Many BBSs with only one poster have been closed down.
I was watching a Discovery channel show the other night, where I learned that apparently, Homo Sapiens wiped out the Neanderthals. WE’RE ALL HYPOCRITES!!! THEIR BLOOD IS ON OUR HANDS!!! WE MUST PAY THEM BACK!!!
Perhaps we can find some way to genetically clone a population of Neanderthals and give them back their rightful land in Scandanavia. Then we should beg forgiveness [-o< for our murderous crimes. It’s our moral responsibility, after all! Lest we be hypocrites!
But seriously, every time you laugh at those Geico commercials it’s like killing Neanderthal babies.
Interesting topic, too bad it morphed into Cowboys and Indians…
But, that is a perfect metaphor for free speech. We can’t have free speech, it will always offend someone and they will fight to suppress your thoughts and beliefs. The atrocities humans have done to humans is always about freedom.
Although it would be a worthwhile topic to consider, anti-free speech, I’m doubting anyone will argue for it (at least knowingly). Philosophers are united (except Plato, and those who do so unwittingly) in support of free speech. As you write, free speech and all freedoms are a matter of power. How can I express myself? Becomes a very important question, it is not, per say, a philosophical question, but one of a very practical nature. I also feel that there is a good deal of personal strength required, not as a speaker, but as a listener or at least admitting speech. I mean, it might be very easy for me to stop someone from speaking; and I may not like what they are saying; but I need to let him speak; this is not as easy as it may sound, even for open-minded philosophers.
Freedom means you can be as stupid and offensive as you want as long as you do it on your own dime. Being offended, which people will ALWAYS be, does not give them the right to react violently. And no, the atrocities humans have done to humans is always about expressing dominance by suppressing the other’s freedom and rights.
I did not say rights, I said freedom. The aggressor sees that they have the freedom to attack and remove freedom from their victim. Wether it is a serial killer or a nation, atrocities done one to another,are about freedom. Freedom is not about rights. Rights are what you get when you set up social order.
And right or correct is in the eye of the beholder. Those that oppress nonviolently or violently do so because they believe they are right. The winning side gets to write history.
Make no mistake, I do not condone such behavior, I am just making an anthropological observation. The supression of thought/speech is the norm for any society. From the smallest tribe to the largest nation. There is not one group that allows total freedom of speech , you only get to say what is accepted. You can’t have freedom if you are a social creature.
But it’s impossible to have equal rights for all without freedom. The only thing most people think before they violate someone’s rights is that I want what they have or to oppress or kill them for no other reason that it’s what I want. It goes no further than that and they can’t rationally justify what they do no matter how hard they try–and they tried and are still trying even with the Holocaust.
When an aggressor attacks another, however he does it, he removes all or part of their freedom through the violation of their rights.
Right or moral is not relative. I keep saying this but it just bounces off. Morality is the equal right of all to their life, liberty and property without violation through force or fraud. The ONLY alternative is the chaos of anarchy. Other things the church or whoever have grouped into morality is what confuses people. You aren’t immoral if you have sex on Sunday. You are only immoral if you force someone else not to.
I agree it is impossible to have equal rights without absolute freedom, show me any country that allows for equal rights to all? There are none. Some group is going to be suppressed and oppressed with any society. There is no freedom, there is no equal rights in any country only rights for those that are given rights after freedom has been removed. Society to live in some semblance of peace must suppress freedoms and rights. Although I think the word rights is often misused. Priviliedges would be more apropriate in most cases. Defining rights really is more about defining priviledge.
Morality is what the majority say it is. Minority can only request the majority to give in and give. if lies, coercion and fraud are used eventually this weak ruse will fail at the cost of many. such is the human creature. But, many creatures decieve, it is not just a human trait.
I’m not free to continue though. There will come a time and a place where my words must be restrained.
Free speech only exists outside of societies’ edges, because society is what shackles the freedom of an individual. You live in a society, a Western society, therefore, you are not free. Your speech is not free. When you step outside of Western society, then its hypocrisy will be exposed to the light of day. The question then is, can you even find your way to this edge? I don’t believe many can or ever will even try. Society is bliss.
I got thrown in a cell for 24 hours, for telling off some cop extensively, even though I wasn’t breaking any laws. (My house, making nonsense accusations, etc etc etc).
He also tried to rip me out of the car to my feet violently when we got to the jail, I pretended to trip and drove my elbow like a foot into his kidneys. Probably pissed blood for weeks.
Whats even funnier is that the two other cops who seen it, were convinced that I legitimately tripped because of how this asshole ripped me out of the car. haha.
I didn’t get charged with anything, when they took me, or afterwords. What fucking petty pricks.
Theoretically we do, but since we’ve trashed the Constitution, the elites have taken over. And absolute freedom isn’t required for freedom or equal rights, only absolute adherence to the Constitution.
Well of course just as there will be individuals that are oppressed. The principle is, is it recognized as illegal and pursued as such.
Aaahhh yess. Rights are inherently derived, while privileges are granted or withheld at the pleasure of government. 
So murder, genocide, rape, theft, pedophilia etc. are moral or immoral depending on how we vote on them?
“Please massah, don’t whip me no mo. I’s jes tryin’ to keep my family from bein’ split up, please massah. Please don’t whip me no mo. I’s jes requestin’ it.”
“Outside of Western Society?” Bless you’re poor little indoctrinated communist heart.
PT, You know what I said about morality is correct, thats the way it is. I did not write that I like it that way nor aprove of it. The same with freedom rights and priviledge. Humans must live together in some semblence of peace even at the expense of others. Keep in mind societies are in flux and always changing. Moral and ethical standards change. What is will not be tomorrow. We have become better than the past and there is every chance we will be better in the future. we just have to educate those around us. to higher moral and ethical standards. If you want higher standards then you have to get your hands dirty and do the work.
Would you agree that with freedom of speech comes right “responsibility” – not only towards oneself but towards others, and that would be seen as what is beneficial.
I think that those two words – “offense” and “harm” can be perceived in different ways by different people although in being defined they are pretty clear.
Can there be said to be absolutes of any kind anywhere.
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This is one of the ways we censor ourselves here. Have you ever hit this button? why?
No I have not hit that, I have thought about it but upon realizing my reasons were petty and self centered I chose not to. that and being a female it would be viewed differently than if a male did it. Oh Coooooool I just noticed new emoticons!!! 
Wicked, OK that was not female emotional out burst of squealing… :-"
Are you referring to the many sexist remarks on this BBS?
Nope, not at all I can be just as sexist as any male here. I refer to the fact that this place is run predominantly by males and as a female It would almost be like running to a male for protection.
If you have not nocticed there is a bit of male female competition that goes on here
There’s a lot of competition here along all sorts of rather arbitrary divisions and classifications. But yeah, the male-female competition does stand out…
Just a bit huh?
Males can lean on males in verbal controversies without appearing weak, a female well she is a delicate female needing protection. The chauvanists here would have a heyday with that. Its not one person asking for help from another its a female depending upon male protection… Bullshit, but, that is how it would be seen and twisted. Doncha just love politics