Do the majority of Americans truly want to live in a free speech society?

No.

Yes, but I find too many people misunderstand what "free speech" means in the context that exists in society. Twitter deleting your post is not a violation of free speech. Your (private) employer firing you because they feel you made them look bad is not a violation of free speech.

energeticlotuseater wrote:

This is a sincere question that may come off as a leading question but really is not meant to be one. Do you think 50% + Americans truly want to live in a free speech/free expression society? I know no society has complete freedom of speech (you can't yell "fire" in a crowded movie theatre) but free speech in that you can voice your political or social beliefs, even the most horrific, without the arm of the government coming down and punishing you is what I am talking about.

The mental exercise I would use to think about this is if you gave every American citizen full control over the United States and then you asked him or her "Do you now want to censor speech?" would the majority want to crack down on speech they disagreed with, whatever that may entail?

There is no censorship in the US today and most people seem fine. A lot of people though seem to struggle with the idea that twitter/facebook/... and the rest can't impinge on your free speech as they aren't the government and freedom of speech doesn't mean freedom from consequences.

There is censorship. Public schools and universities do not allow free speech of their students or faculty.

The First Amendment is overrated. It has allowed millions of low IQ people to not only say whatever they want, but also to believe what they say is relevant or accurate. It has been a tremendous drain on resources and progress in the US.

Good take. I want to eliminate it and be the judge. I no longer am allowing you to speak in public.

Uncle Sammy wrote:

There is censorship. Public schools and universities do not allow free speech of their students or faculty.

That isn't true. Students and faculty can say whatever they want. They just have to accept the consequences of their actions.

Huh? That is like saying they have free speech in communist countries but you will be killed for saying something.

Uncle Sammy wrote:

Good take. I want to eliminate it and be the judge. I no longer am allowing you to speak in public.

I think you are admitting the problem with the First Amendment, but essentially saying that all alternatives are worse, because they would require arbitrary exercises of assigned power - so the First Amendment is some kind of necessary default setting.

Yes I think 50%+ do want that. What most people fail to understand is that right of free speech ends with the government. They don't realize that saying something racist, homophobic or misogynistic does not protect them from their employers retaliation, social media or other private business.

energeticlotuseater wrote:

This is a sincere question that may come off as a leading question but really is not meant to be one. Do you think 50% + Americans truly want to live in a free speech/free expression society? I know no society has complete freedom of speech (you can't yell "fire" in a crowded movie theatre) but free speech in that you can voice your political or social beliefs, even the most horrific, without the arm of the government coming down and punishing you is what I am talking about.

The mental exercise I would use to think about this is if you gave every American citizen full control over the United States and then you asked him or her "Do you now want to censor speech?" would the majority want to crack down on speech they disagreed with, whatever that may entail?

energeticlotuseater wrote:

This is a sincere question that may come off as a leading question but really is not meant to be one. Do you think 50% + Americans truly want to live in a free speech/free expression society? I know no society has complete freedom of speech (you can't yell "fire" in a crowded movie theatre) but free speech in that you can voice your political or social beliefs, even the most horrific, without the arm of the government coming down and punishing you is what I am talking about.

The mental exercise I would use to think about this is if you gave every American citizen full control over the United States and then you asked him or her "Do you now want to censor speech?" would the majority want to crack down on speech they disagreed with, whatever that may entail?

I do think that close to the majority would, if suddenly made absolute czar of the United States, eliminate free speech.

I look at the “cancel culture” today and find it almost impossible to believe that these millions of people calling for the firing or “cancellation” of this person or that person because of some opinion they didn’t agree with would suddenly become laissez faire on speech if given the potential power, backed up by the might of the United States government, to silence all opinions they disagreed with.

I’m of the firm belief that most individuals would become tyrants if given the opportunity.

A pair of House Democrats, California Reps. Anna Eshoo and Jerry McNerney, asked television providers including AT&T, Verizon, and Comcast on Monday (2/22) whether they would consider dropping Fox News, Newsmax and One America News from its cable offerings. As government officials with the power to regulate the provider targets of their inquiry, these representatives are violating the Constitution by merely asking the question and interfering with what others on this thread say is a private matter.

There's always been cancel culture in one form or another. Jim Crow was cancel culure.

balanceboard wrote:

There's always been cancel culture in one form or another. Jim Crow was cancel culure.

Sure. And I’m sure if they were given the opportunity and power backed by the US government those proponents of Jim Crow would at least attempt to silence the opponents of Jim Crow or proponents of equal rights.

anti freedom of expression wrote:

balanceboard wrote:

There's always been cancel culture in one form or another. Jim Crow was cancel culure.

Sure. And I’m sure if they were given the opportunity and power backed by the US government those proponents of Jim Crow would at least attempt to silence the opponents of Jim Crow or proponents of equal rights.

They still are as Jan 6 showed. Now they're busy working on legislation and gerrymandering to cancel votes.

They asked them in the context of the capital riots not just their point of view. TV is a federally regulated market. They every right to ask about a news network that is intentionally spreading a lie. https://www.cnbc.com/2021/02/22/capitol-riots-democrats-ask-tv-providers-about-role-in-spreading-misinformation.html

CrispyChicken wrote:

A pair of House Democrats, California Reps. Anna Eshoo and Jerry McNerney, asked television providers including AT&T, Verizon, and Comcast on Monday (2/22) whether they would consider dropping Fox News, Newsmax and One America News from its cable offerings. As government officials with the power to regulate the provider targets of their inquiry, these representatives are violating the Constitution by merely asking the question and interfering with what others on this thread say is a private matter.

To the OP-

If you read the responses above you will see that if given the power then many more Americans than we would like to think would censor free speech they don't like.

You'll see responses saying Facebook, twitter, etc doesn't guarantee free speech or the federal government has the right to regulate TV. But it dodges that heart of your question- If we gave every American dictatorial type powers to run the USA as they saw fit millions would heavily censor free speech. I find it unbelievable that the members of the twitter mob, who are willing to use their minimal power to ruin someones life, would suddenly become more of a free speech advocate after given the reigns to the full power of the United States government.

No they do not. Poor old Diana is trying to figure out how to shut us down and tweeted at the FBI for help.

https://twitter.com/igneousidol/status/1347704239125110792

OPP yeah you know me wrote:

To the OP-

If you read the responses above you will see that if given the power then many more Americans than we would like to think would censor free speech they don't like.

You'll see responses saying Facebook, twitter, etc doesn't guarantee free speech or the federal government has the right to regulate TV. But it dodges that heart of your question- If we gave every American dictatorial type powers to run the USA as they saw fit millions would heavily censor free speech. I find it unbelievable that the members of the twitter mob, who are willing to use their minimal power to ruin someones life, would suddenly become more of a free speech advocate after given the reigns to the full power of the United States government.

There are about 56million American Twitter users.

There are 330million Americans.

Twitter cancelers are a small percentage of the population.