5 ms·
There is a concept of "free speech" and it has nothing to do with your employer. It is a freedom guaranteed against violation from the government. That is all
by justinpaulson 12y ago
There is a concept of "free speech" and it has nothing to do with your employer. It is a freedom guaranteed against violation from the government. That is all. Any other use of the term is inaccurate. If you mean to say employers should let you speak your mind, then say that, but don't equate it to "Free speech" because it is something totally different.
And you DO have the freedom to tell your boss to go fuck himself. The government will not stop you and therefore you are free to do that. But, your boss has the freedom to fire you for saying that as well. You are misunderstanding what free speech, and freedom in general, is.
- SamReidHughes 12y agoIt obviously doesn't mean what you think it means, because people are using it with a different meaning than what you'd like.
- h_r 12y agoThis line of reasoning remind me of new-age "theorists" talking about how quantum physics supports their view. The fact that people use words imprecisely or nonsensically does not somehow automatically make their formulations reasonable.
- SamReidHughes 12y agoNobody is using "free speech" nonsensically or equivocally here. They are just using a definition that justinpaulson doesn't like for some reason.
- h_r 12y agoI disagree but it is tough to reach consensus on this without a real definition being offered, and there was none. You actually are free to express yourself however you like without violating laws or the civil rights of others. All I heard in the way of a definition is "... and I also want to be free of any consequences I really don't like.". Well, too bad because that doesn't exist and asserting such a "freedom" isn't much different than asserting that unicorns exist. It's a fantasy concocted in your head, not a real thing.