pet peeve of mine, which is why I jump on people for it.

But seriously, is it too much to ask, for people to look up what a term actually means before using it?

It seems that whenever someone on this forum gets a warning, all too often they start complaining that their freedom of speech rights are being violated.

Why is this?

Just to make it clear to everyone; freedom of speech doesn't apply on this forum. The mods or people running this site could ban everyone who says they like bunny rabbits, and there's nothing anyone could do about it.
It's their site, they can do what they want.

 

[tippy2k2]

Because the vast majority of people in real life don't understand what freedom of speech means.

You wouldn't believe the amount of people cried about that Duck Dynasty dude being censored and having his "freedom of speech" crushed on my Facebook wall.

People period don't understand freedom of speech. It's not this forum, it's people.

 

[PsychicTaco115]

Because people don't like it when THUR FEERDOMS are infringed upon by anyone with any sort of power over them

Why do people honestly have problems comprehending that just because you CAN say it, doesn't mean you SHOULD?

 

[Euryalus]

I assume there's confusion about the right of freedom of speech, and the more general Libertarian/Anarchist concepts of Freedom of Speech *shrugs*

Like "You don't have the RIGHT to ban me, even though you have the power."

That and people probably don't read what the constitution (for the US) says and means by it.

 

[PsychicTaco115]

"You don't have the RIGHT to ban me, even though you have the power."

"Whatcha gonna do, ban me?"

*Gets banned*

WAAHHHH, MAH FREEDOMS

It all reminds me of this pic:

 

[Aximili]

When guys make douchy comments and start complaining about Fweedum of Spweach when people start calling them on it, what they're really saying is that they don't want to be criticized, ever, no matter how dumb and bigoted they are.

 

[PsychicTaco115]

!

A bit like "feminism", which sounds like something that only benefits females. But it's actually supposed to mean "equality between genders".

"If it's supposed to mean equality between genders, why isn't it called humanism, hurr durr"

Because humanism is, and I quote, "a movement of philosophy and ethics that emphasizes the value and agency of human beings, individually and collectively, and generally prefers individual thought and evidence over established doctrine or faith."

Checkmate, MRAs

 

[lacktheknack]

People hear that "free speech" is something that is upheld.

They take this to mean that they can be assholes and no one can hold them accountable.

This doesn't happen.

They then respond with "You mean I CAN'T be an asshole without consequence? I'VE BEEN LIED TO! I MUST FIGHT!"

And then they call the people who censored them legally "dictators".

Protip, guys... if you are able to complain that your free speech is being violated, there's a good chance that your free speech isn't being violated.

 

[schrodinger]

Because people think freedom of speech gives you the right to say whatever you want and have no consequences attached. Newsflash, you can say whatever the fuck you want, but don't be surprised when someone calls you out on bullshit or punches you in the face; the other person has as much as freedom of speech as you do.

 

[Neverhoodian]

People need to get rid of the assumption that online forums are democracies. If anything, they're oligarchies, with varying degrees of benevolence or tyranny depending on how they're moderated. For the record, this particular forum is a mostly benevolent one (something I am thankful for).

Because people think freedom of speech gives you the right to say whatever you want and have no consequences attached. Newsflash, you can say whatever they fuck you want, but don't be surprised when someone calls you out on bullshit or punches you in the face; the other person has as much as freedom of speech as you do.

Exactly. Freedom of speech is a two-way street. That's why it's still generally a good idea to utilize at least some tact and common courtesy when dealing with other people.

In my experience, the people that yell and holler the loudest about "freedom of speech" tend to abuse it the most, attempting to use it as a shield to block any and all dissenting views from harming their fragile egos. When someone utilizes their freedom of speech to call them out on their bullshit, they tend to get the most bent out of shape about it. To that I have only this to say:

Spoiler

 

[Casual Shinji]

The phrase 'freedom of speech' is like 'games are art'.

It's been said and used/misused in discussions so many times that it has currently lost all meaning.

 

[JoJo]

People seem to forget that freedom of speech is only freedom from legal consequences for your speech (within reason, different countries have different levels of laws against hate speech and libel for example), no business or private property such as the Escapist is obligated to let you say whatever you like and neither do you have freedom from having your speech criticised.

 

[Imperioratorex Caprae]

Freedom of speech should be renamed so people get it right. "Freedom to say anything and possibly get knocked the fuck out for it." also "Freedom to be absolutely misheard, cherrypicked, taken completely out of context or otherwise butchered by people seeking attention, headlines or a reason to hate on you."

 

[Barbas]

It's wilful ignorance. They just want to say whatever they like without consequence because they've come to expect that over time. When it comes to the freedom of other people, however, they couldn't normally care less.

@Neverhoodian: I think the link's busted - there's just a white box. Nice avvy, 'Arry!

 

[Thaluikhain]

It's wilful ignorance. They just want to say whatever they like without consequence because they've come to expect that over time. When it comes to the freedom of other people, however, they couldn't normally care less.

Exactly...nobody tends to make the same complaints about people'rs rights to prove them wrong, just to their rights to spout off and be taken seriously.

 

[Tsun Tzu]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_of_speech_in_the_United_States

The information is readily available, but the prevailing notion regarding the concept of "Freedom" of Speech is...unfortunately...much broader in scope than it truly is.

For example, telling a police officer that you're going to, quote, "Kill his wife with a snow shovel," constitutes a threat and, as such, can be censored via action taken by that officer. Subsequent court proceedings can explore the legitimacy of said threat.

Nobody can PREVENT you from saying what you want, but there will be a consequence. Every action having an equal and opposite reaction, after all.

Having said that, I'm firmly on the side of folks being able to express themselves in whatever way they see fit, so long as it doesn't actively harm another individual, without fear of inordinately violent or prohibitive action. *shrug*

Also, someone saying something you don't like, such as "I'm going to fuck your girlfriend/boyfriend," resulting in you starting to swing at them, is not what I'd call a valid "consequence" of expression.

It's still assault/battery on your part and you'll be subjected to a, justifiable, legal response. >.>

 

[J.McMillen]

"Freedom of expression is not freedom to express without challenge.
A game is within its rights to include any content it does, but that content is not sacred."
-Jim Sterling; Creative Freedom, Strings Attached

The whole freedom of speech debate reminds me of the above episode of the Jimquisition. While you may have the freedom to say what you want, what you say is not sacred.

 

[Imperioratorex Caprae]

Also, someone saying something you don't like, such as "I'm going to fuck your girlfriend/boyfriend," resulting in you starting to swing at them, is not what I'd call a valid "consequence" of expression.

It's still assault/battery on your part and you'll be subjected to a, justifiable, legal response. >.>

That is unless you actually read the section on "Fighting Words" in your own link. Goading someone into an assault CAN actually be considered a mitigating circumstance when considering charges against the person who threw down. So it CAN be justifiable if there's sufficient evidence the assaulter was pushed.

 

[DuctTapeJedi]

snip

Did some one seriously say something to the effect of, "This is America, not Russia...?"

Are they aware this is an international forum?

 

[Tom_green_day]

As a Brit, I laugh any time an American (and it's always an American) complains about their freedom of x or their xth constitution or xth amendment etc. being breached. As far as I'm aware barely anyone outside of the US gives a shit about the way you think you're entitled to something because some old guys hundreds of years ago thought they may as well write a law about it.