# Another victory for free speech **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 10, 2017, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-victory-for-free-speech/801251 "2017-11-10T21:07:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2017, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-victory-for-free-speech/801251/1 "2017-11-10T21:07:07Z")
story [here](http://www.foxnews.com/us/2017/11/10/pro-life-student-group-wins-settlement-after-professor-tries-to-kick-away-chalk-messages.html) > [@](#): > > A California professor who is seen on video trying to censor pro-life students drawing with sidewalk chalk has been ordered to undergo First Amendment training and pay $17,000 as a result of a district court settlement. > > Fresno State University public health professor Dr. Gregory Thatcher recruited students from his class to help deface the Fresno State Students for Life sidewalk chalk. > > … > > Thatcher will pay $1,000 to Tasy and $1,000 to another student, Jesus Herrera, along with some attorneys’ fees. The professor is also required to undergo First Amendment training to be provided by ADF. ---
**Author:** ![orcenio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/orcenio/32/1036_2.png) [@orcenio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/orcenio)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2017, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-victory-for-free-speech/801251/2 "2017-11-10T21:23:26Z")
> [@](#): > > After Tasy insisted they had permission from the university, Thatcher started erasing the chalk with his shoe. > > “You have permission to put it down, and I have permission to get rid of it. This is our part of free speech. College campuses are not free speech areas,” Thatcher said, “Do you understand? Obviously you don’t understand.” Immature yes, but never knew that was illegal in California. Is there more to this? ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2017, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-victory-for-free-speech/801251/3 "2017-11-10T21:34:44Z")
In this grab-em-by-the-pussy world we live in, with nuclear powers threatening each other and people being mowed down by gunfire, I am relieved to hear that the most serious and dangerous threat to free speech referenced in the OP has been swiftly dealt with. Sound sleep for me tonight, that’s for sure. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2017, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-victory-for-free-speech/801251/4 "2017-11-10T21:48:17Z")
If you don’t want to read about “Mundane” topics, I’d recommend a different forum. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2017, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-victory-for-free-speech/801251/5 "2017-11-10T21:53:39Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > If you don’t want to read about “Mundane” topics, I’d recommend a different forum. If you don’t want a discussion of your mundane topics, why are you posting them? ---
**Author:** ![Iggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iggy/32/3364_2.png) [@Iggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iggy)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2017, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-victory-for-free-speech/801251/6 "2017-11-10T22:08:12Z")
The concern is a professor, an employee of a government agency, acting in his official capacity to take action to suppress free speech including recruiting other students from his class to do so. In that moment the professor is acting on behalf of government. If other students acting of their own accord had rubbed out the sidewalk chalk then I do not think it would be actionable. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2017, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-victory-for-free-speech/801251/7 "2017-11-10T22:12:29Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > If you don’t want a discussion of your mundane topics, why are you posting them? I’d be delighted to have some discussion of them. Your post didn’t seem to be doing that. What are your thoughts on Professor No-Free-Speech-For-Thee? ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2017, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-victory-for-free-speech/801251/8 "2017-11-10T22:19:44Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > … What are your thoughts on Professor No-Free-Speech-For-Thee? I know you weren’t addressing me, but my thoughts are that this guy was wrong and paid a price. He’ll even have to undergo training. I hope he learned his lesson. Thanks, Fox news for spreading this local story! ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2017, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-victory-for-free-speech/801251/9 "2017-11-10T22:44:39Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > I know you weren’t addressing me, but my thoughts are that this guy was wrong and paid a price. He’ll even have to undergo training. > I hope he learned his lesson. Thanks, Fox news for spreading this local story! It’s certainly on the same level as a would-be Senator who is a non-repentant molester of young girls and has no respect for the Supreme Court and the Constitution. _old rolleyes_ ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2017, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-victory-for-free-speech/801251/10 "2017-11-10T22:59:02Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > I’d be delighted to have some discussion of them. Your post didn’t seem to be doing that. What are your thoughts on Professor No-Free-Speech-For-Thee? What do you think about child molesters being elected to the US Senate? Pro or con? ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2017, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-victory-for-free-speech/801251/11 "2017-11-11T03:05:19Z")
> [@Lemur866](#): > > What do you think about child molesters being elected to the US Senate? Pro or con? Any evidence that any molestation actually occurred? Like a police report? Or is it old fashioned Nixonian dirty tricks that the Dems used against Schwartzenneger and GW Bush before elections? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2017, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-victory-for-free-speech/801251/12 "2017-11-11T03:29:00Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > Any evidence that any molestation actually occurred? Like a police report? Or is it old fashioned Nixonian dirty tricks that the Dems used against Schwartzenneger and GW Bush before elections? Nice job linking. If I remember, Arnold admitted to at least some of the accusations. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2017, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-victory-for-free-speech/801251/13 "2017-11-11T03:31:05Z")
> [@Lemur866](#): > > What do you think about child molesters being elected to the US Senate? Pro or con? Sounds like a topic for another thread, but to not leave you in suspense, I’m opposed to child molester. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2017, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-victory-for-free-speech/801251/14 "2017-11-11T03:34:06Z")
[CNN](https://www.google.com/search?q=accusations+Schwartzenneger&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8) > [@](#): > > Hours after accepting responsibility for allegations of sexual misconduct printed in a Los Angeles Times article, Republican gubernatorial front-runner Arnold Schwarzenegger disputed the allegations, saying, “Most of it is not true.” > > Schwarzenegger, vying to replace California Gov. Gray Davis during the recall election Tuesday, said he doesn’t remember the alleged incidents, which occurred between three and 30 years ago. ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2017, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-victory-for-free-speech/801251/15 "2017-11-11T12:16:28Z")
So, within the first 10 posts of a thread that ostensibly relates to free speech, we have “grab-em-by-the-pussy”, nuclear threats, mass shooting, and child molestation. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2017, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-victory-for-free-speech/801251/16 "2017-11-11T12:26:41Z")
What really annoys me about this professor is that, like the woman from the DNC asking to keep job openings away from white men, he’s like a caricature of the loony left. It’s even worse because he’s a government employee and should know better anyway. What an idiot. That said, this is pretty mundane and pointless. I basically get my news from here, NPR, and the NY Times – where do people go to get these stupid nut-picking local news stories written just to anger the reader? And, why do people want to read stupid nut-picking local news stories that make them angry? I don’t know what all the threadshitting is about here, though. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2017, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-victory-for-free-speech/801251/17 "2017-11-11T12:55:32Z")
Since this is about an actual college _professor_ rather than college _students_, I’ll cheerfully agree that this rises above the usual ridiculous “college students doing stupid things” conservative complaints that their First Amendment rights are being violated. But not by that much. Unless Fox News neglected to report it (which would be kinda surprising since it’s the sort of thing they’re looking for in their desperate efforts to play the victim card on behalf of conservatives), this professor’s actions were not backed up by the university, so we’re only up to “one individual college professor being caught in one incident of abusing his awesome powers.” Sounds like it was dealt with appropriately, and balance has been restored to the Universe. ---
**Author:** ![Evan\_Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b487fb/32.png) [@Evan\_Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evan_Drake)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2017, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-victory-for-free-speech/801251/18 "2017-11-11T13:11:43Z")
Everyone displayed the utmost triviality. However I note that out of $17,000 the lawyers got $15,000. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2017, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-victory-for-free-speech/801251/19 "2017-11-11T13:12:32Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > In this grab-em-by-the-pussy world we live in, with nuclear powers threatening each other and people being mowed down by gunfire, I am relieved to hear that the most serious and dangerous threat to free speech referenced in the OP has been swiftly dealt with. Sound sleep for me tonight, that’s for sure. This is a blatant threadshit. If you don’t think the topic is worthy of your attention go comment in other threads. Don’t shit on this one. I debated whether to give you a warning and I barely decided to go with a note. Continue and that will change. > [@running\_coach](#): > > It’s certainly on the same level as a would-be Senator who is a non-repentant molester of young girls and has no respect for the Supreme Court and the Constitution. > _old rolleyes_ > [@Lemur866](#): > > What do you think about child molesters being elected to the US Senate? Pro or con? > [@madsircool](#): > > Any evidence that any molestation actually occurred? Like a police report? Or is it old fashioned Nixonian dirty tricks that the Dems used against Schwartzenneger and GW Bush before elections? > [@running\_coach](#): > > Nice job linking. > If I remember, Arnold admitted to at least some of the accusations. > [@running\_coach](#): > > [CNN](https://www.google.com/search?q=accusations+Schwartzenneger&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8) Enough with the hijacks and threadshitting. I don’t give a damn if you have a problem with the poster. Take it to the Pit. If you think the topic is too mundane for you don’t reply. Continuing with this behavior would not be a good idea. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2017, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-victory-for-free-speech/801251/20 "2017-11-11T13:17:16Z")
I’m not going to do a comparative analysis of right wing assholery vs left wing assholery. Mostly because it’s not necessary. Right wing assholes win by a country mile when it comes to restricting freedoms and rights they don’t like. But I would like to see a dramatic decrease of sensitive liberal over reactions like the one cited by OP. These kinds of incidents don’t help the progressive cause and I think “first amendment training” is just about the best course of action to help remind people to chill the fuck out and learn to laugh at the stupid and absurd. Also, he’s a professor. Here was a perfect teaching opportunity and he blew it. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-victory-for-free-speech/801251.md?page=2)