Freedom of speech and 'the right to offend'.

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I was browsing Facebook earlier, and I found a cause: "PETITION: Please Help Close down Cancer Is Funny Cause People Die."

It goes without saying that cancer is far from a joke, and I condemn mockery of people with cancer (or any other illness).

However, I was interested to note that Facebook had previously refused to take the page down, as it is not a violation of the terms of service. Personally, I condemn the page, but I would not want to see it brought down, and I consider tasteless 'humour' as this to be an integral part of freedom of speech. The page is not calling for violence/ hate, is not illegal in any way, and does not endanger any lives, so therefore I think taking it down would be censorious, and pandering to the tyranny of a majority.

I'm certainly not calling for unbridled expression, but if we go about trying to ban or censor tasteless humour, then I feel that we would be pushing our way as a society, towards a kind of Iran/ China like state, in which people can be intimidated or censored, simply for stating unpopular views.

Needless to say, I would never create any such page, and I would never condone making light of cancer. I acknowledge that saying this is going to generate some heat and hopefully light too.

If someone expresses an opinion or viewpoint for the purpose of hurting people, that is wrong.
That is harrassment or abuse.
If someone expresses a genuine opinion or viewpoint,in America we are guaranteed freedom of speech.

That is why Fred Phelps' group is still running around, and why the Ku Klux Klan still exists.

Sadly, that is also why Chris Chan continues carrying on.

Sylkat

I may not agree with it, but I think people have the right to be offensive. You just have to remember that every viewpoint in the world is offensive to someone and if you set out to limit offensive speech, you will ultimately limit your own speech when someone else is offended by it. Thus, we must endure the bad side of free speech in order to enjoy the blessings that this liberty brings us.

Sure sounds like you are to me.

Look at what happened with "sachsgate": a bunch of Daily Mail-reading whingers complained en masse about a pair of comedians that had "offended them" because their beloved "news" paper told them that they SHOULD BE offended, especially because both comedians worked for the BBC - when in fact most readers hadn't even listened to the offending material.

the guy who was at the receiving end (Andrew Sachs) even stated in a TV news interview that he wanted no further action - but the right-wing media had already made their mind up.

in most cases, the readers had little idea who the comedians actually were. The result being both guys lost their jobs and we now have anal joke vetting that is killing off comedy.

this i what i have a problem with.

Steve Cobert 1ce said that freedom of speech gives people the rite to say what they want but it doesn't give people who are offended the rite to listen or something like that. I kind of like that because I choose not to listen to something that offends me instead of getting upset about it & starting controversy trying to interfear with their rite to say it.

If I don't like something and if it's too much for me, I simply click out of the page and not complain about it. I also won't try and shut it down.

Last edited by League_Girl on 11 Sep 2012, 10:48 am, edited 1 time in total.

Leave it up. freedom of speech has taken enough hits already.

Spot on - although I would say that Facebook is a private company, and they can do what they want with their property.

They should have the freedom to do what they want & their members who are upset over it have the freedom to leave FB or they can start a protest page/petition on there

Agreed. Nobody forces anyone to view this page. I can think of far worse evils in the world than distasteful humour.

I think those people who spend their time being habitually offended by stuff are missing something really big in their own lives (perhaps what they are missing is more than 2 brain cells to rub together). I've known more people than I can remember off the top of my head die from cancer. My dad has cancer right now! I'm still not offended at all by that page. I don't understand what is so difficult for people to just IGNORE things they don't like or approve of. The part that I find most funny is that the people who spend most time getting offended by stuff and sticking their noses into other people's business are usually politically conservative and complain about government getting involved in their lives - they don't appear to see the hypocrisy of having a problem with government sticking their nose into their lives while insisting that, for example, drugs MUST remain illegal, pornography is immoral and gays can't get married. I thought government sticking their noses into people's business was wrong? I hate those people; I would have no compunctions about pressing the big red button which made them all drop dead right now - the world would be a vastly better place for it.

I think it should be taken down. Freedom of speech doesn't mean you can say whatever you want wherever you want without consequence.

Where does that end? Who is the arbiter of what is acceptable and what is not? As somebody mentioned nearly everything will offend somebody. Let people spout whatever BS they feel. If nobody is interested they will eventually get bored and go away. Censor them and they will become a martyr to their cause.

How would taking the page down bring the consequences though? The backlash and negative attention IS the consequence. If people have the freedom to speak, others who hear it have the freedom to tear them a new as*hole.

The only reason I don't like censorship is because it makes people not take responsibility for their words (gives them a pass to avoid facing the outrage and social consequences). Take that FB page down today and nobody will know it's creators are insensitive jerks tomorrow.

How far should those "social consequences" be allowed to go?