How important is Free Speach to you...

[Sweet]

I'd just like to open up an age old discussion.....
What does it mean to you? Is it important? What is the value of it? all comments...pro and con.....welcomed

(as long as adminds allow it)

[CERuppel]

Free Speech is the right to express one opinions. I guess that I have been so caught up with current "What you cannot say" arguements that I've not looked at what you can say in a long time.

Instead of "you can object to____", I've been thinking in terms of "You can't object to _____ on the basis of _____".

Dosen't make much sense, but that's what has been happening in my life. Things like not telling the boss he's a jerk for the next two weeks (after that he's history).

I guess that the real definition of free speech is something that is so devoid of real content that no one can find anything there to sue you over.

Remember reading a 'Dilbert' comic about this. Ought to go look it up and post the link. Later...

[OuTpaTienT]

Free speech is of the utmost importance to us Americans. But you need to realize you don't have the right to free speech everywhere you go. For example, hanging out in someone house. If the owner of that house comes to you and says "hey I don't to hear talk like that around here" then you better not talk like that or leave.

IMO hanging out here at TechIMO is the equivalent of hanging out at someone's house.

[Virus]

I feel that free speech is very important. It's much better to openly discuss topics and hopefully come to a solution. Then avoid the topics that you feel may be offensive to others or yourself. It's better to offer your opinion and help the discussion come to a settlement, or at least have each side get a better understanding of the other side.

In reality, there is no such thing as free speech. It's more like, you can say what you want as long as no one objects or is offended.

[Chooco]

free speach is the most important thing

it brings out the truth but on the bad side it can spread hate. take the good with the bad i guess, it prevents the government from having a total dictatorship in that you don't just disappear in the middle of the night for saying president ________ is a lamer

[TonTo]

I have a tendency to shoot my mouth off.... it's very important to me....

I don't remember who said it, but

it was somethin like " I may not like what you say, but i'll defend your right to say it to the death"

if you limit and controll speach, you limit and controll thought....

[dday]

I believe down to my core that the inalienable right to free speech is the bed rock and foundation of the first true and successful republic, and that's us here in the U.S. . This concept was forged in the earliest of our history as a developing culture and before our foundation as a nation.
I and you, have the right to freedom of expression, a guarantee made to us by our birth right as free men and woman, and insured and paid for with the blood of countless brave men and women.
No one, nor any power of man has the right to try to disestablish that foundation, and look out if you think you can. A few of our fellow humans have tried to do that to us occasionally, and it is truely dangerous ground to trod. We Americans are noone to be trifled with, just ask our former rulers the English. We are really good friends today, time has a way of healing old wounds.
But I agree with Outpatient, I'm in someone elses house so I'm careful with my mouth.
I am truely grateful that our forefathers had the forsight and were given the the divine inspiration to foster these principals of freedom that we so often take for granted. And I most willingly would volunteer again to protect my rights and yours if the situation warrants it. Americans Just Love a Good Fight!

[ClubMed]

Free speech is very important. It is, or let me rephrase, it should be everyones right. Free speech gaurantees democracy IMO too.

As OuT stated, free speech is not allowed everywhere on earth unfortunately.

One important thing I would like to stress though, in free speech there are no topics that are tabu, whether we like a certain argument or not, all opinions, both constructive and destructive must be given opportunity to be voiced.

As for Techimo, we are all guests here and must abide by the rules set up by the owners.

[edwelly]

Free Speech? There is NO such thing. Reason? We are WAY TOO opinionated to tolerate that. Example: a few weeks ago I took serious offense to some religious comments that were made. I didn't allow that person to state their opinion. I tried to surpress it because I didn't like it, BECAUSE I DIDN'T LIKE IT. See, we want to say there is free speech and it's a good thing until it offends or bothers us. So I try not to offend anybody and that supresses my free speech but I understand that. Personally, I think there never will be FREE Speech. Words can be too harmful, sometimes even more damaging than physical harm.
---edwelly