How Far should Freedom of Expression go?

[Koga No Goshi]

That is the Question Koga. Not whether he is allowed to fly this flag, but whether he should be allowed to.

Of course. I was responding to a comment that anything that doesn't cause direct physical harm should be allowable. And my response basically was that it isn't and never has been fully allowed.

[Strike For The South]

Of course. I was responding to a comment that anything that doesn't cause direct physical or property harm should be allowable. And my response basically was that it isn't and never has been fully allowed.

Well it should beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

[Koga No Goshi]

Well it should beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Hey Strike...

I'm in yer fridge.

DESTROYING YOUR ALCOHOL!

*An instant energy shield bubble appears around Koga*
I'm protected by free speech! Put the baseball bat down! ;)

[Strike For The South]

Hey Strike...

I'm in yer fridge.

DESTROYING YOUR ALCOHOL!

*An instant energy shield bubble appears around Koga*
I'm protected by free speech! Put the baseball bat down! ;)

1. You are on my property
2. The Alcohol is my property.

[Koga No Goshi]

1. You are on my property
2. The Alcohol is my property.

Ah but I didn't actually destroy it. I was just trying to goad you into violence. ;)

[Strike For The South]

Ah but I didn't actually destroy it. I was just trying to goad you into violence. ;)

Dont scare me like that.

[Koga No Goshi]

Dont scare me like that.

Out of curiosity Strike what would happen to me if I was visiting East Texas, held up the Texan flag, and spit on it in the middle of town?

[Seamus Fermanagh]

Ah but I didn't actually destroy it. I was just trying to goad you into violence. ;)

Trying to goad a Texan to violence?

Threatening a Texan's liquor/beer?

Koga, my lad, they're not going to find enough of you to do a proper DNA test.



Actually, in Texas, you being in his fridge without his permission would be enough. Strike would be processed, but the local DA wouldn't even bother bringing in to the Grand Jury.

[Koga No Goshi]

Trying to goad a Texan to violence?

Threatening a Texan's liquor/beer?

Koga, my lad, they're not going to find enough of you to do a proper DNA test.



Actually, in Texas, you being in his fridge without his permission would be enough. Strike would be processed, but the local DA wouldn't even bother bringing in to the Grand Jury.

I know that touching another man's BBQ grill is a capitol offense, for sure.

[Gaius Scribonius Curio]

In my opinion physical harm and property damage are definitely way way beyond the line, to make that clear. Inciting either of those things also.

However it is difficult to say how far a restriction on that or inciting hatred would go.

Last night for example, I was playing indoor soccer. My team is made up of 3 Englishmen, including myself, an Irishman, a Scotsman, and an Australian of Dutch heritage. All of us love it in this country. We were playing a bunch of Australians who were wearing Socceroo's shirts. We wiped the floor with them needless to say, Australians are, as a rule, awful at Football. But my point is that my young Geordie friend was subjected to what some would call abuse. In return when he scored a goal he called the guy a 'fat Australian '

This was all in the spirit of the game and afterwards we all shook hands and got on with our lives. But even in everyday situations there are a lot of things that would be 'unacceptable' if inciting hatred was illegal.

[Kadagar_AV]

Too much censorship on these boards.

[LittleGrizzly]

Freedom of expression should have no boundaries, IMHO.

Do you mean no laws against incitement to hatred also ??

I could probably support people being left alone to fly whatever flag they want outside thier house, but what about a guy telling a large crowd about the evil that is black people and getting them whipped up into a frenzy where they go out and target black people

IMO theres no such thing as pure free speech but there should be very few basic limitations on it....

[Kadagar_AV]

Too much censorship on these boards.

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

If my neighbour flew a Naziflag I would support him if anyone tried to force him to take it down.

I would not, however, borrow him a cup of sugar or my lawnmover. And I would probably fly a Rainbow flag just to piss him off...

Agreed. My neighbour may well fly a Nazi flag, and I wouldn't want anyone to have a legal basis to tell him to take it down. However, I'm going to fly the Star of David in my front yard and play Hatikvah as loud as I can.