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Aren't pirated content and child pornography just restrictions on free speech that we're blindfolded to? To see why, imagine an advanced other country - so adv

Aren't pirated content and child pornography just restrictions on free speech that we're blindfolded to? To see why, imagine an advanced other country - so advanced that their economic system doesn't rely on protecting intellectual property. They've somehow made it work so they don't need those rights and it's even more efficient that way. Now that country will say "the rest of the would should enjoy the freedoms we have", "we'll help those poor Americans to pirate movies they way our people can.". But America doesn't have the advanced economic system and pirating there is actually harmful to their particular type of economy, so that advanced foreign power is not really helping at all. This is what freedom of political speech is like in many countries. Free speech alone isn't helpful, it's harmful. It creates riots and civil wars. It kills people because the political system isn't able to cope with it. You might say the ends justify the means, but people still get killed and they won't enjoy the ends, even if they somehow do come about. c.f. Syria.

eyeJam 11y ago
I can't tell if you're trolling or not but I'll bite. You're perverting the definition of "speech". Creation/dissemination of child pornography is not a statement of opinion (and its malicious too, which would exempt it from protection); creation/dissemination of child pornography is an act that directly and tangibly harms others. Same goes for pirated content. I know there's lots of HN readers who believe that libertarianism and meritocracy will solve the world's ills but cmon man, you really think child pornography should be protected speech???? American jurisprudence has taken a troubling tack on free speech, choosing to take it in a very libertarian direction. In fact the biggest loser of such libertarian free speech ideals is the American political system: shameless attack ads that cheapen political discourse, the fusion of money and political favour (PACs), and the rise of populist rightwing hate-mongers who routinely attack minorities and inspire intolerance. Funny, a piece of legislation originally created to protect the citizens from their government is now being used by citizens (politicians) to destroy the government.... I'm a firm believer in free speech but it made a lot more sense 300 years ago when the government could easily control your speech. In 2015, with the internet and mobile phones, the government would have an incredibly difficult time preventing people from expressing their unfavourable opinions. Maybe it's time to stop living in the past and instead create legislation that reflects the world we live in today.

eyeJam 11y ago

I can't tell if you're trolling or not but I'll bite. You're perverting the definition of "speech". Creation/dissemination of child pornography is not a statement of opinion (and its malicious too, which would exempt it from protection); creation/dissemination of child pornography is an act that directly and tangibly harms others. Same goes for pirated content. I know there's lots of HN readers who believe that libertarianism and meritocracy will solve the world's ills but cmon man, you really think child pornography should be protected speech???? American jurisprudence has taken a troubling tack on free speech, choosing to take it in a very libertarian direction. In fact the biggest loser of such libertarian free speech ideals is the American political system: shameless attack ads that cheapen political discourse, the fusion of money and political favour (PACs), and the rise of populist rightwing hate-mongers who routinely attack minorities and inspire intolerance. Funny, a piece of legislation originally created to protect the citizens from their government is now being used by citizens (politicians) to destroy the government.... I'm a firm believer in free speech but it made a lot more sense 300 years ago when the government could easily control your speech. In 2015, with the internet and mobile phones, the government would have an incredibly difficult time preventing people from expressing their unfavourable opinions. Maybe it's time to stop living in the past and instead create legislation that reflects the world we live in today.