How important is our right to speak freely? Should we have the freedom to offend?

eorpach_agus_eireannach

Free speech is one of the most important human rights. Should we have the freedom to offend, yes. Because the only way society evolves is with argument and dialogue, none of which is likely to happen if one holds their tongue for fear of causing offence.

A law banning offensive material is counterproductive. For example, Holocaust denial being illegal makes no sense. People can and are forgetting what an outrageous crime that was, but when you see someone arguing what happened with all the passion in the world against a holocaust denial, then we see that that should never happen again.

Freedom of speech creates freedom of discussion which leads to advancement of civilisation.

Chef

The right to speak freely is paramount in a civilized society.

There is such thing as civil discourse.

Freedom of speech doesn't mean you can incite a riot with offensive or hate filled speech.

Mr Tripod

Freedom of speech is the most essential 'right' that an individual can have.
To cause offence is a little bit difficult to explain as different people are offended by different things.
A Bill Hicks or Bernard Manning stand up routine could be considered offensive by some but lots of others loved it.

I love sick humour...the sicker the better.

Ollie

The right to speak freely is being taking away from us.I think we now live in a world were we have to watch what we say has the word Racist rears its ugly head.

the boss

I believe in free speech and if you don't like what I say - Tough luck

Harris3810

I am not in the U.K. but across the pond. I have been reading about how your rights have been whittled away over the past few decades in an attempt to shelter anyone from offense.
I truly hope that does not happen here, but the trend towards hypersensitivity is growing stronger and people seem to think that you can say anything you want as long as it does not offend anyone.

I read one response to this question saying certain things should be allowed and others not. The thing is, who decides what should be allowed? If I don't like a certain group of people, I should be allowed to voice my opinion. If you are offended by what I say, you have the right to respond to what I have said. That is the check and the balance.

I read another saying he felt that the right to free speech in the U.K. only belonged to those other than white men. To a great extent, I feel that here as well, but you can't let it stop you. Granted, to be respectable you should not set out to be offensive, but it remains your choice to be offensive or not.

PS: I am participating in a study abroad program in Oxford beginning next September. Maybe I won't be arrested for offending anyone.

weaver268

We cannot allow Church or State to even to control what words no matter how offensive they may be, I've been offended manytimes in my life, and I have offended others in the years past, I am growing in my faith, recovery, correcting my defects of character, short comings. This is not a perfect world we live in. I can only be affened if I allow myself to be. Either it is true and I have not accepted it , and they pushed a button of something mentally , I have not worked it out, or they have serious issues in there life, and we allow them to bring there emotions into our brain, We need to work on ourselves and not worry about verbal abuse form them, and if we are strong in our faith, Sticks & stones may break are bones but names will never hurt us. ROSS PS, but never Stop Freedom of speach.

Old Woman

Damn important! We should be able to offend all those beithcy trolls.

big_yin

why would you want to offend sum1

Granny

Sure! We do have the freedom to offend. Look at our Constitutional Rights under freedom of speech. However, I suggest that you only offend those you could care less about having a relationship with. It's not nice.

Englishman

As Northern Lad says, if you are white and English you have no rights, any other colour or religion be free to speak out, or knife, or blow up, or shoot. We must be able to speak out. It is nearly always a coloured or non English who carry out these acts of vilolence. Wouldn`t it be lovely if the blacks, coloured, Muslims etc spoke out in a loud voice to condem those of their own who committed these crimes. Sticks and stones may hurt my bones but calling never hurt me.

angel.lady

Yes we should have the freedom of speech.
No we should not offend...what is the point of that.

You should always remember that everything you say can have a knock on effect to others....so with rights comes responsibilities.

There are far too many people who talk hot air and have nothing particular to say.....they just like the sound of their own voice, yet they still have a voice and we have the choice whether we listen or not.

open thoughts

Where in the Constitution are we given the right to not be offended?

The problem with trying to give the right to not be offended is that we have become so sensitive, partially due to rabid political correctness, that you cannot say or do anything anymore without offending someone.

Rachel

with rights comes responsibilities. If you speak responsibily then you ahve the right to speak freely. However if you do not take into account anyone elses feelings or rights to be the person they are, then you lose the right.
I think this applies to every right that we have. Most people forget they have a responsibility too, which is sad.

mukatandau

Our right to speak freely is incontrovertible but it has a proviso that you should avoid defaming others.

There should be no freedom to offend because that would lead to lawlessness and anarchy.

Northern Lad

Well, muslims are allowed to say anything about our way of life and religion etc.....
But if we say anything against their way of life or their religion we can be arrested for being racist.
One f***ed up country.

S Martypsnts

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