FIRST AMMENDMENT and ETHICS

First Amendment and Ethics

or

It's not what you say, it's where you say it and how.

Here is an excerpt from WIKI on the subject

Freedom of speech in the United States is protected by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution and by many state constitutions and state and federal laws. Criticism of the government and advocacy of unpopular ideas that people may find distasteful or against public policy, such as racism, are generally permitted. There are exceptions to the general protection of speech, however, including the Miller test for obscenity, child pornography laws, and regulation of commercial speech such as advertising. Other limitations on free speech often balance rights to free speech and other rights, such as property rights for authors and inventors (copyright), interests in "fair" political campaigns (Campaign finance laws), protection from imminent or potential violence against particular persons (restrictions on Hate speech or fighting words), or the use of untruths to harm others (slander). Distinctions are often made between speech and other acts which may have symbolic significance. Efforts have been made to ban flag desecration, for example, though currently that act remains protected speech.

I see a lot of people posting on others blogs a negative comment as they disagree with them on a subject. I will never say you don't have a right to post your opinion, but you also have a responsibility to do it in a tasteful and non harmful way, like posting a blog of your own instead of desecrating someone else's blog !!!

Just because we have freedom of speech does NOT give you or anyone else the right to say whatever they see fit, whenever they want to. If you doubt that try yelling " FIRE " in a crowded movie house and see if you don't get fined or go to jail. Or printing slanderous things that affect someones reputation or lively hood. You'll get sued and lose.

While I will fight to the death for your right to have an opinion and your right to put it out there, I will fight with you personally if you do it in a tasteless, tactless, insensitive way or destructive way.

Freedom of Speech is great power and with great power comes great responsibility, use it. I know people who, just because they have an odd, objectionable, or adverse opinion they feel the need to spout it just to get a shock out of people ! While that may be considered being honest, I feel it is just attention seeking behavior at best and affrontive to keep others at a distance at worst. Just shows poor judgement.

99 % of the time I have an opinion but 98% of the time you will never know what it is because, it's mine and I don't feel the need to shove it in any one's face unless they ask for it. So most of the time it is always best to " KEEP YOUR OPINION TO YOURSELF"

I don't need every one's approval or attention to feel OK about my world views. I don't need to cause drama by spouting it at the most tasteless moment. If I have a strong enough opinion, I will let you know, BUT, I will do it as tastefully, tactfully and sensitively as I can and only if I feel strongly that it could make a positive difference in someones life !!

So , please, have an opinion cause if you don't ever " stand for something, you'll fall for anything" but, don't shove it on people , or drop it where it can cause the most controversy and drama; do it on your own time and your own blog and let others have theirs on their blogs. Beat your own drum don't try to steal someone else's.

Take some responsibility for what you say and where and how. A little respect goes a long way and you never know when and how it will come back to YOU.

This has been a public service announcement from your friendly neighborhood BigpoppaBoats.