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We should be careful to not limit other rights in protecting the right of free speech. I defend the right of people to express their opinions, views, thoughts,
by netfire 14y ago
We should be careful to not limit other rights in protecting the right of free speech. I defend the right of people to express their opinions, views, thoughts, etc in society, but I also believe you must have balance and allow people to choose whether they want to listen to someone's opinion or thoughts.
It is one thing to go listen to someone from the KKK speak about their thoughts or to read their opinions in a pamphlet or book (this type of free speech I support), it is another to force the public to be exposed to their hateful messaging by forcing billboard/television companies to allow their messaging be shown in a public place.
We should support the rights of companies or individuals to censor content they don't agree with or want to be affiliated with. Government should (at least in some cases) be able to limit certain types of speech where the public would be forced to see something they don't want themselves (or their children) to be subjected to. Government should be less involved with censoring types of speech that someone chooses to be exposed to.
What are your thoughts? How do we find the right balance with free speech and other rights?
- tomjen3 14y agoThe problem with the second part of your argument is that you force me to pay, through my taxes, to a subway and then prevent me from posting things I want to say (but allow the other guy, because all he wants to do is sell soap). By obviously you should have the right to not listen to a particular radio or tv show or not to look at a particular billboard. And yes, Fox News shouldn't have to argue points they don't want to. But protecting you from seeing something you don't want to see? I don't want to see niggers, should the government lock them up?
- netfire 14y agoI would prefer that the government not sell ad space at all. (The reason a subway should be built is to transport people from one place to another, that's what you are paying taxes for). The main point I was trying to make is that we should consider other rights when defending free speech (or other rights, including not being exposed to things you don't want yourselves, or your children to be exposed to). Defending almost any right to an absolute extreme produces consequences that are harmful to individuals and society (as your example illustrates).