Poll: Freedom of Speech

I was just browsing new threads, which turned into researching old threads, which turned into a poll.

I was looking through the threads below for others opinions on what freedom of speech meant to others and wondered how a poll might turn out. There seems to be a great deal of controversy over what people think they can say about (and to) others on this and other forums across the internet. I find it interesting because it always comes back to the same subject. Keep in mind that I am not offerig an opinion one way or the other, I am just inquiring as to what others think on the topic in regards to the poll.

If you would take the poll that would be great! I definitley wasn't looking to start a great debate, but if it's unavoidable ...well... (shrugs).

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Thanks!
~Maddy

EDITED TO ADD:

The poll options are based off of the article on this topic which can be found at the link below and reads:




http://www.news.com/Create-an-e-annoyance,-go-to-jail/2010-1028_3-6022491.html?tag=sas.email

Free speech protections on private owned forums such as these do not exist in most if not all western countires. The only rights you have are the ones the forum owners choose to give you. They can, legally, remove you for any reason at any time with or without notice.

So the point is moot.

True, they can. However the point was not to find out what forum owners can and cannot do. It was to find out what others thought about what THEY and OTHERS feel regarding free speech. For example, I am posting here and I may decide to tell everyone that User X did something they did not do or said something they did not say. Or I might start harassing User X with vicious comments. If the forum owner allows it, even if they ban them later that does not change what I wrote about User X. I am still resonsible for my actions according to the law that Bush signed lol. (points to the link)

So in effect having a privately owned forum does not make the forum TOS/rules above the law. Just because a forum allows to post death threats, etc does not mean that you cannot be held responsible for typing them.

Your poll is set up rather strangely, since more than one answer probably applies to most people. So we vote more than once? It comes down to :

I am a jerk
I am not a jerk


More useful would have been things like :

I believe it to be my right to express my views on any subject

since we're told in a daily basis that harassing statements are unacceptable - so who'd pick that one? Few jerks know they're jerks

Well feel free to answer honeslty if that is the case

freedom of speach is irrelevant when there is a bbq

/me wishes you left the "annoying" part out.

I can be annoying, yes it's true, but abusive, threatening and harassing I try to avoid.

lol

Sorry but this poll is fatally flawed. It's not really asking about free speech.

I reserve the right to back anyone's right to hold an opinion. Whether they should have the right to state it, well there's various offences around that one. Incitement of racial hatred for example.

Also, if making a query re saying what you like if not known, the opposite point has not been made either for saying what you like but having to answer for it in some way, or NOT saying things cos you don't want to be linked to them.

Say something bad enough to get legal attention for LL and we'd see how anonymous this place really is.

Well I only added that because that is what it said in the article regarding the new law:

http://www.news.com/Create-an-e-annoyance,-go-to-jail/2010-1028_3-6022491.html?tag=sas.email



I think some might think that I am bringing this poll/subject because I am trying to start a debate which is probably inevitable anyhow. As I said, I was browsing the threads I linked on the initial post there (looks up) and wondered what others thought in regards to it. Perhaps I should have linked that article as well. lol

Great comment.
(As for the poll....sorry, I did my best. lol

I was basing the options on the fairly new law. Not sure if anyone read it so if you didn't I guess it would make no sense. (shrugs)



I guess I should edit my original post a bit.

Maddy - just to point out, its not a new law, but rather over 2 years old. Its just the way that the thread was originally posted, it *looked* like its a new law.

Maybe this point is irrelevant to the larger discussion - but it seems like a lot of folks may have misunderstood the context.

Occhams razor...it is obvious to even the most casual observer that we all operate under our own rule set. What I write is "free speech." What you write is a TOS violation and shouldn't be allowed (unless you are agreeing with me, in that case all is good.) Look at any controversial forum thread to see this in action.

Yeah, I did at first too until I saw the date, Travis. Thanks for pointing that anyway. Others might misunderstand also.

~Maddy

What you quoted is what I was responding to another post (look at the 2nd post lol ). Please try not to take my posts out of context as I was only trying to ask what others thought and felt.

Thanks!
~Maddy

I wouldn't think anyone enjoys abusive, annoying behavior either on forums or in RL. Some people however seem to get a kick getting others all fired up. It's sad really that they don't have anything better to do than to start verbal wars. Keeping general respect in mind, say what you will........no harm to others. I do think somethings that might come across as flaming might actually be sarcasm and intended light hearted, it can be difficult to read sometimes.


- Storm

I like this Stormy - has sense ...

Well, it's impossible to vote this poll, because you lump annoying in with threatening and harassing. I'm certainly often annoying, but I don't threaten or Harass people. So there is no viable choice.

This law won't pass the first test, as the article cited states, it's completely unconstitutional. Not to mention dumb.

freedom of speech is based on the privelege to speak your mind as long as it does not cause iminent harm or peril, or threat of life and/or limb to others (or yourself).

annoyances and such are simply irritations. i can't vote this poll because none of the options applies to me, and they are based on emotions, not freedoms.

*rolls eyes*

*wanders off*

free speech is highly over rated and since I have never actualy experienced it I have no idea what I'm missing so .. umm yeah well free speech is highly over rated and "stuff" .

free emoting doesn'tcount!

If i say that Bush, Cheney and the moneymen are bastards that illegaly commited genocide on the Iraqi people, is that abusive/harrasing ?

Or a different example

If i say that i hate Bin Laden because he is a serial killer is that abusive/harrasing ?

If so, then this is not only getting rid of freespeech, this is USSR communism just moving in one bill at a time. Wonder what bill they'll sign next.

To some ppl Bin laden is a hero, so is Bush to some others... how can i not offend anyone, i cant start saying they're ..ummm not good people (instad of caling them what they are), thats just not good enough.

hm if i say both bin laden and bush are criminals then i guess i deserve double punishment for harrasing 2 people in one sentence, lol.

You're free to open your own forum and say whatever you want there, would you allow people to say anything they liked on your own forum? In other word you would have no problem with peopl rubishing your religion, sexual preferences, or just talking about something you find tasteful, like childporn.

Those first 5 words are the important bits.

What I'd be curious about is whether the OP feels the poll questions only apply to other people, or whether she takes them to heart as well.