Catcalling is free speech?

[HighSky]

Catcalling is freedom of speech and no one has any right to react with violence because someone catcalls that individual, if you do react violently the person who catcalled you has the right to defend him or herself all the way up to including deadly force.

If you think it should be illegal then you are advocating to murder anyone for saying words you don't like, making you the violent aggressor thug.

A law is a threat to murder someone if he or she does not comply with said demand/threat. What happens when someone does not obey? You fine him or her? What happens if he or she does not pay? You send out cops to arrest/kidnap that person What happens when that person defend him or herself the cops shoot that person and that person either ends up dead or severely injured.

So you must oppose any attempt to make catcalling illegal.

It's a scummy thing to catcall someone but you certainly have no right to become violent over it.

[jshm2]

Which happy meal did you get your law degree from? Catcalling is offensive and illegal in most states and comes under "harassment" and "threats". It's why you can be prosecuted and fined for it.

https://www.arrestedmn.com/blog/2023/07/catcalling-is-both-offensive-and-illegal/

It is the person BEING catcalled who has the right to defend themselves violently if needs be. As catcalling can be deemed threatening behaviour.

[HighSky]

Wrong, catcalling is not threatening behavior it's called free speech and you have no right to react violently to being catcalled.
I do not care what the law says as the law is wrong.
A law against catcalling is a violation of someone's right to free speech.

[BoopBoopBeep]

Your argument falls apart with a law is a threat to murder. Jaywalking is a law. We don't execute people for it. If you show up to jaywalking court and shoot the judge and the cops then you're resisting arrest, which is a different offense at a different time for different actions.

Also, free speech only applies to the actions of the government. As your employer I can fire you for saying our brand sucks on your facebook page and you can't cry "free speech" because I'm not the government.

[mandyfire98]

The real question is why would an asshole want to catcall someone, man or woman and make that person uncomfortable?

That is kind of sociopathic behavior.

[MzAsh]

Harassment and threats aren’t protected under freedom of speech.

[HighSky]

Catcalling is not harassment, it's called free speech and it's certainly not a threat either

[MzAsh]

Catcalling is generally considered street harassment.

[KrakenAttackin]

@MzAsh. Define "harassment".

[BoopBoopBeep]

If they aren't following or touching, it generally doesn't violate the laws. From the ACLU at www.aclu.org/.../legislating-catcalling-comes-real-risks

"First, it’s crucial to note that all states already have laws governing many forms of street harassment, including... threats, stalking, groping and putting someone in fear of unwanted physical contact (even if you don’t touch them)".

Then you have to look at if "a reasonable person" would feel fear of unwanted physical contact there. Simply walking down the sidewalk with his hands in his pockets from 3 feet away doesn't necessarily get there, legally speaking. Following you down a dark alley to your car almost assuredly would get there. I don't say 100% get there because nothing is 100% with the law, so... you know.

Catcalling includes the trope of the hard hat guys whistling at the lady crossing the street. That's not the same thing, legally speaking, and doesn't get prosecuted anywhere in the U. S.

[strateguy632]

we are not lawyers but your first paragraph seems right but third paragraph is definitely wrong.

in a justice sytem like west, the accused can claim first amendment in court, so no excuse to resist arrest.

the right to defend using weapons does not include "lawful" arrests.

[HighSky]

So you have to let a stranger arrest you? Let's be real that is actually called kidnapping but the government calls it 'arrest' and if you don't go along with being kidnapped they escalate with more and more violence to force you to go and possibly even kill you if you resist.

[Yabbut]

Catcalling is trashy behavior, but it's free speech unless it rises to the level of harassment. It's annoying but it can be ignored.

[slatyb]

There are limits to free speech, but cat-calling rarely crosses that line.

[HighSky]

The only limit is to not threaten people.

[Anonymous]

Catcalling is harrassment, which is not protected speech.

[KrakenAttackin]

This depends on what is said.

[HighSky]

Wrong it is not harassment, it is free speech, free speech does not means speech you like but speech you also don't like.

[Opinion Owner]

@KrakenAttackin That's right.

[Opinion Owner]

You don't get carte blanche to say whatever you want without consequences. You need to review categories of speech that aren't protected. As KrakenAttackin said and I agree, it depends on what is said.

[HighSky]

The only thing that is not free speech are threats and harassment.
But someone catcalling you once is not harassment it is called free speech, it does not matter how strongly you dislike it, it is still freedom of speech.

[Opinion Owner]

Nope.

[HighSky]

Well, you're wrong.
You do not have a right to advocate for government violence on things you merely dislike.

[Opinion Owner]

Nobody said anything about violence. You need to read the laws of your state or jurisdiction, because you're so far off it isn't even funny. Now you're just trolling.

[HighSky]

Government laws are violence, exactly what do you think laws are? They are always enforced with violence otherwise no one would ever obey 99% of them.

[Opinion Owner]

Go back to school kid.

[KrakenAttackin]

Op... A single remark or comment like "hey baby"!, while annoying, is not illegal. If the person follows you and continues commenting, this could be construed at disorderly conduct.

[HighSky]

@KrakenAttackin At that point when the person follows and continues that is harassment

[Opinion Owner]

Each case on its own merits.

[milyjohn]

"A $1,000 fine or 90 days in prison are possible consequences for disorderly conduct.'

[HighSky]

Catcalling is free speech, and a $1000 fine or 90 days in prison in retaliation to that is violence.

[milyjohn]

Don't shoot the messenger.

[HighSky]

You posted that fact like if it was ok for the government to inflict that upon people, just omitting the fact that it is violence makes it seem like you think it's ok to do that to people.
Yes I know various countries have made catcalling illegal but that is an infringement on free speech.
Government is just an excuse for people to use immoral violence on their neighbor for things they don't personally like.

[milyjohn]

"You posted that fact like if it was ok for the government"

I never said it was OK. I just copied and pasted what I found on Google.

[HighSky]

You misunderstand, you posting that fact and only that makes me think that you think it's ok and that the law is justified. I know what the law is but morality is not based on law, law is just mere scribble on paper.
You can disagree with my premise but you're not going to make me think catcalling is harassment as I view it as free speech.
That does not mean I don't think anyone doing that is not a massive douche because they are.
Not every single douchebag thing should be illegal, only assault should be illegal.

[milyjohn]

I think it's free speech. And you can also go to jail for it.

[HighSky]

Yes I agree, but it shouldn't be illegal.

[milyjohn]

I agree.
Hey, I supported Alex Jones. He said the Sandy Hook school shooting was fake. The families originally tried to sue him for 1.5 billion, but then offered to settle for 85 million.

I know he shouldn't have said it, but it still should be free speech.

[HighSky]

Yeah it's free speech but he was wrong that it was fake, and no he should not of been sued those families should just learn to ignore his opinion.

[milyjohn]

The dead kids weren't fake, but was this just allowed to happen?

[HighSky]

I never said they were fake, that's Alex Jones dumb opinion not mine