WI Crippler

Simple enough question. No partisan hackery, no cited opinion polls, no biased new sources, no op-ed pieces or blogs, no spin. Just a simple unobtrusive question with no intent or malice behind it. I know thats not what we are used to around here, but there it is.

Is freedom of speech a human rights issue?

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"What Jesus fails to appreciate is that it's the meek who are the problem."- Reg

DarkWizard12

hmmm...let me think..... I think...thats a....

A WHOPPING F---ING YES!

Stinger

Versus government control of speech? Yes.

But many people think freedom of speech is something else too. Freedom of speech is you versus the government, not the rest of us, we private citizens and private organizations.

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"The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane." Marcus Aurelius
Proud member of the Gang of Five, the gang that is always right!
No Personal Attacks, if you can't debate the issue go elsewhere.

Alex

This is interesting. Can you give an example?

Stinger

Of what? The government violating someones 1st amendment rights?

Khayembii Communique

That all depends on what actually constitutes "free" speech.

Freedom of speech usually only exists insofar as it isn't challenging in any way to those in control. Once it becomes challenging, it is stifled. In liberal democracies, "free" speech is allowed because of the fact that it isn't a threat to those in power. So, is this freedom of speech, then?

My assertion is that freedom of speech exists in relatively the same extent in every country; it follows that one rule: as long as it isn't perceived as a threat to those in power it is tolerated.

Assuming this assertion is correct, we can also conclude that the "more free" one's speech is, the more powerless they actually are to effect change; in other words, the more free one's speech is, the more pointless it is to speak.

As for being a human right, rights are granted by the government and aren't absolute. And, drawing from what I've said above, it is important to keep in mind that free speech really doesn't exist except in rhetoric/propaganda.

mikhail

Freedom of speech is the most important human right.Without it we are often forced to join a consensus that is non scientific.I always make a point to remember that even those i find the most prejudice and ridiculous opinions shouldnt be silenced as i feel silencing people gives them added value the same way the cia restricting files gives validation to conspiracy theorys.

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The third-rate mind is only happy when it is thinking with the majority. The second-rate mind is only happy when it is thinking with the minority. The first-rate mind is only happy when it is thinking.

Bleeding Head Ken

Do you have the right to your own life? If not, who has the right to it? Assuming that you were born unowned and unplanned by the state, would that not make your life superior to the "rights" of the state though it might have the power to terminate your life?

Khayembii Communique

Depends what you mean by "right".

I am alive right now. If being alive gives me a "right to life" and someone comes along and denies me of that right by killing me, I no longer have that right. So what's that mean? That means that having a "right to life" simply means being alive. So am I alive? Yes, until I die.

There's no point in stating, then, that I "have a right to life" as I can just state that I am alive.

PeteEU

Eh?

So for you if a goverment prevents you for speaking your mind, then its bad, but when a private person/company/organisation does the same, then its all okay? What kind of warped world do you live in? Goverment is not the only "enemy" there is out there you know.

Freedom of speech is and has always been a relative thing anyways, and is it a human right? Sure, but again its all relative.

A person shouting fire in a crowded theatre is just expressing himself, but his action is also dangerous as hell. Should he be punished for shouting?

Or a someone spreading/starting lies about a person, and said person is attacked by others because of said lies.. is the that "someone" just expressing his right to free speech? X person say Y is a witch, religious wackos burn person Y on a stake.. Free speech?

A company spreading false information to hurt a competitor, is that just freedom of speech? Company X spreads false rumors that company Y's hair product makes your hair fall out.. Is that free speech?

A news organisation airing false information to promote a political agenda.. is that free speech?

As I said, its all relative, and the political correctness and people in power dictate what "free speech" is.

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PeteEU