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It seems like you agree that you support free speech, but were still offended. This is a totally fair point. > things I consider important I am glad to see th

It seems like you agree that you support free speech, but were still offended. This is a totally fair point. > things I consider important I am glad to see that you realize that virtually everything falls under the category of "important" to one person or another. Jokes are jokes and frankly I think nothing should be off limits. Freedom, ironically, is the absolute core of this argument and what Edward Snowden fought for personallly.

acjohnson55 12y ago
I personally thought the joke was funny, even if it made light of my deeply held political sensibilities. But what do you mean by "nothing should be off limits"? Are you saying that no joke or form of speech should be beyond criticism, no matter the venue? I don't think anyone has a right to someone else's platform to make any sort of speech they like. Even though I found the treason joke within my limits of taste for an Oscar's broadcast, I respect the prerogative of the original poster to voice criticism. That's part of free speech too, although interestingly some are trying to silence that person with downvotes.
- sroerick 12y ago
  It's a funny joke. I didn't see the broadcast, but laughed at just the description. However, in the context of the Oscars, its humor will be lost on a large performance of the Audience. In the context of the narrative of the evening, the result of the joke is that a lot of viewers will be able to dismiss CITIZENFOUR without watching. But it was a good joke.
  - acjohnson55 12y ago
    In the context of the broadcast the joke was so quick, and it came after an impassioned speech by Laura Poitras. I can't even imagine someone being inspired to see the movie by either its Oscar win or the acceptance speech and being thrown of course by the quick little one-liner that followed it.
- vonklaus 12y ago
  I didn't downvote you, I appreciated your commentand it underscores my larger point. Freedom of speech isn't freedom from consequences, and there very well could be public backlash for this, or any other comment. Private organizations can enforce consequences on employees or stakeholders for falling outside their prescribed internal policies. Also, saying generally offensive things can certainly alienate somebody in society or professionally. I don't think this particular case the joke went too far and was certainly written by the oscar comedy writers and probably not by Harris himself. To your other point, on a private platform people certainly have the right to deem what is acceptable communication. I agree with that, certainly. In really no case is a form of speech 'beyond criticism'.

acjohnson55 12y ago

I personally thought the joke was funny, even if it made light of my deeply held political sensibilities. But what do you mean by "nothing should be off limits"? Are you saying that no joke or form of speech should be beyond criticism, no matter the venue? I don't think anyone has a right to someone else's platform to make any sort of speech they like. Even though I found the treason joke within my limits of taste for an Oscar's broadcast, I respect the prerogative of the original poster to voice criticism. That's part of free speech too, although interestingly some are trying to silence that person with downvotes.

sroerick 12y ago
It's a funny joke. I didn't see the broadcast, but laughed at just the description. However, in the context of the Oscars, its humor will be lost on a large performance of the Audience. In the context of the narrative of the evening, the result of the joke is that a lot of viewers will be able to dismiss CITIZENFOUR without watching. But it was a good joke.
- acjohnson55 12y ago
  In the context of the broadcast the joke was so quick, and it came after an impassioned speech by Laura Poitras. I can't even imagine someone being inspired to see the movie by either its Oscar win or the acceptance speech and being thrown of course by the quick little one-liner that followed it.
vonklaus 12y ago
I didn't downvote you, I appreciated your commentand it underscores my larger point. Freedom of speech isn't freedom from consequences, and there very well could be public backlash for this, or any other comment. Private organizations can enforce consequences on employees or stakeholders for falling outside their prescribed internal policies. Also, saying generally offensive things can certainly alienate somebody in society or professionally. I don't think this particular case the joke went too far and was certainly written by the oscar comedy writers and probably not by Harris himself. To your other point, on a private platform people certainly have the right to deem what is acceptable communication. I agree with that, certainly. In really no case is a form of speech 'beyond criticism'.