Question

is FREEDOM OF SPEECH overrated?

Answer 1

You mean to ask if people value their freedom of speech more than they should?

Answer 2

YES, VERY

Answer 3

You think they're abusing the privilege?

Answer 4

i think it freedom of speech is sometimes used as a propaganda to bush other countries and make them look bad

Answer 5

any college-level argument?

Answer 6

I really shouldn't say "privilege."
I should say "right."

~~~~~~~~~

I mean I agree, it might make other countries look bad in some ways.

But is freedom of speech really such a bad thing, in itself?

I took wikipedia, and looked up a list of countries that have a freedom of speech:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_of_speech_by_country

Some aren't on the list, such as
Iceland,
Finland,
and the Bahamas.

But they DO also have freedom of speech.

I compared this list with lists of countries that are ranked the "happiest" countries in the world:

http://www.newser.com/story/143254/worlds-happiest-country-is.html

http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/20-most-happy-countries-in-the-world/

The lists rank countries slightly differently,
so I took the top five countries from each list.

I found that some of the top ranked happiest countries in the world
also have freedom of speech.

~~~~~~~~~~

Surely, freedom of speech isn't the ONLY thing that determines whether or not the populace of a country is generally "happy."

There's also employment, physical health, and financial security.

The United States isn't ranked very high, in happiness.
So obviously, freedom of speech isn't the only variable.

But government is also a big factor, in the determination of a country's happiness.

I do believe that a government that provides the people with a freedom of speech
CONTRIBUTES to that sum of happiness, and overall satisfaction.

~~~~~~~~~~~

The citizens of the United States may push their rights to a much further limit,
than any other country.

I don't know. I don't have the resources to compare.

But I do believe that freedom of speech, in itself, isn't so bad.
It shouldn't be overrated.

Answer 7

@nincompoop

Thanks for those videos that you sent me.

They're pretty lengthy,
but I will sit down and watch them eventually.

Do you think freedom of speech is overrated?

Answer 8

remember, 50% of world population are below average

Answer 9

and whether these people are considered below average or even imbeciles, their voice should not be shut down or be limited.

Answer 10

@artofspeed

50% of the world population is below average?

What do you mean by "below average"?

Answer 11

I don't know man... lol he seem to be making up his own statistics :) regardless, the argument stays the same.

Answer 12

Well, its certainly exploited.

Answer 13

Technically, aren't you NOW using your Freedom of Speech? And btw, our Freedom of Speech IS limited.

Answer 14

STATISTICS? LOL @nincompoop, math certainly isn't your strong point
Average means the medium value of a set. If one person has the medium IQ of the entire earth population, there'll be 50% of population who are smarter than him, and 50% below.
Please. And since you can't understand such a simple concept, you are probably the latter ;)

Answer 15

Ooooooooooooooooooooohhh calling you OUT! jk

Answer 16

You still haven't told us what you mean when you say that "50% of the world population [is] below average."

Answer 17

Someone claimed that math isn't my strong suit. Making up numbers or "statistics" is that person's strong suit. Any person who has written essays or delivered speeches would know what it takes to support one's ideas. So, before we deviate from the main purpose of this post, let us put our tasks into simple terms.
1) You make an assertion or a statement.
2) You validate or prove your claim.

Supporting materials validate assertions. Why does it matter? One might ask. Well, in order to build credibility, statistics is used to enforce key points.

Now, when you say that "... 50% of the world's population [is] below average" (I just need to emphasize the use of IS instead of ARE), will you expand this idea by letting us know how does it support your position that SPEECH IS OVERRATED, and provide citations of where this information is coming from.

And before you proceed with your retort, review the contents of the attachment or of the link that follows.
http://www.napavalley.edu/Library/Documents/Lucas_Ch_7 [1].pdf

Answer 18

@nincompoop

It doesn't seem that the napavalley link is showing us what you'd meant to show us.

Answer 19

The link is not being displayed properly on this website, so I attached the file (in pdf) as well. It is just a review on the rudiments involved in supporting assertions.

Answer 20

Oh the file.

You mean the textbook chapter?

Awesome.

Somehow, I can't see our buddy here taking the time to read....
"Supporting Your Ideas."

It would take at least 45 minutes of entertaining a sort of passive-aggressive notion.

Answer 21

i would think so because, usually when you do try to speak out your OWN opinions people dont like what you have to say and beat you down for it. But that's just me!

Answer 22

well, that doesn't deal with suppressing someone, it just represents how to be competitive with the people, acquiring improvement in pointing perfect answers with confidence.

Answer 23

Freedom of speech has been a major role and its necessary in a democratic society. In fact, it's the most restricted freedom from all the freedoms of Bill of Rights. I value freedom of speech. Freedom of speech is all about speaking your mind, things you particularly think it's right. But not all speeches are right. Most people take freedom of speech as there advantage, but those who don't go with freedom of speech is because they don't want people with other religions or beliefs then them to take advantage.

Restrictions on Freedom of speech include:
The bad tendency= test which permits restriction of freedom of speech by government if it is believed that a form of speech has a sole tendency to incite or cause illegal activity

Clear and present danger=a standard for judging when freedom of speech can be abridged; "no one has a right to shout `fire' in a crowded theater when there is no fire because such an action would pose a clear and present danger to public safety"

Sedition laws= the federal crime of advocacy of uprising or overthrow against the government

Answer 24

I sometimes don't understand why some people still complain about how the government doesn't give the right to speak.

Answer 25

Freedom of speech is one of the components of the Bill of Rights. For further information that would supplement this fact, take a look @ http://is.gd/cICRT8