Petition for free speech
Discussion
Firstly, I understand that several threads have been locked due to personal feelings (possibly offensive to others) being expressed about the recent dispute between the press and a select few extremists.
If you feel the need to express your views on this subject, and keep some arguments off PH forums, have a look at this petition www.petitiononline.com/danmark/petition.html over 5000 people have signed it and left comments.
If you feel the need to express your views on this subject, and keep some arguments off PH forums, have a look at this petition www.petitiononline.com/danmark/petition.html over 5000 people have signed it and left comments.
Whilst I agree with freedom of speech, I don't agree as using it's intent as a means to purposely offend others.
If I signed that petition, that would signify that I don't object to SOME things being posted on PH that *I* do find offensive on occasion. So far I have not had need to make a complaint about some of the content on here, but where is the line drawn between people voicing an opinion and others spouting crap with the sole purpose of causing discontent?
I personally think the Moslems are over-reacting to a stupid cartoon, but that's because I don't understand HOW or WHY they are taking offense. However, if, for example, a number of posters were allowed to post cartoons of paedophile sex, or the raping of women, then damn right, I'm going to complain and EXPECT those posters to be removed.
As it is, if I find a thread is starting to overstep my boundaries of what I find unacceptable, then I don't click on it.
It is a shame that freedom of speech is not something that can truely be put into effect, because every body has different opinions on what is and what isn't acceptable. I was bought up not to discuss sex, religion or politics in public and I don't think it would be a bad idea to reinforce that policy.
If I signed that petition, that would signify that I don't object to SOME things being posted on PH that *I* do find offensive on occasion. So far I have not had need to make a complaint about some of the content on here, but where is the line drawn between people voicing an opinion and others spouting crap with the sole purpose of causing discontent?
I personally think the Moslems are over-reacting to a stupid cartoon, but that's because I don't understand HOW or WHY they are taking offense. However, if, for example, a number of posters were allowed to post cartoons of paedophile sex, or the raping of women, then damn right, I'm going to complain and EXPECT those posters to be removed.
As it is, if I find a thread is starting to overstep my boundaries of what I find unacceptable, then I don't click on it.
It is a shame that freedom of speech is not something that can truely be put into effect, because every body has different opinions on what is and what isn't acceptable. I was bought up not to discuss sex, religion or politics in public and I don't think it would be a bad idea to reinforce that policy.
I agree, there's 2 reasons I posted this particular petition, firstly you can write a comment if you so wish, so you can explain your individual viewpoint, secondly, there have been a few threads getting out of hand, so I'm just giving a different 'outlet' for these views to keep PH squeeky clean (except for Vixpy's posts of course!).
No worries, I'd love free speech but technically when the extremists write "exterminate non muslims" on placards, this is also free speech, so I understand why it can't be fully implemented as there will always be someone offended and its best to play safe. Bad choice of thread title I suppose, but "petition against extremists against free press illustrations" was a bit long :P
It's all about tolerance. There are always intolerant extremists, from government through to religion, scientists through to pistonheaders.
All we need to do is just let anyone say what they like and accept they feel that way, take it on board, but not change our ways because of them, because ultimately they ARE a minority whinger.
I bet 95%+ of Muslims tonight really don't care enough to get up and demonstrate on the streets, they'll be sat at their computer or watching the news moaning about it just like we do on the internet on PH.
It's the minority on all sides that need to learn to be tolerant of other minorities, because to be perfectly honest the majority simply don't mind I would say, and simply think it's all just a load of worry over nothing.
The worst part of it is though, that we have people like Jack "Dumbass" Straw condeming the papers in Europe, and going on a crusade to appeal to Muslims in general, when all he's really doing is satisfying the whinging minority of Muslims who are the same ones who want to blow things up every 5 mins.
We are altering our society to fit in with what a minority wants, to appease the majority of another religion, achieving exactly what the minority want it would seem, loss of OUR freedoms!
If you can't be tolerant and calm of others, or at least enter reasoned debate, you should just shut your face!
Lets not start changing the world just because silly extreme people say daft extreme stuff... about which they overreact for reactions sake to something they probably, deep down, don't care much for themselves anyway.
Dave
>> Edited by Mr Whippy on Saturday 4th February 01:40
All we need to do is just let anyone say what they like and accept they feel that way, take it on board, but not change our ways because of them, because ultimately they ARE a minority whinger.
I bet 95%+ of Muslims tonight really don't care enough to get up and demonstrate on the streets, they'll be sat at their computer or watching the news moaning about it just like we do on the internet on PH.
It's the minority on all sides that need to learn to be tolerant of other minorities, because to be perfectly honest the majority simply don't mind I would say, and simply think it's all just a load of worry over nothing.
The worst part of it is though, that we have people like Jack "Dumbass" Straw condeming the papers in Europe, and going on a crusade to appeal to Muslims in general, when all he's really doing is satisfying the whinging minority of Muslims who are the same ones who want to blow things up every 5 mins.
We are altering our society to fit in with what a minority wants, to appease the majority of another religion, achieving exactly what the minority want it would seem, loss of OUR freedoms!
If you can't be tolerant and calm of others, or at least enter reasoned debate, you should just shut your face!
Lets not start changing the world just because silly extreme people say daft extreme stuff... about which they overreact for reactions sake to something they probably, deep down, don't care much for themselves anyway.
Dave
>> Edited by Mr Whippy on Saturday 4th February 01:40
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