What does free speech mean to you?

2014-04-12T11:56:58-04:00

The reason I am asking this is I see and have seen a lot of comments about censorship on bulletin boards such as this. Is free speech a free for all, can you say anything that you want, when ever you want, all in the name of Free speech. Give us your impute.

Response by PO2 Rocky Kleeger made Apr 12 at 2014 12:01 PM

2014-04-12T12:01:19-04:00

America isn't easy. America is advanced citizenship. You gotta want it bad, 'cause it's gonna put up a fight. It's gonna say "You want free speech? Let's see you acknowledge a man whose words make your blood boil, who's standing center stage and advocating at the top of his lungs that which you would spend a lifetime opposing at the top of yours.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 13 at 2014 11:43 AM

2014-04-13T11:43:53-04:00

Freedom of Speech, to me, simply means that I can say whatever I want without fear of persecution from the government.

It does not mean I can say whatever I want on someone's website.

It does not mean I can't be fired for misrepresenting the ideals of my employer.

It does not mean I can't be judged for what I say and/or my actions.

As I said before, to me, it simply means I won't be arrested, beaten, or killed for speaking out and protesting. It particularly means, that as a CIVILIAN, that I can protest the actions of our government and president.

Note: I am speaking as if I were a civilian. Obviously protesting the government as a soldier is a bit more difficult.

Response by LCpl Mark Lefler made Apr 13 at 2014 1:38 PM

2014-04-13T13:38:39-04:00

free speech per the 1st amendment is the ability to speak against the govt without worrying about being prosecuted for it... it does not apply to private companies, citizens reactions or forum moderation.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 13 at 2014 2:25 PM

2014-04-13T14:25:14-04:00

I ran into this a lot as a forum moderator in a community some time ago.

Freedom of Speech is a restriction levied against the government, not against private organizations. It basically means the government largely can't prosecute you for what you say, within reason. As a citizen, you can tell the government it sucks or the people in it suck all you want, but the government can't charge you with a crime for it. Generally it doesn't appear to apply to speech that would be tangibly harmful to others however (classified information, slander/libel, shouting "Fire" in a theater).

Every time I ran into the "You can't do that, you're restricting my freedom of speech" argument, it was from someone who was causing or trying to cause trouble, or just wanted to throw up a strawman in the hopes it would prevent them from being silenced. Freedom of Speech doesn't extend to privately-owned internet communities (be it a forum, chatroom, or bulletin board); to join, you have to accept their terms of use and the owner can stipulate whatever posting restrictions they want. If you want to continue to participate in that community, you must abide by those rules. If you don't, they kick you out. It's no different than being a guest in someone's house; you're expected to abide by their rules (even what is or isn't appropriate to say) or they can ask you to leave.

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 13 at 2014 3:27 PM

2014-04-13T15:27:31-04:00

Part of what makes our country great, is the free exchange of ideas. Even in a heated debate. I can say what I want, when I want, to whom I want. However, there are things that can limit my freedom of speech. For example: If I work for the US Army, (SPOILER ALERT! I do! :) ) I can not speak out about politics unless I tell people that I am speaking from my own opinion, and that I do NOT represent the Army. Also, I can't be wearing the uniform at the physical time in which I verbally say whatever it is that I say.

The same goes for private businesses. They can fire you for misrepresenting them, proselytizing, getting into political debates at work, etc. Because sometimes you cause interference in the work place that lowers moral, and quality of work.

Also, the supreme court is the entity that coined the phrase, "You can't yell fire in a crowded theater." In other words, you can't say things that you calculate will cause alarm. I can't say to someone "I'm going to kill you". That causes them alarm. Most of us will tell our friends in jest, "I'm gonna F*cking kill you! You SOB" and then laugh it off. However, most people don't realize that that could be construed as verbal assault.

In short, freedom of speech, as so many people have already said, is simply the guarantee that I can petition, and protest against my government without fear of prosecution.*

*unless I am part of the tea party, then I may not be prosecuted, but I'll be audited by the IRS instead. :)

Response by 1SG David Niles made Apr 13 at 2014 9:35 PM

2014-04-13T21:35:54-04:00

I appreciate the responses. Some think that Freedom of Speech applies to everything and every bulletin. It does not. Though we have freedom of speech, moderators have freedom of rejection, then the person has freedom to move on and not come back.

Response by 1SG David Niles made Apr 19 at 2014 11:44 AM

2014-04-19T11:44:48-04:00

Let me throw this into the mix. Do we feel that we can still say what we want about the government (outside of the military) and have no fear of retaliation. IE... come up on an audit list for the IRS, put on the flying watch list?

Response by LCpl Clif Crosswhite made Dec 12 at 2014 4:34 PM

2014-12-12T16:34:38-05:00

Being able to say what I want when I want and have my own opinion without fear of prosecution not like our government is making freedom of speech where it's say what you want until you offend someone

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 12 at 2014 4:31 PM

2014-12-12T16:31:46-05:00

To when to speak out and when to be quiet.

Response by SGT Brian Pasquarelli made Jun 15 at 2022 7:48 PM

2022-06-15T19:48:34-04:00

To voice your opinion without being judged.