Originally written by Derek Thornton on October 23, 2009 2:14 PM Originally written by Jacek K. on October 23, 2009 6:38 AM And it's codified as follows: 1. You may not harass or threaten other users ... 8. You may not give false information or purposely hide any information when registering for your TranslatorsCafe.com account. Isn't there also a rule against continuing a vindictive personal dispute with somebody who just died (especially if you have to open your own new thread to do it)? Derek

Could you please tell us what you are trying to say in your metaphor?

Just because it sounds quite mysterious to me what you posted. Please excuse.

Originally written by John Bunch on October 23, 2009 1:38 PM Yes, there is freedom of speech on this site. I have encountered some truly (in my view) nutty things on this site, and some very odd and weird opinions. But I still would rather have it that way, than have it be censored. BTW, not many have mentioned this, but the Obama administration recently tried to shut Fox News out of official press conferences. The reason was the Fox is, according to the Obama administration, "political" and "not news". And yet, the Huffington Post - which is VERY political - is invited. The entire thing fell on its face when the entire press rallied around Fox against Obama, and said that you cannot pick and choose: either all the press, or none of it. It really is very embarrassing for the Obama admin. I have never really liked Fox News, but I think I will start reading it now, out of interest and solidarity. I think that Fox also profits from this "attention".

Are you actually alluding to the conspiracy videos on YouTube about the backward masking of Obama's campaign song "Yes we can"?

Cool!

I do not think there is 100% freedom of speech anywhere; even in America you are not allowed to say that you are a communist, a nazi, a racist or that Mrs. So and So is stupid or that she did something you do not have a proof of. I think a certain level of censorship is unavoidable: it just all depends whether the censorship is fair, whether is blocks things based purely on word usage and the extreme character of  opinions such as that all blond women are stupid and should be put in a cage and called Something. This is related mostly to the media or the Internet, not what people say in the street. I personally believe that people should be allowed to say anything they want, anywhere they want but be accountable for it, meaning ready to go through law suits.

I think they should be allowed to say anything, but they should also be allowed to be sued for slander. In my opinion things of such extreme nature are usually said out of jealousy, phobias, hatred based on insecurity, personal unhappiness and lack of the enjoyment of life. 

Originally written by Liliana Boladz-Nekipelov on October 24, 2009 10:33 AM  I personally believe that people should be allowed to say anything they want, anywhere they want but be accountable for it, meaning ready to go through law suits.

Such as yelling FIRE! in a crowded theatre or calling the police with a bogus claim of having lost your child to a runaway balloon...?

In either case, the cost to the tax payers is quite high and although the jokesters can be 'punished' with very high fines, they cannot always pay, so ...

Nanna

Yes, Nanna, but they should know that if they get caught they would go to jail for long. For false alarms, it is up to 7 yesrs, in America, under felony.  

Originally written by Liliana Boladz-Nekipelov on October 24, 2009 11:06 AM  they should know that if they get caught they would go to jail for long. For false alarms, it is up to 7 yesrs, in America, under felony.

As I said, it's costly:

"A law that requires mandatory prison time for anyone convicted of a fifth drunken driving offense within a 10-year period is expected to add 344 inmates to the state prison system by June 30, 2009.

That measure will account for an estimated 438 more state prison inmates by mid-2009.

$27,170 per prisoner per year…

http://realcostofprisons.org/blog/archives/2006/10/wa_huge_prison.html

I know, this is expensive, but this is the price to the society. They cannot be executed, after all. But in fact this is more related to law, than to the freedom of speech I meant. There are law  about false alarms and false reports. there should be no laws what you can say. If it falls under the category of slander, they should be sued. I was not talking about the slander law, which should stay in power. 

At the same time there should be more laws protecting privacy of a person. the paparazzi thing is ridiculous.   

Originally written by Liliana Boladz-Nekipelov on October 24, 2009 11:37 AM I know, this is expensive, but this is the price to the society. ...There are law  about false alarms and false reports. there should be no laws what you can say. ...

Isn't someone yelling FIRE saying something and isn't someone who makes a bogus claim for police intervention also saying something? No?

And society should just pay because, as you say, 'there should be no laws what you can say.' ?

Nanna