# What is specifically NOT covered by free speech?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-specifically-not-covered-by-free-speech/424816>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [November 1, 2007, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-specifically-not-covered-by-free-speech/424816 "2007-11-01T02:11:20Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\
**Post date:** [November 3, 2007, 8:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-specifically-not-covered-by-free-speech/424816/21 "2007-11-03T08:37:22Z")

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Prior to the Civil War, many Southern states passed laws making it illegal for anyone to argue that slavery should be abolished. These laws would never pass a constitutionality test today but this was before the Fourteenth Amendment.

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**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\
**Post date:** [November 3, 2007, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-specifically-not-covered-by-free-speech/424816/22 "2007-11-03T20:41:47Z")

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[QUOTE=Little Nemo]  
So I guess we’ll be avoiding all use of irony in this thread.  
[/QUOTE]  
Irony can’t be assumed on this board and on the subject at hand given past arguments regarding free speech. Having reread the entire post I see it for the irony it is.

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