Does anyone feel like the United States truly has complete freedom of speech? I personally feel like while there is a lot more freedom of expression and speech than some other countries, it is still limited and not as free as people believe.

The first amendment has been broken countless times in the past and probably will be broken again in the future. During wartime the government has frequently silenced the press and even arrested people for speaking out against the war such as during the civil war and World War 1. While the censorship may have been necessary for success, I still feel like this helps prove that "freedom of speech" is only available when the government allows it, and for what they allow freedom of.


Additionally, there are multiple exceptions to freedom of speech-many things are not protected by the 1st amendment. For example, "Obscene" content is considered unprotected by the 1st amendment. The issue with this is that material is deemed obscene by whatever the prevalent opinion of the population considers it to be. For more information as to how something is declared legally obscene, read this:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obscenity,(warning contains some NSFW pictures)This honestly does not feel like freedom at all, as people who happen to find something offensive can get it banned if the majority agree that it lacks value. For example, if I wrote a book that contained violence described in a way detailed or disturbing enough to get a reaction out of people, I could be thrown in jail/fined because the book lacks"serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value." as considered by the population. Now I'd probably have to make it have some seriously morally corrupt situations or something to actually cause people to care and try to ban it, but it still proves a point. Freedom of Expression can be censored if people consider it obscene, which in my opinion defeats the purpose of it. Suppose people were a lot more sensitive than they are now, theoretically every form of videogame violence could be declared obscene and banned if people decided so. If the majority of people considered it lacking in "serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value", then it can indeed be banned and possession or distribution of it could be punishable by law. I honestly do not think obscenity laws are constitutional, they limit freedom of expression and serve little purpose. I don't mind when people have to put warning on things with somewhat obscene content like moving ratings and videogame age ratings, but banning the possession or distribution of things declared too obscene is downright censorship.  

Lel  

Ooo i like this topic. I'm excited to the replies for this thread. subscribed!  

I dunt think Rofos can do anything about this.

But in all honesty, I agree completely, it's not their spot to change our freedom of speech, yet they've made loopholes so you can actually be charged for this. It's ridiculous.  

The freedom of speech is a major democratic rights, but it is not the only right.
The level of the freedom of speech has to be balanced against other human interests and rights (such as the right to security and right to privacy), which an absolute freedom of speech would greatly harm.

The point of balance in the United States is ridiculously high (in favour of free speech) in comparison to the rest of the world (including Western democracies).  

Minoc has a point. While many Americans may view certain governmental actions as unconstitutional, the democratic level is still very high. High as in the laws in place protect citizens from mistreatment on various levels (public rallies, hate speech, political criticism, etc.)

However, freedoms of speech varies in several ways. At some point a line is drawn between what's okay to say and what eventually becomes considered treasonous. Ranting, for example, would be considered free speech by most Americans but if you openly declare your intentions to harm people, it's considered to be malicious rather than just blowing off steam. That's why we hear about people being arrested by the Feds for posting unsavory things on social media sites.  

USA probably has less limitations on what you can say in public. Still of course doesn't mean you can just stroll up to someone and say fk you.  

I think to much of anything is bad.  

There are people who need less freedom of speech, a lot less...  

Don't know why you people are whining imagine being in China or any non-democrat society where you can be locked up for saying something bad about the leaders. I'm sick of people like the OP taking whining about their rights. Suck it up, it could be worse you cry-baby.  

most western societies have freedom of speech

you're not special, sry 'muricans  

according to the supreme court no civil liberties are guaranteed ;"(