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Freedom of speech

StunGib

Shared on Thu, 08/16/2007 - 14:17

The greatest freedom Americans are guaranteed by the Bill of Rights is freedom of speech. If we don't excercise this freedom it can go away due to apathy and fear of "Political Corrrectness". Like a muscle that is neglected, the failure to speak our minds will allow freedom of speech to wither and atrophy.

It's easy to say that one is in favor of free speech when everything you hear or see conforms to your beliefs or worldview. But when you see or hear something that really offends you, that is when you as an adult *should* recognize the beauty of freedom of speech and allow the thought or idea to stand on it's own. Agree to disagree if you don't like it, but don't criticize the author. You are free to look away or disregard the message. Do not assail the messenger.

I'm posting this because one of my clan members posted something on his/her blog. Someone was offended, so the poster took down the post. I was dissapointed when I heard that. First of all I was dismayed that as an adult over 25 years old, someone was offended by a post on someones blog. Then I was doubly dissapointed that the poster took down the offensive post.

People lighten up. You are free to disagree with the things you see and hear, but don't try to make the majority feel bad about posting their ideas and feelings and others for reading them. No one forced you to read a blog, see a certain movie, or listen to a certain song.

It's when I have been exposed to different ideas and concepts is when I've learned the most. Never be afraid to get out of your comfort zone and seek new experiences. You might just learn something.

 

Aloha.... Stun

Comments

TDrag27's picture
Submitted by TDrag27 on Thu, 08/16/2007 - 14:20
Well shit...Now I want to read the "offending blog....
doorgunnerjgs's picture
Submitted by doorgunnerjgs on Thu, 08/16/2007 - 14:24
@TDrag27, so do we but they apparently really deleted it! @stungib - wow! a voice from the past! You have been keeping a low profile. Since you have emerged, it must mean that Halo 3 is close. In reference to your blog, you hit it right on the money! No one should remove their opinions or thoughts from the blogging world unless they are just plain wrong or have reconsidered their position based on their own feelings.
Devonsangel's picture
Submitted by Devonsangel on Thu, 08/16/2007 - 14:26
Amen!
TDrag27's picture
Submitted by TDrag27 on Thu, 08/16/2007 - 14:27
I feel like somebody just whispered in my ear "I have a secret, but I'm not going to tell you"...I hate that..Take down your damn blog! =)
StunGib's picture
Submitted by StunGib on Thu, 08/16/2007 - 14:30
Tara, I haven't read the "offending post" either, so I'm not holding any secrets.
StunGib's picture
Submitted by StunGib on Thu, 08/16/2007 - 14:34
Hi Doorgunner. Yep, I keep a low proflie. Better to keep my mouth shut and have people thing I'm dumb rather than open my mouth and remove all doubt. :)
TDrag27's picture
Submitted by TDrag27 on Thu, 08/16/2007 - 14:35
I was just teasing you anyway...I read nearly every blog so I probably already read it and just can't pick out what it was.
Big0ne's picture
Submitted by Big0ne on Thu, 08/16/2007 - 14:37
"Agree to disagree if you don't like it, but don't criticize the author." But isn't the criticism also freedom of speech? Telling someone to not voice their opposition of offense is no better then telling someone to take down a post or blog. I have no clue what was posted or who posted for that matter so I assume nothing was in violation of the TOS. I agree with you though that the poster shouldn't have felt compelled to delete their blog if they didn't really want to. There are times though when I might say something that offends a friend of mine, and when I do I try to apologize for it. In spoken language I can't really "take those words back" In written form though we have that opportunity at times. Should the blogger have removed the blog? Maybe. I don't see anything wrong either way. It was solely up to them. Should we tell critics to shut the hell up and live with freedom of speech? Absolutely not.
Aonon's picture
Submitted by Aonon on Thu, 08/16/2007 - 14:43
Freedom of speech is the freedom to express you disagreement, the right to disagree. I have bitched in my blog a couple of time about other people’s blogs. But I would never try to change them, merely question their ideas. I can disagree with what someone is saying but it doesn’t make it wrong.
StunGib's picture
Submitted by StunGib on Thu, 08/16/2007 - 14:43
BigOne, Good point you bring up. Criticism is free speech. However, some people feel that they know what's best for the rest of us to read/see/hear. That is the most insidious and damaging.
doorgunnerjgs's picture
Submitted by doorgunnerjgs on Thu, 08/16/2007 - 14:46
@BigOne - I don't think he is saying to not criticize the thoughts, just not the author. It is the thoughts expressed that should be criticized, rebutted, or lauded as the case may be.
Big0ne's picture
Submitted by Big0ne on Thu, 08/16/2007 - 14:49
That could be, I didn't see the blog or the response so I can only go by what I saw here. It's entirely possible that the criticism was directed personally and not idealisticly and I simply didn't see it. Though an attack personally would constitute a breach of the TOS. I guess that's why I assumed differently.
CapnHun's picture
Submitted by CapnHun on Thu, 08/16/2007 - 14:54
So StunGib you are saying we should self-limit our freedom when it comes to critisizing people?
hilskie's picture
Submitted by hilskie on Thu, 08/16/2007 - 14:57
I don't think that freedom of speech means that you go around and attacking people on a personal level...which if you look at the way Freedom of Speech is these days, that's all it seems to be. There is always a polite (not politically correct necessarily) way of making your opinions known, and understood. That is a major problem, as I see it, with the world around us. It's like saying...I'm an asshole/bitch, but deal with it, I have freedom of speech.
StunGib's picture
Submitted by StunGib on Thu, 08/16/2007 - 15:04
Capn, by all means do not self limit your freedom to criticize, but in the case of a personal blog, it's not as if it was thrust into your face. You have to make an effort to see the message. Then you have to make the decision if it's worth the effort to criticize. If it is, fire away.
Blue_Stiehl's picture
Submitted by Blue_Stiehl on Thu, 08/16/2007 - 19:46
Having the right to say what we want doesn't mean we should. If everyone spoke their mind all the time, then humans would be extinct.

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