Burn a koran, go to jail for 70 days.. UK!

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FallenHero

Diamond Member
Jan 2, 2006
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Well yes, obviously the same as the definition of the N word changed.

So what is to stop your government from outlawing certain words or phrases from being said under the guise of "offensive and demeaning" language?
 

0roo0roo

No Lifer
Sep 21, 2002
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I have to admit it's pretty funny watching people try and explain a simple concept like "free speech" though. We really take it for granted.

Yea we take it for granted because we don't generally know how even europeans who we just assume are advanced don't seem to understand the concept.
 

HAL9000

Lifer
Oct 17, 2010
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So what is to stop your government from outlawing certain words or phrases from being said under the guise of "offensive and demeaning" language?

Democracy

Yea we take it for granted because we don't generally know how even europeans who we just assume are advanced don't seem to understand the concept.

We understand it, we have just moved beyond your concept of it, you are a relatively young nation.
 

0roo0roo

No Lifer
Sep 21, 2002
64,795
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We understand it, we have just moved beyond your concept of it, you are a relatively young nation.

Yea you understand it so much you are enforcing blasphemy laws.

I'm sure the oldest nation is wisest:p Get a grip, your countries age has squat to do with wisdom, uk still have a royal family for f*** sake. You might as well claim you are wise because you are still running ms dos 6.0
 

HAL9000

Lifer
Oct 17, 2010
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Democracy also limited your right to free speech. You fail to understand the concept.

Democracy did that because we wanted it to, that's the point. When you talk to someone over here about the Westboro baptist church, we can't understand why it's allowed in America, we have these laws for a reason that we all understand.

Yea you understand it so much you are enforcing blasphemy laws.

I'm sure the oldest nation is wisest:p Get a grip, your countries age has squat to do with wisdom, uk still have a royal family for f*** sake. You might as well claim you are wise because you are still running ms dos 6.0

We like having our royal family.
 

bfdd

Lifer
Feb 3, 2007
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Yea we take it for granted because we don't generally know how even europeans who we just assume are advanced don't seem to understand the concept.

Not all of us are like that. I'd sooner die than give up my freedom of speech.
 

davmat787

Diamond Member
Nov 30, 2010
5,512
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We like having our royal family.

Totally off topic, but who pays for the costs associated with the monarchy? I am talking about things like security, travel, palace upkeep, employees/servants, all the hats with feathers, etc.

Okay I am kidding about the hats but am honestly curious about all of the costs associated with a monarchy. I assume they are quite wealthy as the money has been, and grown, in the family line for a long time.
 

HAL9000

Lifer
Oct 17, 2010
22,021
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Totally off topic, but who pays for the costs associated with the monarchy? I am talking about things like security, travel, palace upkeep, employees/servants, all the hats with feathers, etc.

Okay I am kidding about the hats but am honestly curious about all of the costs associated with a monarchy. I assume they are quite wealthy as the money has been, and grown, in the family line for a long time.

Why that would be a part of tax sir. It costs us a grand total of 62p per person per year. It's a non issue.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ukn...Cost-of-Royal-Family-drops-7p-per-person.html
 

FallenHero

Diamond Member
Jan 2, 2006
5,659
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Democracy did that because we wanted it to, that's the point. When you talk to someone over here about the Westboro baptist church, we can't understand why it's allowed in America, we have these laws for a reason that we all understand.



We like having our royal family.

And when your Democracy runs out of control, and you get a corrupt party that is able to seize power by simply outlawing dissent, you will then realize what freedom of speech means and that you are currently giving up that right to feel good about yourself.
 

HAL9000

Lifer
Oct 17, 2010
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And when your Democracy runs out of control, and you get a corrupt party that is able to seize power by simply outlawing dissent, you will then realize what freedom of speech means and that you are currently giving up that right to feel good about yourself.

Yep, when my country is completely different and over run by monsters in positions of power we will have problems. So true.
 

DrPizza

Administrator Elite Member Goat Whisperer
Mar 5, 2001
49,601
166
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www.slatebrookfarm.com
That's fair. The US and the rest of the world have vastly different views on freedom of speech.

Exactly! Every country in the world has freedom of speech by your definition of "freedom of speech means that you can open your mouth and talk." North Korea has freedom of speech, just as long as you don't disparage any protected groups, which in that case, includes the government.

Thank you for opening my eyes to the fact that everyone in the world has freedom of speech to some degree or another.
 

SparkyJJO

Lifer
May 16, 2002
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Question for neckarb/hal9000/whoever you are:

You are in favor of the guy going to prison for burning a Koran. Would you be in favor of a guy going to prison for burning, say, a hindu Veda? Or a Christian Bible? Or <insert religion here> <insert holy book of said religion here> ?
 

HAL9000

Lifer
Oct 17, 2010
22,021
3
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Exactly! Every country in the world has freedom of speech by your definition of "freedom of speech means that you can open your mouth and talk." North Korea has freedom of speech, just as long as you don't disparage any protected groups, which in that case, includes the government.

Thank you for opening my eyes to the fact that everyone in the world has freedom of speech to some degree or another.

Errm OK?... No problem?

Question for neckarb/hal9000/whoever you are:

You are in favor of the guy going to prison for burning a Koran. Would you be in favor of a guy going to prison for burning, say, a hindu Veda? Or a Christian Bible? Or <insert religion here> <insert holy book of said religion here> ?

If done in public to insight hatred of given religion. Then yes, absolutely.
 

0roo0roo

No Lifer
Sep 21, 2002
64,795
84
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Exactly! Every country in the world has freedom of speech by your definition of "freedom of speech means that you can open your mouth and talk." North Korea has freedom of speech, just as long as you don't disparage any protected groups, which in that case, includes the government.

Thank you for opening my eyes to the fact that everyone in the world has freedom of speech to some degree or another.

yea his understanding of the concept is...orwelian:p
 

mmntech

Lifer
Sep 20, 2007
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I want to speak on the whole issue here, not this particular case.

We outlaw and condemn such actions not because we don't want to offend, but because we fear the wrath. This is why the War on Terror has become a colossal failure.

Islam is the only religious entity that gets the special treatment; the freedom from criticism. Other religions get made fun of or insulted and slandered mercilessly. South Park can show Buddha snorting coke but they can't show Mohammad in a bear suit? You can burn a bible and not get arrested, but the Koran is not ok. I dare anybody to go out and buy a bible, burn it, and post it on Youtube. People will yell and scream at you but the police will not come. Nobody will have you cited for hate. You will not go to court, and you will probably not have someone try to kill you.

Freedom of speech doesn't give you the right to pick and choose what you think is acceptable. That's why it's free speech. You have the right to debate it, but not the right to ban it. Otherwise free speech has no meaning. If you don't believe that to be so, do the world a favour and do not vote and do not participate in politics.

What people have to realize is the greater the special treatment a group gets, the more contempt society as a whole will have for that group. I would argue that this drives bigotry. Of course there are a lot of other factors but it contributes. Islam should be treated on the same level as any other religion. We should not put it on a pedestal because we fear their radicals will pull another attack. That's illogical.
 

HAL9000

Lifer
Oct 17, 2010
22,021
3
76
I want to speak on the whole issue here, not this particular case.

We outlaw and condemn such actions not because we don't want to offend, but because we fear the wrath. This is why the War on Terror has become a colossal failure.

Islam is the only religious entity that gets the special treatment; the freedom from criticism. Other religions get made fun of or insulted and slandered mercilessly. South Park can show Buddha snorting coke but they can't show Mohammad in a bear suit? You can burn a bible and not get arrested, but the Koran is not ok. I dare anybody to go out and buy a bible, burn it, and post it on Youtube. People will yell and scream at you but the police will not come. Nobody will have you cited for hate. You will not go to court, and you will probably not have someone try to kill you.

Freedom of speech doesn't give you the right to pick and choose what you think is acceptable. That's why it's free speech. You have the right to debate it, but not the right to ban it. Otherwise free speech has no meaning. If you don't believe that to be so, do the world a favour and do not vote and do not participate in politics.

What people have to realize is the greater the special treatment a group gets, the more contempt society as a whole will have for that group. I would argue that this drives bigotry. Of course there are a lot of other factors but it contributes. Islam should be treated on the same level as any other religion. We should not put it on a pedestal because we fear their radicals will pull another attack. That's illogical.

I completely agree, Islam does not deserve special treatment, it baffles me that so many people / governments cave. When on the other hand they are arguing that they never negotiate with terrorists.
 

DrPizza

Administrator Elite Member Goat Whisperer
Mar 5, 2001
49,601
166
111
www.slatebrookfarm.com
Let me explain: you do NOT have freedom of speech. Being allowed to talk doesn't mean you have freedom of speech. Being allowed to say things that are unpopular, offensive, or speak your opinion on any matter IS freedom of speech. You restrict people from expressing their opinion.
 

HAL9000

Lifer
Oct 17, 2010
22,021
3
76
Let me explain: you do NOT have freedom of speech. Being allowed to talk doesn't mean you have freedom of speech. Being allowed to say things that are unpopular, offensive, or speak your opinion on any matter IS freedom of speech. You restrict people from expressing their opinion.

We have the freedom to say anything as long as we are not spreading hate or in sighting violence. America has a similar system but only for in sighting violence.

I've no idea why america is so pro-hate speech.