What do You think? Woman arrested for dropping the F bomb in public

[irwin]

Originally Posted by texas7

Perhaps you should grow a backbone and perhaps a partial brain. Rights don't work on a one-way street. If someone has the right to be offensive - then others have the right to be offended. Equal rights bud.

That is not how constitutional rights normally work in this country buddy.

You sound like you would be happier in China. They have rights of individuals but they also allow the state to limit actions of the individual if those actions threaten the moral or civil fundamentals of the state. They use it all the time to stop protests, speeches, internet sites, art, songs...you name it.

US law has traditional only limited individual actions if it directly threatens another. Thus, pornography is not illegal but child pornography is (because it threatens a child who never consented to the act). Additionally, in most parts of the US disorderly conduct requires direct actions and not mere speech. One may be charged with disorderly conduct for getting into a drunken fight in the street, throwing rocks in a crowded area, etc...i.e. direct actions. Yet mere speech, no matter how offensive, is normally not enough. But it seems in my birth state of Texas, yelling "f&*k!" when you stub your toe on the sidewalk is enough to get you jail time. Frightening but frankly, from what I know about that place, not surprising.

So perhaps it should be you sir who learns something about our history and our legal system. Ignorance is one of the biggest problems in this country; no wonder our current president is such an anti-intellectual imbecile.

[Va-Cat]

Originally Posted by irwin

That is not how constitutional rights normally work in this country buddy.

You sound like you would be happier in China. They have rights of individuals but they also allow the state to limit actions of the individual if those actions threaten the moral or civil fundamentals of the state. They use it all the time to stop protests, speeches, internet sites, art, songs...you name it.

US law has traditional only limited individual actions if it directly threatens another. Thus, pornography is not illegal but child pornography is (because it threatens a child who never consented to the act). Additionally, in most parts of the US disorderly conduct requires direct actions and not mere speech. One may be charged with disorderly conduct for getting into a drunken fight in the street, throwing rocks in a crowded area, etc...i.e. direct actions. Yet mere speech, no matter how offensive, is normally not enough. But it seems in my birth state of Texas, yelling "f&*k!" when you stub your toe on the sidewalk is enough to get you jail time. Frightening but frankly, from what I know about that place, not surprising.

So perhaps it should be you sir who learns something about our history and our legal system. Ignorance is one of the biggest problems in this country; no wonder our current president is such an anti-intellectual imbecile.

So using your methodology lets go back to my example, by your way of thinking it would be OK for someone to walk down a street or enter a store naked. Its certainly an individual action that harms no one. However - it is not ok to walk around IN PUBLIC naked and is in fact illegal. Why? Because it is offensive to the majority of the population and is NOT considered acceptable behaviour by the majority. No matter which way you spin it, the laws that govern the US are enacted by a majority to reflect the views of a majority. I have no wish to restrict anyones right to use whatever language they wish WHEN THEY ARE IN THE PRIVACY OF THEIR OWN HOME. However when in public, there are now and will always be standards of conduct that are considered acceptable. This is no longer a matter of individual rights when you enter a public setting. It's what is and is not acceptable conduct by a majority view.

[Wysiwyg]

irwin, try to yell the N word in a public setting with lots of african americans. may i suggest running shoes and a helmet. (SNL did this as a death defying stunt!)

[davidt1]

Originally Posted by irwin

That is not how constitutional rights normally work in this country buddy.

You sound like you would be happier in China. They have rights of individuals but they also allow the state to limit actions of the individual if those actions threaten the moral or civil fundamentals of the state. They use it all the time to stop protests, speeches, internet sites, art, songs...you name it.

US law has traditional only limited individual actions if it directly threatens another. Thus, pornography is not illegal but child pornography is (because it threatens a child who never consented to the act). Additionally, in most parts of the US disorderly conduct requires direct actions and not mere speech. One may be charged with disorderly conduct for getting into a drunken fight in the street, throwing rocks in a crowded area, etc...i.e. direct actions. Yet mere speech, no matter how offensive, is normally not enough. But it seems in my birth state of Texas, yelling "f&*k!" when you stub your toe on the sidewalk is enough to get you jail time. Frightening but frankly, from what I know about that place, not surprising.

So perhaps it should be you sir who learns something about our history and our legal system. Ignorance is one of the biggest problems in this country; no wonder our current president is such an anti-intellectual imbecile.

Ahh...the internet -- both a blessing and a curse...a great source of information and in this case misinformation.

May I suggest doing some research, or at the very least read and reread before posting.

[jfre81]

Originally Posted by Wysiwyg

irwin, try to yell the N word in a public setting with lots of african americans. may i suggest running shoes and a helmet. (SNL did this as a death defying stunt!)

"Simon Says..."

Ever seen Die Hard With A Vengeance?

[Wysiwyg]

Originally Posted by jfre81

"Simon Says..."

Ever seen Die Hard With A Vengeance?

yeah. either case is *harmless*

[texas7]

Originally Posted by irwin

But it seems in my birth state of Texas, yelling "f&*k!" when you stub your toe on the sidewalk is enough to get you jail time. Frightening but frankly, from what I know about that place, not surprising.

Well then its best that it is your birth state and not your current state of residence -- because sounds like you were miserable here anyway, and that's a true shame that you couldn't enjoy the good things and good people that are here.

[blkgiraffe]

Wait it's not normal to cuss in front of your kids???? My mom did it to me all the time and I grew up fine!

I said f*** when I saw those prices at Wal-Mart, its crazy!

[da jammer]

Time to put this one to bed. Thanks for the input folks.