I don’t have any cites here, but I just read that a study concluded that only one in six Americans feel that people who are against the war in Iraq should be allowed to say so publicly.
If this is true…
What. The. Fuck. Is. Wrong. With. You. People?
On and on you rave about how great the USA is. Why? Because of the Constitution, because of the freedom of thought, word and action, because of the limitless opportunities available there, that no other country bestows upon its citizens.
Well, big fucking bullshit.
We’re talking about a supposedly civilized country where shooting is a statistically significant cause of death. A country where soldiers fight without even knowing why, and without knowing the difference between an Arab and a Muslim. And above all, we’re talking about a country which claims freedom of speech as one of its citizens’ major perks, and yet time and time again those who speak up are silenced. Do I really have to drag the name McCarthy into this?
Apologies to the guy whose .sig I ripped this from: “When I gave food to the poor, they called me a saint. When I asked why the poor had no food, they called me a Communist.” Do what you can, but for the love of God shut the fuck up! Or be branded a traitor.
Although I assume that the average IQ of the average American posting on SDMB is substantially higher than the average IQ of Americans in general, and consequently an American SDMB poster is more likely to actually value freedom of speech rather than just pay it lip service, if it is true that 83% of Americans want to forcibly shut war protesters up, there has to be one or two of you here. So speak up. How can you possibly defend this? If you take away freedom of speech, what’s the point of this fabulous country you keep spouting off about?
Sadly, some people just don’t understand the concept of free speech (I’m not American BTW, but is that going to shut me up?); we’ve seen it here on the boards; some arsewit spouts complete and vile drivel, then acts all surprised and hurt when challenged on it “Stop being horrible about what I said, I have freedom of speech, you can’t disagree with me!”.
Human nature, I suppose, we all think we are right.
Gary Kumquat, twice did I add the disclaimer “if this is true”. I didn’t post to start a debate, or I would have posted to Great Debates. I read a newspaper article citing this figure, got angry, and went to the Pit to blow off steam. That’s what the Pit is for, isn’t it?
And whether or not the figure is correct, I doubt anyone here doesn’t know at least one person fitting this description. Consider this a rant against all those people.
Best damn answer I’ve ever heard. I hear some of the deserts are breathtaking. And the Rockies. And the beaches. To hell with the cities, though, but that goes globally.
If you’re stupid:
I don’t oppose those people’s right to say what they think. I simply think they’re moronic fuckwits for thinking what they do. I’d kill to protect their right to say it, but I’d prefer a world in which they didn’t want to say it in the first place.
If you’re attempting to anger me:
I’ve cooled down now. The original post is as angry as I’ll ever get.
Y’know, Gary, I’d say DNFTT with reference to your posts in this thread, but that’s gotten even older than you feel rants of the OP’s type have.
So I’ll bite, say my piece, and retire.
How very insightful. If you really had a beef with the op, this would have been the place to say it, rather than blowing your wad on a post almost lawn-chairish in its inanity.
As for your implications that the op is just as inane for his inability to provide cites, well, guess what? He’s got a point. This is the Pit, not GD or GQ. If you wanted to start a debate with him, preferably one not tainted by wild accusations of ‘fucking McCarthyism’, open a GD thread and enjoy.
Wrong. Priceguy simply stated that he’d like it if the world was a different sort of place. I’d personally like it if the business world was more customer and employee oriented rather than profit (I know, I know, that’s why they call it business, let me have my pipe dreams), does that make me a Red Commie out to take over the world from the capitalist pigs?
Gary, I don’t know you from a sack of fries, but I think in the long run I’d like to keep it that way if this is typical of you.
So glad you don’t like my posts. If you side with the sophomoric reasoning evident in the OP, than I expect you would find someone poking fun at it objectionable.
The OP posts a weak, cliched rant based on uncites sweeping statements such as “83% of Americans want to forcibly shut war protesters up”. He doesn’t even name the paper he claims to have read it in. And you find it surprising or unreasonable to take the piss?
May I respectfully disagree, and may I then disrespectfully tell you to piss off?
Depends on what you mean by “cause”. I don’t think there are any causes for this kind of suppression of freedom of speech. But if you mean that I’d prefer a world in which there were no people who thought there were, then you’re right.
C’mon, Gary’s fucking around with the OP, so what? As was mentioned, this is the Pit, not GD.
Here’s a quote from the Washington Post:
“Six in 10 agreed that the demonstrations were a sign of a healthy democracy, while fewer than four in 10 said opponents should not demonstrate against the war because it was better for the country to appear united. Only one in six said such protests should not be permitted.”