Poll of the Day > You are free to speak but you will face the consequences is like saying

(+) Yeah! (+)

You are free to commit crimes, but you will face the conseqeuences
---

But it's true in both cases.
---

You can commit all the crimes you want but when you're caught, you will face the consequences.
---

You can say what you want but you can't say it to whoever you want, while if you make meth you can't do it without commiting a crime regardless of whether you take it, sell it or use it as pillow filler.
---

That sounds like an uncomfortable pillow.
---

Consequences aren't always enforced by the government
---

JOExHIGASHI posted...

Consequences aren't always enforced by the government

In a democracy people are the government

IB4 Republics
---

MrMelodramatic posted...

But it's true in both cases.

Not really. The government goes after you for crimes. It doesn't go after you for protected speech.

Which is all free speech is, protection from government censure.

Lokarin posted...

You are free to commit crimes, but you will face the conseqeuences

Not really. For speech, you will face no consequences from the government, though you may face consequences from elsewhere. For crimes, you will absolutely face consequences from the government.
---

Lokarin posted...

JOExHIGASHI posted...

Consequences aren't always enforced by the government

In a democracy people are the government

IB4 Republics

People and government are not interchangeable so actions of people is not the same as actions by the government.
---

The term "consequences" is not only limited to the legal/government variety.

</topic>
---

remember the times when you can have an opinion and other person can have an opposite opinion, same while both parties respect each other views.

Now it's if you don't have the same opinion then you're in the wrong and the masses will destroy your life by harrassment/assualt and getting you fired from your job or taking away something in value (stocks/money).
---

Lokarin posted...

JOExHIGASHI posted...

Consequences aren't always enforced by the government

In a democracy people are the government

IB4 Republics

TC can't inb4.
We ain't no democracy etc etc republic.
---

ernieforss posted...

remember the times when you can have an opinion and other person can have an opposite opinion, same while both parties respect each other views.

Now it's if you don't have the same opinion then you're in the wrong and the masses will destroy your life by harrassment/assualt and getting you fired from your job or taking away something in value (stocks/money).

Yeah, no. People have been literally starting wars and genocides since the dawn of man over slight differences of opinion. Now is by far the most tolerant time there has ever been, especially when you consider the internet gives people a way to people a way to find others who share their opinions, no matter how bizarre or unconventional they might be.
---

Dreaming_King posted...

ernieforss posted...

remember the times when you can have an opinion and other person can have an opposite opinion, same while both parties respect each other views.

Now it's if you don't have the same opinion then you're in the wrong and the masses will destroy your life by harrassment/assualt and getting you fired from your job or taking away something in value (stocks/money).

Yeah, no. People have been literally starting wars and genocides since the dawn of man over slight differences of opinion. Now is by far the most tolerant time there has ever been, especially when you consider the internet gives people a way to people a way to find others who share their opinions, no matter how bizarre or unconventional they might be.

The 90s were better but now is better than anything pre 60s
---

Muscles posted...

The 90s were better but now is better than anything pre 60s

Speaking strictly from a "tolerance" perspective, now is way better than the 90s. Gay rights were still considered fringe back then (though gaining momentum) and being gay was still illegal in parts of the US. Gay marriage was still illegal everywhere (Canada would become the first country to legalize it in the early 2000s). And race relations really weren't any better back then - you can look up the Rodney King Riots if you want more proof of that.
---

^But they didn't get harrassed or fired from their job for anti gay statements.
---

You won't face government consequences for speaking. Up to a point, public reactions can be considered harassment too. Free speech is a two-way street though. The problem I have is that the reaction tends to be "I don't like what you said, so you're not allowed to say it."
---

"Well, you're damned if you and you're damned if you don't"
---