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College students unclear about Free Speech - FIRE

icehorse

......unaffiliated...... anti-dogmatist
Premium Member
That is the problem with free speech absolutionists to think that you should absolutely say whatever you want whenever is the major problem. Free speech protects you from the government, not the rest of society. If certain speech is disruptive to the tranquility of an environment especially when learning is involved, it needs to be mitigated. Not a hard concept.

false dilemma.
 

shmogie

Well-Known Member
According the to survey of 2225 U.S. college students linked to below:

- 96% think it's important to have their rights and liberties (e.g. free speech) protected on campus.
- But 57% think that "offensive" or "intolerant" views should be restricted.

Apparently, many students are unclear on the concept of free speech.

https://d28htnjz2elwuj.cloudfront.n...4349/Student-Attitudes-Association-Survey.pdf
Pitiful, isn´t it. They want totally free speech for themselves, but feel justified in curtailing the free speech of others.

Offensive, or intolerant views, to whom ?
 

The Reverend Bob

Fart Machine and Beastmaster
You think thats somehow unique? Through my time in the military and living in this godforsaken state I've heard just about everything and anything directed at me. I really don't care. It doesn't mean a goddamn thing.

And I'll protect your right to say it too.
And I reserve the right of reciprocation
 

Twilight Hue

Twilight, not bright nor dark, good nor bad.
Pitiful, isn´t it. They want totally free speech for themselves, but feel justified in curtailing the free speech of others.

Offensive, or intolerant views, to whom ?

Yep.


Free speech is just that. Free. Any type of curtailing is not free speech. Period.

If you're against certain types of speech just because it's offensive , threatening, degrading or what not, then you're not for free speech.

It's really that simple.
 

HonestJoe

Well-Known Member
Nope. The tacit context here is that we're talking about how free speech is currently defined in the U.S. It's not absolute - for example you cannot incite imminent violence - but it does allow for offense giving.
No, the context of the questions are how the respondents think it should be, not how it currently is. You're free to disagree with them, but you can't legitimately dismiss them out of hand based on the perceived inconsistency between calling civil rights important and believing there should be practical limitations, regardless of what those proposed limitations are. They'd need to be discussed and debated individually.
 

icehorse

......unaffiliated...... anti-dogmatist
Premium Member
No, the context of the questions are how the respondents think it should be, not how it currently is. You're free to disagree with them, but you can't legitimately dismiss them out of hand based on the perceived inconsistency between calling civil rights important and believing there should be practical limitations, regardless of what those proposed limitations are. They'd need to be discussed and debated individually.

Correct. Many of these students would appear to favor curtailing freedom of speech to some degree. That's terrifying.
 

Evangelicalhumanist

"Truth" isn't a thing...
Premium Member
According the to survey of 2225 U.S. college students linked to below:

- 96% think it's important to have their rights and liberties (e.g. free speech) protected on campus.
- But 57% think that "offensive" or "intolerant" views should be restricted.

Apparently, many students are unclear on the concept of free speech.

https://d28htnjz2elwuj.cloudfront.n...4349/Student-Attitudes-Association-Survey.pdf
Anybody who thinks that views they don't like ought to be restricted is not mature enough to be in a university program. University is where you actually learn to think, not repeat rote answers on cue.
 

Revoltingest

Pragmatic Libertarian
Premium Member
You think thats somehow unique? Through my time in the military and living in this godforsaken state I've heard just about everything and anything directed at me. I really don't care. It doesn't mean a goddamn thing.
As one matures, one learns to be less affected
by the slings & arrows of outrageous posters.
 

The Reverend Bob

Fart Machine and Beastmaster
You possess no such right, reserve no such right, and it looks really bad talking about "wanna talk in real life and see what happens?" Big, tough guy talk right there.:rolleyes:
It is the truth people say all sorts of racist crap because it is the internet and there are no real life consequences. When people are off the internet and dealing with people IRL then they tend to keep their racist talk to themselves and for good reason.
 

Shadow Wolf

Certified People sTabber
It is the truth people say all sorts of racist crap because it is the internet and there are no real life consequences. When people are off the internet and dealing with people IRL then they tend to keep their racist talk to themselves and for good reason.
So? A lot of people run their traps on the internet saying hateful stuff and making the most absurd and idle of threats ever issued. Realistically, a threat from a two-year-old carries more weight. On the internet, you can beat up anyone. It also provides all sorts of protections and shields so there isn't any real chance of it backfiring on you, so it's not even like running your mouth on the playground where it can get bopped.
 
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