Freedom of Speech - that doesn't mean what you think it means

[sparkindarkness]

 After numerous recent brouhahas (there’s always numerous), the Freedom of Speech wars are raising their ugly heads again, and like a compulsive whack-a-mole player, I simply have to hammer them down, because it’s amazing how much the people who scream “freedom of speech” the loudest are the ones who seem to understand it the least.

Freedom of

Comments

[jocelyncs]

In the words of the immortal Mark Russell: "I may not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death my right to tell you to sit down and shut up!"

[sparkindarkness]

Amen to that one

[eglantine_br]

Very good points.

In my reading and research about Marlowe I have gotten a real eyes opener about what it means to not have free speech/press. It means that thug squads can come to your house and march you off to prison for what you said and wrote. It means that there is a government position on things-- and you better agree.

And it means that there were bad-ass playwrights who were willing to risk an ugly death to write what they wanted to write.

[sparkindarkness]

exactly - and when we drew up freedom of speech laws, this was what was being envisaged. Not "oh I said something shitty and bigoted and now people are criticising me"

[kla10]

So, when a private university bans certain "controversial" books from it's curriculum, that's not censorship?

So when a record producer changes or bleeps out "offensive" lyrics, that's not censorship?

So, when a trade union expels someone because of their politics, that's not censorship?

Seriously?

[sparkindarkness]

An education establishment are things I usually consider as fulfilling a government purpose and are often linked with government rules and standards because of the public nature of their presentation

But no, this isn't government moving in and banning speech, this isn't someone being shut down from speaking, these are groups not wanting to endorse and support the speech.

That doesn't mean it isn't discrimination - nor does it stop different forms of discrimination being banned or sanctioned through other means. But nor does it mean not being forced to be associated or represented by someone or not supporting someone is censorship.

[twicet]

When I look at those who as individuals, communities or nations, do not have the right to freedom of speech, I always think that with this right comes great responsibility.

The responsibility to use it for good, for positive change, to right a wrong, to speak out when others are suffering, but never, ever to hurt, harm or denigrate, another person or community.

When we do that, to my mind, we are abusing this freedom, and ‘no’ I don’t think anyone has a ‘right’ to do that. That is no longer ‘freedom of speech’ it now passes into the realm of hate.