Can a bully claim "freedom of speech" to say what they want?

SSG Shavonde Chase — Fri, 02 Dec 2016 01:53:23 -0500

Response by SN Greg Wright made Dec 2 at 2016 2:26 AM

SN Greg Wright — Fri, 02 Dec 2016 02:26:35 -0500

It's funny that you posted this around the same time I posted my thread about free speech (You were first! I'm not implying anything other than a genuine sense of humor!). Anyway, to answer you, no. Bully-speech is NOT protected. The ONLY form of speech that is protected, is protected from GOVERNMENTAL interference. Schools can restrict your speech. Rallypoint can restrict your speech. -I- can restrict your speech in my house. Only the government cannot.

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Dec 2 at 2016 3:12 AM

Capt Seid Waddell — Fri, 02 Dec 2016 03:12:30 -0500

They may have the right to make the claim - but that doesn't mean that they actually do have that right. Also, the backlash can be severe - what goes around comes around.

Response by SMSgt Lawrence McCarter made Dec 2 at 2016 4:21 AM

SMSgt Lawrence McCarter — Fri, 02 Dec 2016 04:21:31 -0500

If what You are going to say is harmful to another person then NO You don't have that right. Even a verbal attack is and assault and if You add a physical attack it is an Assault and Battery. In both cases either action could actually be a violation of law.

Usually a bully has their own shortcomings and somehow think picking on someone else can make then a big shot. The word bully aligns very well with loser !

Response by SSG Michael Hartsfield made Dec 2 at 2016 5:02 AM

SSG Michael Hartsfield — Fri, 02 Dec 2016 05:02:27 -0500

I would say yes.
Yes, you do have the right to say whatever you want BUT (and this is something many people don't seem to understand) having that right does not protect you from the consequences of what you say. For example, you can say anything you want on RP or any other social media site as it's your right BUT you can't scream "freedom of speech" when you get smacked in the face by the banhammer because of something you said. To recap, is freedom of speech protected? Absolutely. Does that freedom protect you from the consequences of what you say? Nope.

Response by SSgt Terry P. made Dec 2 at 2016 6:15 AM

SSgt Terry P. — Fri, 02 Dec 2016 06:15:50 -0500

SSG Shavonde Chase they can 'claim' anything they want ,but are still responsible for what they say or do. My question is --Why does anyone allow themselves to be bullied ? It is way too easy to just block or delete them.
For myself--I just ignore "Dumb-asses" .

Response by 1SG Al Brown made Dec 2 at 2016 7:43 AM

1SG Al Brown — Fri, 02 Dec 2016 07:43:19 -0500

The definition of bully has grown prodigiously. Mean spirited people who say and do things to others, that won't or can't retaliate, can claim free speech all they want. They may be correct sometimes. But who cares. Free speech can have consequences if you bully the wrong person for sport. People who bully tend to be in control of the situation before belittling the other person. It's easy to bully on a blog site, but not so easy standing eye to eye with someone who will extract a pound of flesh for nasty, hurtful words.

Response by Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen made Dec 2 at 2016 8:19 AM

Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen — Fri, 02 Dec 2016 08:19:22 -0500

A bully is a bully period. Whether that bully is on an elementary school playground, the workplace or on the internet/social media his/her actions are wrong. If what is said can be classified as bullying you cannot be protected by right of free speech rules. It's sort of the same concept as the clean hands concept you see in legal cases. Can't use the legal system to recover losses that occurred in the performance of an illegal activity.

Response by MCPO Mark Durland made Dec 2 at 2016 9:21 AM

MCPO Mark Durland — Fri, 02 Dec 2016 09:21:32 -0500

Interesting topic and responses. SMSgt Lawrence McCarter 's point about battery is very valid. The difficulty is in determining actual harm or intent to harm.

Response by Cpl Justin Goolsby made Dec 2 at 2016 12:02 PM

Cpl Justin Goolsby — Fri, 02 Dec 2016 12:02:49 -0500

Yes to a degree. It really all depends on the level of bullying. For instance, some of the things listed in your graphic are protected while others are not. Actual threats are not protected speech, but mean words are. Name-calling is protected but harassment isn't.

The typical things that aren't protected by the 1st Amendment would be what are called "fighting words". Typically fighting words are defined as something that would provoke a violent reaction in a normal person. Now most of us aren't going to start throwing fists if someone called us fat... but if someone said they slept with our wife is a different story.

Another thing not protected is to incite a crowd, which is why you can't yell bomb in an airport or fire in a theater (unless of course there actually is one).

Response by SPC Brian Mason made Dec 2 at 2016 12:40 PM

SPC Brian Mason — Fri, 02 Dec 2016 12:40:27 -0500

We all have the right to free speech. NOT the consequences of that free speech. Depending on the words and context, people's responses vary. If someone says something degrading about 'us' for example, they can, but I will call their BS and give them hell about it. Our right to free speech does NOT protect us against the actions of our free speech. Not hard to figure out.

Response by SFC Pete Kain made Dec 2 at 2016 1:02 PM

SFC Pete Kain — Fri, 02 Dec 2016 13:02:52 -0500

As long as I have the same right to call them on it, I am ok with it.
Burning the flag at least in my mind does not come under Free Speech but rather under expression and cannot find any right to express yourself freely.

Response by MSgt James Mullis made Dec 2 at 2016 4:57 PM

MSgt James Mullis — Fri, 02 Dec 2016 16:57:05 -0500

This is a tough question and one worthy of discussion. Unfortunately your question does not provide enough specifics (child bullying, internet trolling, political discussions at the dinner table, etc) so i'll answer in generalities. I do need to start by saying that "Censorship" does not make a community safer. On the contrary, suppressing speech only deepens divisions and fuels intolerance. The challenge is to stop "bulling behaviors" without overreacting by censoring someones protected religious and political speech. This is done by teaching people the skills of civil discourse, including how to listen to speech with which one profoundly disagrees.

Its important to note that the 1st amendment generally restricts the government from passing laws that restrict an individuals free speech. The second variable to the discussion of bullying is how one defines "bullying behaviors". I doubt to many people want to tag someone with a Scarlet letter (as in he's a bully!) for life because someones feelings were hurt (for instance in an internet forum). Everyone agrees with the physical definition of bullying “targeting an individual or class of people for unwanted touching, bodily assault or threats of violence.” However, it is much more difficult to define what constitutes verbal (and written) bullying, most definitions hinge on purposely creating a hostile climate. Most states have anti-bullying laws in place that define both physical and verbal bullying. So when in doubt look up your states laws and proceed as the law allows.

Response by SSgt Judd Deszeld-Lyons, MHA made Dec 3 at 2016 12:53 AM

SSgt Judd Deszeld-Lyons, MHA — Sat, 03 Dec 2016 00:53:01 -0500

Legally yes, ethically and for the sake of the bullied no!

Response by Sgt Ramon Nacanaynay made Dec 4 at 2016 10:05 AM

Sgt Ramon Nacanaynay — Sun, 04 Dec 2016 10:05:13 -0500

In my class of 4 and 5-year-olds I tell them, "You don't have to shout at me if I am so close to you. I know you are upset. Talk to me" and then I would explain to them the suspected issue and do some respectful, reflective listening. If I need to, I work on a compromise. It's time-consuming, many people do not have the patience.