Even free speech has limits...

This was MSN's question of the day today..

"Should the US prosecute for obscene or menacing Facebook posts & tweets?"

Some 60% said no. (at the time I was on MSN)  I think that response is appalling. Apparently these people don't get it.

Being threatened on the web, which I have not been, has to be frightening.  Probably more so when you don't know who it is that is trying to ruin your day...or your life.  I can only imagine, it is worse if it is someone you know and used to care for.  So for what it's worth, here are my thoughts on the subject...

I think even free speech has some limits.  Whether anonymously on the web, face to face or anonymously in a crowd or a mob, you CANNOT threaten, harass, photo shop a disgusting picture, or stalk another person.  Period.  Pretty simple.  And a very basic rule.

I believe if we can prosecute someone for stalking and making terrorist threats in the "real world,"  then we can certainly prosecute the same type of behavior on the web.  After all, the idiot is doing it in a public forum, where privacy doesn't truly exist.  So honestly, what is the difference if it is done on the street outside your door, or on the web,  inside your computer?

The right to freedom of speech is so precious to most Americans.  And it is guaranteed by the United States Constitution.  But true freedom of speech, is so much different from harassing some one to the point they want to run away and hide from the world, just to feel safe from your asinine, cruel and frightening behavior.

Stalking is stalking.  Bullying is bullying.  Photo shopping someones face into a pornographic photo is just wrong. Threatening someone is threatening them.  Even if it is on Facebook, My Space, or any other social networking site,  anywhere on the Internet.  And by the way, just because you are a teenager, does not make it acceptable behavior.

When one person makes the other person feel as if they are in danger, fearful for their life, or no longer safe to live their life fully and openly, it is no longer "free speech." It is harassment.  It is threatening.  And it is illegal.  Even, dare I say it,  on the web.

Bullying, harassing, photo shopping a nasty picture of someone, or threatening someone on the web, all  while claiming it is your "right to free speech," is morally and ethically wrong.  It is just another excuse for you to get away with trying to make some other person else as miserable as you are.  It is another way for you to excuse your vile, foul, disgusting behavior.  When there is no excuse for it at all.

It is a lie.  It is wrong.  If this is what you think it means to exercise your "right to freedom of speech,"  you are not only "misguided" (I am being nice here,) you are intensely stupid.  And particularly if you believe it is "okay" or even an acceptable behavior on your part.


If you harass someone to a point where they contemplate suicide to get away from you, or, God forbid, actually do commit suicide.  This is murder by suicide.  You should go to prison for the rest of your life for this crime.  I don't care how old, or young, you are.  Murder is murder.  The fact that you "didn't think this would happen," makes no difference to me at all.

So, if you can't control your bullying, harassing, harrying or threatening behavior, we on the receiving end, may have to do it for you.  By whatever means at our disposal...And because you are such a jack ass with your completely immature view of life and the world around you, I want to help you understand.  For us, "any means at our disposal," means legally.  Yes. Really.  You see, the rest of us aren't even close to being as stupid and vicious as you are.

America has not spoken...

(I posted this Wednesday after the election, on Facebook in response to a liberal friends misunderstanding of the facts...)  

"A friend said to me last night, election night, "America has spoken." She's only partially right. 1/3 of America spoke. 1/3 of America voted for Romney.  The other third who were eligible to vote, did not bother to do so.

The third of us Americans who work tirelessly to support the other 2/3's were overwhelmed by the blind "gimme all the free stuff" adoration of an un-informed public and a biased media who has been lying to them for years.
 

So she is wrong.  No, America has not spoken...A small segment of the population spoke. Too bad the others couldn't be bothered to find the truth for themselves and or register to vote...

Our jobs will continue to leave by the thousands to countries that suppress their citizens by whatever means necessary. Our people will continue to be murdered in the name of Allah. This Presidebt will continue to fund "green" businesses that are known to be complete failures and incapable of delivering the goods.  Kind of like the man himself.

The workers of this nation will continue to hemorrhage money to pay more and more taxes which will go to pay for this administrations socialist agenda.

The health care system will now be run by ignorant, moronic federal bureaucrats who are inept and incapable of making an informed decision on their own health care, let alone yours or mine.

The Unions will maintain the most incompetent teachers.  And will continue to make excuses as to why they cannot teach our children to read or write or do basic math.  And their unearned wages will steadily climb, as will our taxes as we struggle to pay for their ignorance and all this is done while they dumb down our children into little herds of brainwashed ignorant liberal lazy good for nothing sheep.

And all the while, this administration will be tooting their horn, bragging about how "good" we have it because the rich are now the poor. And the poor are even worse off than they were last year and the year before that...But they will keep demanding more and more "free" stuff.  Without even recognizing or accepting that he who "giveth you free stuff," can also "taketh away your free stuff."   Not just "the rich" will suffer.  Anyone who has been given something for nothing will suffer right along with the rest of America.

And of course, Obama will continue to dodge his responsibility by blaming everyone but the liberals. Which is pretty much everyone else in the country, for all the problems he cannot fix by throwing money we do not have at them.  

So, of course it will be the Independents, Conservatives, Tea Party Patriots, Libertarians, Constitutionalists and Republicans fault."  After all, they are not falling into line with his "noble" policy of thieving from everyone who works for a living to pay for the people who cannot be bothered to even try to take care of themselves...