Why do we bash each other?

[DaleC]

We do have free speech here in America. Free speech with common sense. I ask, if you really think you can speak your mind without consequence say the following on a plane in flight.. (Stand up in the aisle and say) “ I have a bomb on board and I plan to kill all of us”. You have an extremely good chance the passengers and crew will tackle you and possibly kill you.

You realise that, by typing the above statement, you have been added to a short list for further monitoring. Good luck boarding your next flight.
Update: The good news is, it appears being put on a short list will not hamper your ability to board the plane.

 

[Jax]

Garth brings up another concept that has developed in this "me" generation: that freedom means that a person "can / should / ought to" be able to do / say anything they darned well want to . . . and that "it" is a right.

As soon as said believer is restrained from doing what they want to, the response is "you are abridging my freedom / rights".

This seems to bridge back to the 'dumbing down' of american education -- perhaps if we had better history and government classes in school, the American citizenry would have an understanding from whence these rights come, and what they are.

 

[ronhend]

Thanks for your thoughtful post.

I have often wondered why some folks fine it so easy to say things to people over the web that they would never say to their face.

Most here are here to help and to learn, we all were new once.

This is a wonderful sport that can be lethal by a single mistake one makes.

Wouldn't it be better for all of us if all felt welcome and were not afraid to ask questions?


Some things to think about.

Ron

 

[Hoomi]

Just to clarify a legal point here: I'm not a lawyer, but my understanding of Freedom of Speech is that it does not apply to people who are on private property. In this or any other internet forum, you are effectively a guest on another person's private property. That is why a moderator can legally and constitutionally delete your comments or ban you from the forum.

This is the point that needs to be clear. Our Freedom of Speech is guaranteed to prevent the Government from prosecuting anyone with dissenting views. However, it needs to be remembered that our freedom of speech does not give us license to violate other people's freedoms.

For example, I have Constitutionally guaranteed freedom to disagree with a local church. My Freedom of Speech means that I cannot be prosecuted if I express those disagreements in a public forum. However, Freedom of Speech does not mean I can barge in on their services and interrupt them with a loud monologue on everything I think is wrong with their doctrines. Their right to peaceful assembly and to believe as they see fit is also guaranteed by the Constitution, and they would be well within their rights to ask me to be quiet, or to leave, and if I refused, to have me arrested for trespassing and creating a disturbance. The church is their property, and on their property, they have the right to not be subjected to my diatribe.

These forums belong to the owner, who establishes the rules of conduct for participation herein. Some such forums or groups are very strict regarding no off-topic discussions, regardless of how much interest there might be in the topic. Participants in such a forum should know the rules, and if they're bothered by adhering to them, should seek another forum more to their liking. Otherwise, they should not be surprised or offended when the rules are enforced.

I used to be the Admin on a player-run server for a MMORP game, and we often ran into this same argument. The owner of the server had rules, which included keeping the game "family friendly" by not allowing profanity or sexually explicit discussions. Players who signed up to play on this server (for free, mind you) had to agree to these rules, and still, some would cry that I was violating their "free speech" rights when I took them to task for inappropriate dialogue.

Free Speech was never intended to give us carte blanche permission to say whatever we want, wherever we want, and whenever we want. You can always test this if you like by yelling "BOMB!" in an airport, and then telling all the security people that it's your right to do so because the Constitution guarantees you Freedom of Speech, regardless of possible repercussions.

 

[MauiScubaSteve]

This is how FZ put it;

Do what you wanna
Do what you will
Just don't mess up
Your neighbor's thrill

 

[divad]

This seems to bridge back to the 'dumbing down' of american education -- perhaps if we had better history and government classes in school, the American citizenry would have an understanding from whence these rights come, and what they are.

I'm only pointing this out in the most good-natured and humble way, but, "from whence" is redundant.

 

[Jax]

Why??

 

[Lockdownx99]

ive seen this thread up at the top for the last couple weeks and ive just skipped over it. i honestly havent even read the OP's post to figure out why he has written about this. i just want to know, What does it matter? there is always going to be an internet tuff guy. there is always going to be someone that thinks they know more than you, thinks their opinion is better than yours, etc. I do alot of research on the net about countless topics i need to learn about. Highschool is a joke compared to the internet as long as you have the self motivation and respect to learn. I have read tons of posts where people express their opinions and views on a subject and end up getting in a pissing match with the OP or another poster. Think about the concept. They are sitting on the other end of a keyboard arguing about god knows what and for what purpose? what is there to gain? at the end of the conversation you are no more knowledgeable than you were before you started to post. im on here to learn and meet people with the same interests as myself. if i cant do this without coming in contact with an E-*******, ill simply leave. no need to get worked up. if i dont agree with you, why force the issue. i feel like this thread is a breeding ground for what the OP is asking the answer to! just my 2 cents. take it for what its worth.

 

[divad]

Why??

Do you mean "why" from-from-where is redundant, or "why" did I mention it.

 

[Jax]

According to Webster: http://m-w.com/dictionary/whence

— from whence : from what place, source, or cause
<no one could tell me from whence the gold had come &#8212; Graham Greene>

Ergo, the American citizenry would have an understanding from (what place, source, or cause) these rights come, and what they are.

I stand that my original statement is correct.