I've seen a disturbing amount of users misunderstanding the term "free speech." For some reason, a number of people have this idea in mind:
"If people try to silence you, they are infringing on your right to free speech."
This idea isn't necessarily true. Free speech is a protection from state authority only. A better statement is:
"If the state tries to silence you, they are infringing on your right to free speech."
So, while it's arguably unethical and intellectually cheap to try and silence opposing viewpoints (I'm looking at you, leftists), it isn't infringing on your right to free speech unless the state is involved.
Do [i]you[/i] understand free speech?
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Edited by Rykallis: 5/3/2016 2:21:24 AMRelevant xkcd comic.
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(Censored)
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Yhea, it's burning a flag when you believe your country no longer stands for what it is believed to be for
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free·dom of speech noun the right to express any opinions without censorship or restraint. cen·sor·ship ˈsensərˌSHip/ noun the practice of officially examining books, movies, etc., and suppressing unacceptable parts.
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The state is really the only thing which can actually censor you, the reason why laws don't protect us from private censorship is because it doesn't exist.
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3 Replies[quote]I'm looking at you, leftists[/quote] >mfw you think only people who lean left are actively trying to silence the majority It's funny how the old adage "two sides of the same coin" rings true so much, but people still think that one side is worse than the other side, when both sides are equal inversions of pretty much EVERY SINGLE ISSUE.
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A good left hook to the noggin is a good way to shut someone up.
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Show me which liberal hurt your feelings
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4 RepliesFree speech does have limitations and that is what some people don't understand.
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1 ReplyDid you really have to throw a political punch in there?
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Free speech is my dad beating up your dad when you're being a god damn dickhead, Jerry
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1 ReplyFree speech is a phrase that gets thrown around when people want to complain about something.
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Freedom of speech means occupying wall st and feeling the bern! And then condemning everyone with a different opinion!
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1 ReplyFreedom of speech means that the government can't imprison you for what you say, not that the rest of us can't tell you to shut the fukc up.
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2 RepliesFree Speech doesn't mean you are free to commit libel, slander, harassment or threats either. Let's say there's a wedding reception held in a meeting room rented by the bride/groom's parents. One of the attendees starts saying things that disturbs the other guests and gets removed from the reception at the request of the bride and groom's parents. His rights were not violated. It's not public property. The people who rented the facility have the right to not have the event disrupted.
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It's a type of salad dressing.
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1 Reply[quote]"If people try to silence you, they are infringing on your right to free speech."[/quote] This is true, unless it's through a privately owned medium and the owner or someone with their authorization is doing the silencing.