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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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.