# Armchair lawyers and "Freedom of Speech" **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 19, 2003, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/armchair-lawyers-and-freedom-of-speech/220047 "2003-12-19T20:37:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freddy_the_Pig)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2003, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/armchair-lawyers-and-freedom-of-speech/220047/21 "2003-12-20T05:53:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Otto \* > \*\*Well, be fair, you might be violating their constitutional rights. It depends on what you did to make them angry. \*\* And on who you are. If you’re a private citizen, about the only way you can violate another person’s constitutional rights is to enslave them. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2003, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/armchair-lawyers-and-freedom-of-speech/220047/22 "2003-12-20T06:02:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Earl of the CC \* > \*\*You have a real hard-on for corporal punishment. And I mean that literally. If corporal punishment had physical form, I have no doubt you would want very much to have sex with it. \*\* That would be painful. ---
**Author:** ![SeekingTruth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/34f0e0/32.png) [@SeekingTruth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeekingTruth)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2003, 9:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/armchair-lawyers-and-freedom-of-speech/220047/23 "2003-12-20T09:21:34Z")
Isn’t the 1st Amendment concerning the Government not quashing free speech? Try to stand on my front steps spewing bile and I’ll show you how far the Amendment protects you. My local paper can deny to print an op-ed letter, my local tv stations can deny me access to air time, and I can even deny a guy with a bullhorn from shouting things to my home (through noise ordinances). Say what you want, but don’t expect a right to make people listen ---
**Author:** ![county](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce7236/32.png) [@county](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/county)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2003, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/armchair-lawyers-and-freedom-of-speech/220047/24 "2003-12-20T11:41:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jklann \* > \*\*And on who you are. If you’re a private citizen, about the only way you can violate another person’s constitutional rights is to enslave them. \*\* I think the federal government takes another view with regard to “hate crimes” i.e. murder of civil rights workers. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Cheatem\_Undhow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/13edae/32.png) [@Dewey\_Cheatem\_Undhow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Cheatem_Undhow)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2003, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/armchair-lawyers-and-freedom-of-speech/220047/25 "2003-12-20T13:35:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by county \* > \*\*I think the federal government takes another view with regard to “hate crimes” i.e. murder of civil rights workers. \*\* I think those are deemed violations of civil rights defined by statute, not violations of rights enshrined in the constitution. ---
**Author:** ![Earthworm\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f07891/32.png) [@Earthworm\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earthworm_Jim)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2003, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/armchair-lawyers-and-freedom-of-speech/220047/26 "2003-12-20T14:53:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Captain Amazing \* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by Earl of the CC \* > > You have a real hard-on for corporal punishment. And I mean that literally. If corporal punishment had physical form, I have no doubt you would want very much to have sex with it. > > \*\*That would be painful. \*\* But not harmful. ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2003, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/armchair-lawyers-and-freedom-of-speech/220047/27 "2003-12-20T22:30:37Z")
I wish I could remember who said it - I always liked this quote: “You certainly have the right to say anything you wish. However, I am not obligated to provide you with a forum in which to say it.” ---
**Author:** ![county](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce7236/32.png) [@county](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/county)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2003, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/armchair-lawyers-and-freedom-of-speech/220047/28 "2003-12-21T03:52:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Phase42 \* > \*\*I wish I could remember who said it - I always liked this quote: > > “You certainly have the right to say anything you wish. However, I am not obligated to provide you with a forum in which to say it.” \*\* I’m pretty sure that was said by Lynn. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/armchair-lawyers-and-freedom-of-speech/220047.md?page=1)