• This is a political forum that is non-biased/non-partisan and treats every person's position on topics equally. This debate forum is not aligned to any political party. In today's politics, many ideas are split between and even within all the political parties. Often we find ourselves agreeing on one platform but some topics break our mold. We are here to discuss them in a civil political debate. If this is your first visit to our political forums, be sure to check out the RULES. Registering for debate politics is necessary before posting. Register today to participate - it's free!

Should The US Make Speech That's Critical or Disparaging of Muhammed a Crime? [W:636]

Should The US Make Speech That's Critical or Disparaging of Muhammed a Crime?


  • Total voters
    186
Well, the FCC does regulate broadcasters, but if they did not, the system would break down. A channel has to be assigned, frequencies partioned out, etc.

At one time, the FCC DID censor the content of tv. But to my (admittedly limited) knowledge, that has not been true in at least a decade.

Well that's not exactly true. The standards have been majorly relaxed but I think somethings, like dropping f bombs or showing genitalia are strictly prohibited. To be honest, his argument is interesting to me. Maybe there shouldn't be any regulation of TV content. Let the channels decide what they want to air and the consumer decide what they want to watch. That's a different discussion though, I think, from whether laws should be in place to protect one single religion from ridicule. I think that beyond free speech, that could violate the establishment clause of the first amendment by singling out one religion for special protection from defamation.
 
Last edited:
Re: Should The US Make Speech That's Critical or Disparaging of Mohammed a Crime?

I don't think anybody has the right to impose their prudery on others, whether they themselves are prudes or not.

Children must be considered. While nudity and profanity might be ok for some, there is insufficient reason for the public not to be allowed to vote to prohibit it in the public commons, whether the airwaves or streets.
 
Last edited:
Re: Should The US Make Speech That's Critical or Disparaging of Mohammed a Crime?

Children must be considered. While nudity and profanity might be ok for some, there is insufficient reason for the public not to be allowed to vote to prohibit it in the public commons, whether the airwaves or streets.

So nudity and profanity hurt children? How would nudity and profanity hurt children exactly, if so?
 
Re: Should The US Make Speech That's Critical or Disparaging of Mohammed a Crime?

So nudity and profanity hurt children? How would nudity and profanity hurt children exactly, if so?

I'm not judging that. I'm giving the public the right to vote regarding nudity and profanity in the (limited) public commons.
 
Re: Should The US Make Speech That's Critical or Disparaging of Mohammed a Crime?

So nudity and profanity hurt children? How would nudity and profanity hurt children exactly, if so?

Would you let your kids watch porn?
 
Well that's not exactly true. The standards have been majorly relaxed but I think somethings, like dropping f bombs or showing genitalia are strictly prohibited. To be honest, his argument is interesting to me. Maybe there shouldn't be any regulation of TV content. Let the channels decide what they want to air and the consumer decide what they want to watch. That's a different discussion though, I think, from whether laws should be in place to protect one single religion from ridicule. I think that beyond free speech, that could violate the establishment clause of the first amendment by singling out one religion for special protection from defamation.

Maybe there are restrictions on PBS, NBC, ABC and CBS still. If there are, they are mere shadows of their former selves.

As for any other channel, no, I can't imagine what is prohibited. Can you, given what they do broadcast?
 
Re: Should The US Make Speech That's Critical or Disparaging of Mohammed a Crime?

Would you let your kids watch porn?

Of course not, let's be fair. Nudity and profanity is not porn necessarily. It'd sure bring some advertising dollars, what do you think people are gonna watch for free on TV?
 
Re: Should The US Make Speech That's Critical or Disparaging of Mohammed a Crime?

Would you let your kids watch porn?
Given its popularity doesn't pretty much everybody view/read/watch what is now routinely called porn?

LOL. We cannot get enough. Can we? Technology is driven by it. And it always has been.
 
Re: Should The US Make Speech That's Critical or Disparaging of Mohammed a Crime?

I'm not judging that. I'm giving the public the right to vote regarding nudity and profanity in the (limited) public commons.

My living room is not the public commons, eco.

And anyway, I don't think there's been a successful prosecution for obscenity of ANY kind in this country in decades.
 
Re: Should The US Make Speech That's Critical or Disparaging of Mohammed a Crime?

This is also a nuisance post. Do you have a POV on the OP, sir?
I have given it. Did you miss it? Are you a groupie?
 
Re: Should The US Make Speech That's Critical or Disparaging of Mohammed a Crime?

Children must be considered. While nudity and profanity might be ok for some, there is insufficient reason for the public not to be allowed to vote to prohibit it in the public commons, whether the airwaves or streets.

Uh, the "save the children" chestnut has run out of gas on obscenity, eco. MANY years ago.
 
Re: Should The US Make Speech That's Critical or Disparaging of Mohammed a Crime?

My living room is not the public commons, eco.

Hello? The airwaves. Like streets. We only have so many and people gotta vote on what can and cannot be on them. Do whatever you want with cable, net, etc. That's your business. But not in the streets. Drive your super monster truck on your property and places permitted, but not I-95. Party all you want, but not in public parks. Be vulgar all you want, but not on public airwaves.
 
Re: Should The US Make Speech That's Critical or Disparaging of Mohammed a Crime?

This is not my day to play Supreme Court Justice, and I do it as a volunteer only for people who ask respectfully. I do not care to research this arcania for you.
In other words the answer is...this law is just a tool for democrats to use against republicans. It is a goofy law. Everyone knows we have no King but Caesar.
 
Re: Should The US Make Speech That's Critical or Disparaging of Mohammed a Crime?

Would you let your kids watch porn?

What I would allow my children to watch has really nothing to do with if it should be restricted it or not. I will say however that there is no chance it could hurt a child. No matter what people think of porn it is nothing more than human interaction.
 
Re: Should The US Make Speech That's Critical or Disparaging of Mohammed a Crime?

I did miss it. Link?
It cannot be too far back. Good luck with your hunt. I am sure you are eager to see it.
 
Re: Should The US Make Speech That's Critical or Disparaging of Mohammed a Crime?

Well, I am a prude, and I don't think anybody has the right to impose their prudery on others, whether they themselves are prudes or not.

YOU are a prude? Holy cow, I cannot believe I am reading this. You are the foulest-spoken person on DP, IMO.

Am I being punked?
 
Re: Should The US Make Speech That's Critical or Disparaging of Mohammed a Crime?

Hello? The airwaves. Like streets. We only have so many and people gotta vote on what can and cannot be on them. Do whatever you want with cable, net, etc. That's your business. But not in the streets. Drive your super monster truck on your property and places permitted, but not I-95. Party all you want, but not in public parks.

Streets are not "airwaves".

Airwaves- The medium used for the transmission of radio and television signals.
 
Re: Should The US Make Speech That's Critical or Disparaging of Mohammed a Crime?

Uh, the "save the children" chestnut has run out of gas on obscenity, eco. MANY years ago.

Public airwaves are like public streets and not only adults are subject to them.
 
Re: Should The US Make Speech That's Critical or Disparaging of Mohammed a Crime?

Streets are not "airwaves"

Airwaves- The medium used for the transmission of radio and television signals.

It's a limited, common, public resource. Regulation by vote is fair. Just like for streets and water.
 
Neo-nazi gang (2 males and a female?) attacked someone/people in the street (pipes/knives?) and the material found in their possession (home) lead to a conviction of the publisher/leader, due to the direct and real of the publishings.

So, nothing in what the publisher disseminated was used to commit the murder? No "how to buy a knife", etc.?

That does sound like a VERY unusual case.
 
Re: Should The US Make Speech That's Critical or Disparaging of Mohammed a Crime?

It's a limited common resource.

Yeah, that is great and all but streets are still not airwaves.
 
Re: Should The US Make Speech That's Critical or Disparaging of Mohammed a Crime?

It's a limited, common, public resource. Regulation by vote is fair. Just like for streets and water.

Who cares if it is a limited common public resource? How does that even make a difference?

Btw, how do you even get a channel on tv without cable or satellite anymore? I thought they all but destroyed that when it all went digital.
 
Re: Should The US Make Speech That's Critical or Disparaging of Mohammed a Crime?

Hello? The airwaves. Like streets. We only have so many and people gotta vote on what can and cannot be on them. Do whatever you want with cable, net, etc. That's your business. But not in the streets. Drive your super monster truck on your property and places permitted, but not I-95. Party all you want, but not in public parks. Be vulgar all you want, but not on public airwaves.

Public nudity in the park is hardly the same as watching Janet Jackson expose her boob on CBS.
 
Re: Should The US Make Speech That's Critical or Disparaging of Mohammed a Crime?

Btw, how do you even get a channel on tv without cable or satellite anymore? I thought they all but destroyed that?

It's good that you have no idea what you're talking about. That makes me feel better.
 
Back
Top Bottom