Sodometres?
I was thinking of metric fucktons myself.
Metric?
Commie.
It’s been quite a while since I’ve had this many people take something I’ve said and run with it like this. I guess I’d forgotten just how literally things can get taken around here. So here’s a summary of my feelings on free speech.
I believe in complete free speech and free expression, as long as doing so doesn’t infringe on another person’s civil rights. For example, shouting “Fire!” In a crowded theater is not allowed because it puts people in danger. Also, libel and slander are against the law because spreading lies about someone is an infringement on their civil rights.
Otherwise, I believe in free speech even when it’s ugly and offensive, hell, especially when it’s ugly and offensive. Those are the times to put our money where our mouths are about that freedom. As far as I’m concerned, people can spout ugliness and hate all day long as long as they aren’t inciting violence or infringing on anyone’s civil rights. That also goes for artistic expression, or any other form of speech.
Putting limits on speech is a slippery slope that I don’t want to go down. I feel more strongly about free speech than I do about almost anything else. And it surprises me that any Dopers feel otherwise.
He could be a fat, skanky, baby boomer :eek:
Gus may be a boomer, but he’s on the early end of it. I’ve always liked him, but I like most everybody here, and I avoid his politics, which tend to places I’d rather he didn’t go.
Indy? She has a head start by being a grrl. I’m a boomer and sexist that way. 
ETA: She may not like that. 
I don’t really recall you being worth the trouble before to actually devote a thread to you.
Monty, IIRC, USMC, meet GusNSpot, IIRC, Army. Enjoy yourselves.
snerk
In recent years several notable defenders of freedom have misused the American flag. The flag code are optional. Recommendations, not laws.
It is just as much a violation of these recommendations to sign a flag, or make a campaign sign out of one as it is to burn one.
Examples:
Palin signing US flag
Bushsigning US flag
Bushstanding on US flag
Obamacampaign posters misuse the flag
GusNSpot, keep your powder dry amigo. These violations of the recommendations on flag handling etiquette are going on everywhere!
Perhaps the target of this thread could learn something from Penn & Teller.
+1. Not nearly the only cite proving that the American Legion burns American Flags. All. The. Time.
GusNSpot, you’d better start Reloading For Re-Education, cuz the 'Merriken Legion they be flag burners. Go git em, hoss !!!
Putz. :dubious:
What’s wrong with inciting violence? Or rather, what makes inciting violence more deserving of censorship than hate alone? Isn’t hate on its own related to violence even if it’s not explicit? For example, I don’t see a whole lot of difference between “God hates fags” and “Let’s kill fags.” They’re both dehumanizing, and once you dehumanize, you can’t be sure where zealots will take things. Why protect one and not the other, or more poignantly, why protect either?
It’s symbolic of respectfully and properly disposing of an American flag that has been besmirched by filth; if the lines on your flagpole should snap in a high wind, and the flag happens to float into a neighbor’s open cesspool, you don’t leave it there. And you don’t pull it out and launder it. Even though it was an accident, the proper way to dispose of the flag is to burn it.
If a vandal cuts the line and the flag falls into the cesspool, the same course of action applies. Malicious mischief caused the befoulming of the of the flag, but the proper response is still to dispose of it respectfully, by burning it.
If anti-American demagogues befoul the flag metaphorically, by, say, proposing an anti-flag-desecration amendment, the proper symbolic response is to respectfully burn a flag by way of disposing of it.
Well, inciting violence infringes on other people’s civil rights, offensive opinions do not.
People are free to think and say all sorts of crazy and hateful things, and others are free to disagree and make their own offensive statements. Freedom to be an offensive asshole is an American right! I can’t imagine wanting it any other way.
This. America was founded by assholes for assholes. You can’t even conceive of rebelling against your king without being an offensive asshole.
I’d always sort of assumed that being an offensive asshole was a lot of work, but when I stop to think, I realize I don’t actually know that. We could ask one, I suppose. Suggestions?
Pot, meet Kettle. If you hadn’t noticed, you are both black. 
Oh, I can be an offensive asshole all day long without even breaking a sweat.
'Kay
[Quote=Guinistasia]
Descent and freedom are.
[/quote]
“Dissent”