Active Users:175 Time:18/05/2024 04:41:32 PM
Not that RAFO is the 51st state, but not all forms of speech are free speech. Joel Send a noteboard - 16/08/2011 11:32:25 AM
Congress cannot legally pass a law restricting a form of speech, in that it violates the First Amendment. If we are to follow American laws on this board.

Falsely shouting, "FIRE!" in a crowded theater isn't free speech, and neither are Klan rallies led by chants of "Kill [your minority slur here]!" Both are threats to endanger public safety and the SCOTUS sanctions bans on them, though I'd generally expect the bans to be at the local rather than federal level. That's before we even get into "fighting words" as a valid legal cause for beating the snot out of someone.

There's a reason trolls are more common online than in the real world; you don't have to worry about people being trampled to death in a stampede from a website (though the site owner may have other worries during such an event... ) and the combination of distance, anonymity and common sense means retaliation is usually no worse than a few flames. Explicitly encouraging violence can be legally pursued, though generally I think it would have to be done under the local laws wherever the comment(s) originated; if someone in India goes on a killing spree because of what someone in California says on Stormfront, I can't imagine how the latter person could be prosecuted anywhere but his home state.

Of course, the easiest way to tell if anything said here violates RAFOs posted Rules is to click--oh, right....
Honorbound and honored to be Bonded to Mahtaliel Sedai
Last First in wotmania Chat
Slightly better than chocolate.

Love still can't be coerced.
Please Don't Eat the Newbies!

LoL. Be well, RAFOlk.
Reply to message
Mother Effing piece of Shit is the only way to describe this next guy - 16/08/2011 01:48:56 AM 727 Views
jesus fucking Christ, that's is horrible. - 16/08/2011 01:56:32 AM 276 Views
Ben, it's beyond time to take out the trash. It's really stinking up the joint. - 16/08/2011 02:54:02 AM 437 Views
So unpopular opinons should be banned now? - 16/08/2011 02:58:13 AM 335 Views
That wasn't free speech. That was a hate speech. Pretty sure Congress makes a distinction *NM* - 16/08/2011 04:12:27 AM 248 Views
legally he is well within his rights to say that (besides he is Canadian) - 16/08/2011 05:08:38 AM 305 Views
Aisha, since when is sympathy a moral failing. - 16/08/2011 05:52:53 AM 321 Views
You're the one with the "deseise" - 16/08/2011 01:19:32 PM 254 Views
That was uncalled for. *NM* - 16/08/2011 07:02:20 PM 230 Views
Don't fall over, but I agree with you here. - 16/08/2011 07:06:04 PM 265 Views
Technically, no. - 16/08/2011 05:41:37 AM 298 Views
Not that RAFO is the 51st state, but not all forms of speech are free speech. - 16/08/2011 11:32:25 AM 245 Views