On Sat, 15 Sep 2001, Andy Walden wrote:
I believe we were talking about the custom/concept of free speech as [supposedly practiced in the U.S.] opposed to the Constitutional "Free Speech".
Sorry, I didn't realize there was a difference. Basically my point is that if I restrict what you say, its not a violation of Freedom of Speech, only if the Government restricts speech.
Actually, if I understand it correctly (and of course, IANAL-larvae), this is not *always* true in the U.S., although this would hold for the vast majority of private causes.
Btw, I would only try to restrict speech if it was directed towards me and not welcome.
Personally, I have no problem with anyone saying *anything* (of course we are assuming here that it is said in "good faith", regardless of how tasteless, wrongheaded, or just flat out wrong it may in fact be), provided they are using their own press/website/whatever to say it. While I realize that it may cause the firestorm, I hold that SPAM is will usually qualify as OK by this definition. Hey, I have a delete key for those I don't want to listen to...
andy
-- Yours, J.A. Terranson sysadmin@mfn.org If Governments really want us to behave like civilized human beings, they should give serious consideration towards setting a better example: Ruling by force, rather than consensus; the unrestrained application of unjust laws (which the victim-populations were never allowed input on in the first place); the State policy of justice only for the rich and elected; the intentional abuse and occassionally destruction of entire populations merely to distract an already apathetic and numb electorate... This type of demogoguery must surely wipe out the fascist United States as surely as it wiped out the fascist Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. The views expressed here are mine, and NOT those of my employers, associates, or others. Besides, if it *were* the opinion of all of those people, I doubt there would be a problem to bitch about in the first place... --------------------------------------------------------------------