Free Speech

I have been thinking about free speech again. I believe you absolutely have the freedom of speech not absolutely free speech. This is a cliche but you can't yell fire in crowded movie theater. Freedom of speech does not equal the right to a venue or an audience. I have the right to write my opinion do not have the right to demand it gets published everywhere. I either have to self publish or get some business to agree to it. I may not agree with the pornography industry or some publisher points of view but they have a right to publish but I have consume their product. For things like pornography and other objectionably material, the most I would limit their first amendment right is restrict it so that children and those who have the right to object to it don't have to see it unless they wanted to. It is about choice. It is about being able to have a forum to discuss different points of view. It is also about being about being responsible. There are better and worse venues for some topics. Take the topic of sex, it can be discussed openly well but that does not mean it should be done in a way where every part of your life gets sexualized. Talking about politics and religion is talked about all the time but there ways of getting both of those topics into raging, mindless arguments. There is room for sharp disagreement and respect but it is a hard dance to do.

If push comes to shove, I would favor free speech in favor of being politically correct because I don't want to chain myself to the tyranny of possible offending someone. Does not mean I don't have to practice restraint and manners but I am not going to speak my mind.