# Artistic expressions can't be compelled?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artistic-expressions-cant-be-compelled/804186>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [December 11, 2017, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artistic-expressions-cant-be-compelled/804186 "2017-12-11T12:36:49Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 4

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**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\
**Post date:** [December 14, 2017, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artistic-expressions-cant-be-compelled/804186/61 "2017-12-14T08:09:39Z")

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Just ran across this quote the other day, and I think it is fitting:  
\*  
“Liberty, as it is conceived by current opinion, has nothing inherent about it; it is a sort of gift or trust bestowed on the individual by the state pending good behavior.” – Mary McCarthy\*

Now, it looks to me like somebody is behaving badly.

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**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\
**Post date:** [December 14, 2017, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artistic-expressions-cant-be-compelled/804186/62 "2017-12-14T12:15:21Z")

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> [@Orwell](#):
>
> You’re kidding, right? Are you imagining a scenario where the baker somehow enticed this particular gay couple into his bakery with the Machiavellian scheme to have them sue him?

It’s probably easier to imagine than the baker filing the first lawsuit because that makes no sense at all.

And people have voluntarily violated a law just to provoke a challenge to that law, so the idea of the baker’s collusion is not inconceivable, thòugh i dont believe it was a factor in this case.

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**Author:** ![puddleglum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puddleglum/32/137_2.png) [@puddleglum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puddleglum)\
**Post date:** [December 14, 2017, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artistic-expressions-cant-be-compelled/804186/63 "2017-12-14T16:19:38Z")

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> [@WordMan](#):
>
> The First Amendment is not a cute loophole, no. Claiming it to avoid serving people who should not be discriminated against is too cute by half.
> 
> Fuck that guy.

So the first amendment is good unless it causes certain people to have their feelings hurt? There is no difference in that and having no first amendment.

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**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\
**Post date:** [December 14, 2017, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artistic-expressions-cant-be-compelled/804186/64 "2017-12-14T16:45:44Z")

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> [@puddleglum](#):
>
> So the first amendment is good unless it causes certain people to have their feelings hurt? There is no difference in that and having no first amendment.

We also can’t shout Fire in a theater. In other words, there are limitations. This type of discrimination, IMHO, should be another one. Close the loophole so folks who are protected against discrimination can’t have this silliness invoked against them.

Fuck that guy.

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