# Billboards and the First Amendment **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 4, 2021, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billboards-and-the-first-amendment/955524 "2021-12-04T21:56:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2021, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billboards-and-the-first-amendment/955524/41 "2021-12-05T19:55:31Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > Wait a second, are you telling me what I can and cannot say? It looks like he’s telling you what you _should_ and _should not_ say. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2021, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billboards-and-the-first-amendment/955524/42 "2021-12-05T20:16:37Z")
That’s pretty un-American to me. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2021, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billboards-and-the-first-amendment/955524/43 "2021-12-05T20:20:51Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > That’s pretty un-American to me. Opining about should-and-shouldn’t matters, like Americans with free-expression rights do? Interesting; would you go so far as to say he _shouldn’t_ say such things? ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2021, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billboards-and-the-first-amendment/955524/44 "2021-12-05T21:15:29Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > Interesting; would you go so far as to say he _shouldn’t_ say such things? Only Sith deal in absolutes. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2021, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billboards-and-the-first-amendment/955524/45 "2021-12-05T21:21:07Z")
Getting a bit meta here. He is the one who is claiming that telling others what they should and should not say is un-American, and he is doing this by telling people what they shouldn’t say. My responses were tongue in cheek, as I do not believe that he is correct, I was just pointing out the utter stupidity of his position. If you want to play your little gotcha logic games, do it with him, I was just playing along specifically to point out the flaws in his logic. As far as hate speech goes, it absolutely is a thing. Now, it is not _illegal_ to use hate speech. I can go outside and talk about how a particular ethnic group is so terrible, and the world would be better off without them, and no one can make me stop. OTOH, places like this messageboard do have rules against hate speech, and if I tried to ply my screed here, then I would be rightfully shut down. People also have the right to an opinion. And wherever they hear me say these things, they are perfectly within their rights to call it hate speech. IOW @Bootb is talking out his ass, is entirely wrong on this, and is stupid for even thinking that what he said had any connection to reality. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2021, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billboards-and-the-first-amendment/955524/46 "2021-12-05T21:21:30Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > Only Sith deal in absolutes. Isn’t that an absolute statement? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2021, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billboards-and-the-first-amendment/955524/47 "2021-12-05T21:22:12Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > Isn’t that an absolute statement? Do or do not, there is no try. Yoda is a Sith Lord confirmed. ---
**Author:** ![Mundane\_Super\_Hero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mundane_super_hero/32/6304_2.png) [@Mundane\_Super\_Hero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mundane_Super_Hero)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2021, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billboards-and-the-first-amendment/955524/48 "2021-12-05T21:25:21Z")
> [@saje](#): > > I don’t know the legalities of that sign, but I must say it prompts me as a gun fearing, law-abiding do-gooder to find a shotgun and blast the hell out of it. > > Disgusting. It’s a noble sentiment but using a firearm trips major red flags… so don’t. Sure, cops can’t track pellets to shotguns today… but what about when you’re 80? Want to do a 10 year stretch when you’re 80? Say no to guns. They might have a harder time tracking a match, but less incentive. (Maybe that citizen will wear gloves… ) ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2021, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billboards-and-the-first-amendment/955524/49 "2021-12-05T21:34:54Z")
Maybe he could claim self defense. Saw the big scary black guy on the billboard and went into a panic and started shooting. ---
**Author:** ![Mundane\_Super\_Hero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mundane_super_hero/32/6304_2.png) [@Mundane\_Super\_Hero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mundane_Super_Hero)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2021, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billboards-and-the-first-amendment/955524/50 "2021-12-05T21:44:44Z")
Or… as a White-thinking Klansman, he came so hard he needed a cigarette… ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2021, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billboards-and-the-first-amendment/955524/51 "2021-12-06T03:35:55Z")
I got the reference. ---
**Author:** ![Kropotkin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kropotkin/32/18045_2.png) [@Kropotkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kropotkin)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2021, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billboards-and-the-first-amendment/955524/52 "2021-12-06T19:40:25Z")
Heaven forfend someone at the Straight Dope use a little rhetorical excess to make a salient point ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2021, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billboards-and-the-first-amendment/955524/53 "2021-12-06T23:23:04Z")
Chronos is a grown man and doesn’t need you to speak for him. But since you brought up rhetoric the post he made in this thread combined with the complete lack of understanding of the 1st amendment and the concept of self defense it’s doubtful that it’s merely rhetorical. The clear trend is that he interprets legal and ideological language in a way that supports a desired outcome regardless of the logical inconsistencies or definitional contortions required. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2021, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billboards-and-the-first-amendment/955524/54 "2021-12-07T01:54:08Z")
But but but Both Sides Do It! ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2021, 10:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billboards-and-the-first-amendment/955524/55 "2021-12-07T10:14:22Z")
The thing is, there _are_ limits. I couldn’t just put up a billboard with hardcore porn on it, or a list of US spies, or a direct incitement to commit a crime, etc etc. So it’s not a trivial binary thing with freedom of speech, and, in my opinion, the US should reconsider what side of the line hate speech should be. That said, the billboard in the OP is abhorrent, but comparatively tame, and might squeak through most suitably-limited hate speech laws. ---
**Author:** ![OldOlds](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a3d4f5/32.png) [@OldOlds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldOlds)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2021, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billboards-and-the-first-amendment/955524/56 "2021-12-07T12:17:19Z")
What I remember about driving through rural PA is the dueling signs- one advertising a porn store and across the way another advertising Jesus. ---
**Author:** ![Mundane\_Super\_Hero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mundane_super_hero/32/6304_2.png) [@Mundane\_Super\_Hero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mundane_Super_Hero)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2021, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billboards-and-the-first-amendment/955524/57 "2021-12-07T12:37:24Z")
Maybe even Jesus occasionally wants to “Away in a Minger”… ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2021, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billboards-and-the-first-amendment/955524/58 "2021-12-07T12:48:56Z")
I love and respect the first amendment. Repeal the second, you’ll hear no argument from me, but free speech is fabulous. I just wish there was more (or any) community outrage. I’ve learned that in 2019 when the sign first went up, the gas station had Sunoco gasoline. When the billboard went up, Sunoco pulled their franchise. I would expect only a few hardcore racists would patronize the station, but they’re doing well; kinda like I expected Trump to be trounced in 2016 yet he won. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2021, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billboards-and-the-first-amendment/955524/59 "2021-12-07T18:36:10Z")
I saw something similiar on the PA turnpike – one was for a porn shop, and then a few miles down, there was one warning people of Hell. You gotta wonder – who put their ad up first? ---
**Author:** ![Lancia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lancia/32/17174_2.png) [@Lancia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lancia)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2021, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billboards-and-the-first-amendment/955524/60 "2021-12-07T21:32:36Z")
As of a year or two ago there was a porn store in Eugene, Oregon next to the freeway that was also next to big billboard on an adjacent property, also next to the freeway – the parking lot of the porn store (with it’s huge glowing ADULT SHOP sign) was maybe 40 feet from the billboard. Naturally, the billboard had a huge “ARE YOU GOING TO HELL?!” message with scary flames on it, and of course a phone number that assume links the caller to some savin’-on-the-spot service. No mater how many times I drive past it, knowing exactly what’s there, I can’t help but literally laugh out loud. And the porn shop came first, of course. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billboards-and-the-first-amendment/955524.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billboards-and-the-first-amendment/955524.md?page=4)