Can we truly have free speech?Will free speech only exist in a society without censorship?Is there an unsolvable conflict between free speech and offence?
I think that we have the right to be offended
Free speech.
There will always be that group or individual that will appose someone’s opinion because they disagree or have a different point of view. But isn’t the point of freedom of expression to have different views be laid on the table and discussed. Offence. To be offended is, usually, a natural instinct in humans to point out that an opinion or expression is ‘libel, slander, obscenity, pornography, sedition, hate speech, incitement, fighting words, classified information, copyright violation,trade secrets, non-disclosure agreements, right to privacy, right to be forgotten, public security, public order, public nuisance, campaign finance reform or oppression.’ to protect themselves or others. These are the limitations set by governments.
Why have ‘free speech’ if it has the power to destroy our lives. Where would you draw the line if you don’t have the right to be offended. This is a sensitive topic because you could pretty much be offended by the simplest of things, however to be offended and not like something that has come up is the very first step to changing it. If Rosa Parks wasn’t offended that she had to stand up from her seat for a white man to sit segregation would be fine because you take no offence to something that you believe is wrong.
Everything must have limitations and free speech isn’t an exception. If it doesn’t improve the world in any way why bring it up, but on the other hand who is to decide what is best for the world?
I feel that free speech and offence are more linked than perceived. offence is an uncontrollable emotion, like all the others. Emotion and feelings are what drive us to do anything, primitive or civilized. Until we can fully control our emotions, which will be never humans aren’t completely ready for ‘free speech’.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_of_speech
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