What is the correct definition of " Free Speech" in your personal opinion? Do you think we live in a world where there is Free Speech?

Question

msc545 · Accepted Answer

In the U. S., “free speech” refers to the rights guaranteed under the First Amendment to the U. S. Constitution. Here’s the core definition:

The government may not restrict or punish expression based on its content, viewpoint, or message, subject to certain limited exceptions.

The First Amendment states, in part, “Congress shall make no law … abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press….” This means the government (federal, state, and local) generally cannot censor, penalize, or regulate speech because of what is being said.

The First Amendment applies to government actors—federal, state, and local governments, and public officials.
It does not directly apply to private individuals or companies. For example, a private employer or social media company can restrict speech on its platform without violating the First Amendment.

“Speech” is interpreted broadly:

Spoken or written words
Symbolic acts (like flag-burning or wearing armbands)
Artistic expression

They are all legally interpreted as speech and protected.

The U. S. Supreme Court has carved out narrow categories where speech can be restricted without violating the First Amendment. Examples include:

Incitement to imminent lawless action (speech likely to provoke immediate violence)
True threats
Obscenity (meeting a strict legal test)
Defamation (libel/slander)
Fraud or commercial speech that is deceptive
These exceptions are narrowly defined. Most offensive, unpopular, or controversial speech is still protected.

Speaking_Frankly · Accepted Answer

The fact that you refer to Free Speech as a proper noun is self evident that it has definitions and boundaries.

Freedom of speech allows you to vocally oppose others with no fear of sanctions or censorship from the incumbent state. There are restrictions as freedom of speech doesn't protect you from inciting violence or unrest for example. It doesn't protect you from committing defamation or perjury either. Freedom of speech doesn't apply to private enterprise either. If what you say in public may stand to impugn the reputation of your employer, you don't have an inalienable to remain in that job.

The idea that freedom of speech is absolute is horribly impractical because of legal proceedings being based on being truthful.

FreyaRed · Accepted Answer

No. Free speech is a lie. In most countries you aren't allowed to deny holocaust. Try to criticize online a country in middle east and you will see how fast your comments disappear. It's not free speech.
On the other hand if you turn the table you can notice what topics are sensitive to censorship and what isn't. Adding 2+2 and creating own theory about desire to deflection of general perception is easy that way. It's easily to calculate that Elites don't want the pleb sees god's chosen country as evil or DNA altering vaccines as health risk. It's just few examples this rabbit hole is much deeper. Of course elites start to divide and their emphasis on specific topic start to differ in Orient and Occident

Natasha1995 · Accepted Answer

I think that freedom of speech can go as far as to offend someone with words. We see it all the time in politics or in debates. But I also think that freedom of speech should be restricted when it causes someone direct harm or incites people to commit violent actions.

HawkPerception · Answer

I believe in absolute freedom of speech. The ability to say whatever you want to others, no matter how offensive it is or how much others disagree with it. However, some things that you say, you should know have repercussions. Like if someone calls someone's mom a whore, they should expect a fight from them. But not jail. I find the restrictions on what you say nowadays and cancel culture to be ridiculous. Apparently it's illegal to catcall women in the UK too and you can literally go to jail for it. It's insane logic.

Zack-Bann · Answer

Free speech is being allowed the platform to speak without fear of government censorship or direct legal action

I say direct because if you confess to a crime you committed you will still be charged with it.

And yes we do have in most of the western world: free speech

When people claim we don’t they usually mistake the definition of freedom of speech with freedom of consequence.

Being allowed to voice your opinion doesn’t mean it won’t be held against you
It simply means you won’t be systematically censored

Unfortunately that means that people could get deplatformed or “cancelled” over something they say
But that’s because most media platforms are privately owned. And a privately owned corporation has a right to pick and chose who gets to speak

It’s not perfect. And many times unfair
But it is technically legal under the definition of free speech

aaron13547 · Answer

I think free speech is the ability to talk... a cat can't look at you and say feed me it says meow meow meow meow until you do. We have the ability to say more then meow but there are also consequences to that... if you use free speech to be a hateful person and you attracted more hateful people and things and repel good ones... speech is free as long as you have the energy to do it. But we are never free from the consequences of the things we speak... free speech in my opinion is that we are aware we can control what we say. Some people are very aware of this, most are just on lives auto pilot unaware of why they think and say the things they do. just like they are unaware they continue to breath to live.

jshm2 · Answer

There is no such thing as "free speech". What people actually mean is "free speech within the law". Speech (like laws in general) vary across the world.

But there are things you cannot say, and things you cannot talk about depending on where you are within your own country.

For example, if on jury duty, you cannot talk about the case outside the court. You also cannot be libelous. You cannot disclose national secrets, nor lie to patients.. etc etc.

There are many such subjects, but people only ever talk about either racism, or hateful rhetoric. Sure you are "covered" by free speech laws, but not from the consequences of exercising it.

Tarifa · Answer

Accepting freedom of speech also means listening to opinions that do not coincide with your own point of view. A lot of times, we fail to listen and understand there are diverging opinions out there.

The problem in our modern world arises when politicians try to control the press, in a climate where it seems legitimate to use any means possible to discredit a political opponent.

Joshydavid25 · Answer

Freedom of Speech is basically being able to say anything without accessive reprocussion basically.. Especially by the government.. Whether it be offensive or not.. But we definitely do it live in a world of Free Speech.. You can't even criticize the government in skme countries.. Even in America, but are finding all types of loopholes to limit speech..

Shiprex · Answer

Freedom of thought is too often confused with Freedom of speech.

Think what you like, say what you can that doesn't breatk the law. You CAN'T yell "KILL THEM" to an armed suspect. Incitement is criminal just as defamation is when you broadcast lies about someone.

Folk don't realise the consequences of ignorance and abusive language are rightfully in place to avoid abuse of vulnerable people.

Anonymous · Answer

nope but it's obvious the Founding Fathers intended the 1st amendment to be under the morality framework of Christian ethics

you can say whatever you want but you don't incite violence or tell lies or deliberately offend or anything of that sort that is against Christian ethics

same goes for the 2nd amendment

Still-alive · Answer

Free speech mean no matter how unpopular or disagreeable or vile what you say is you will not suffer any legal consequences for it. It does not mean freedom from consequences in general. you can still be fired from a job or held accountable for the things you say.

qwerty2469 · Answer

Free speech is free. Nobody is paying for it, nobody can stop you from saying it. Yes we have free speech. Some people just struggle with consequences and reach after saying some things. But thays the beauty of free speech. Someone will hear it, amd the truth has a way of rising to the top. Even among ignorant black people and retarded white women.

mysteriousNicholas · Answer

@thegreenyogi The U. S. Supreme Court would be the best interpreter and resource to refer to or Google to : I'm not an American, though I have much intrigue into the daily affairs of American "stuff's" aka news.

DonaldDarko · Answer

You say what you think no matter how someone else might feel about it. The first amendment exists to more to protect unpopular speech, popular speech doesn't need protecting.

Alexandrubaschet08 · Answer

You can have opinions and you can tell them, but you should not be allow to say lies or things that had been proved true already and you lie about them.

Agape93 · Answer

Free speech is being able to speak your mind without the government telling you what is ok. And no, we don't.

Danny_dan92 · Answer

Being able to say whatever you want. However when you vocally advocate for the death and or harm of others then that is different speech. Those are threats.

Friendlybro79 · Answer

I'm America I can say I'm not sure anymore. I don't think so. I think we're living in a world where some powerful people are trying to take it away from us.

Hispanic-Cool-Guy · Answer

Free speech is suppose to mean you can't legally get in trouble for saying things but in reality free speech is bull.

If you say something and someone doesn't like what you said they will probably smash your face in.

Sunrising · Answer

My definition of free speech is to speak publicly whatever is on ones mind.

Caughtulookin · Answer

Apparently we do not in a social sense. Legally we do. Social interactions are the USAs eventual doom but i believe its already occuring.

Snakeyes7 · Answer

There is no such thing as illegal speech unless it is threatening someone else with violence.

mat678 · Answer

Free speech means free speech. I don't think we need an explanation to that. And no, we don't have free speech.

Anonymous · Answer

Freedom of speech doesn’t mean freedom from consequences , your employer can still fire you if they find something you say that’s offensive

beefcakebradybatson · Answer

The Trumpian free speech definition: Agree with me or else !!!

Anonymous · Answer

It means saying what you like. No, free speech doesn't exist in this world.

Anonymous · Answer

It's a governmental thing. In the real world there is no free speech.

dustybiker2 · Answer

Free speech is not harmful. It's personal.

douride2 · Answer

For the most part we do.

What is the correct definition of " Free Speech" in your personal opinion? Do you think we live in a world where there is Free Speech?

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