And freedom doesn’t mean what you think it means, either.
Freedom is a loaded word. I’m not free to punch you in the face. I’m not free to walk out into the middle of the street and start shooting random bystanders. I’m not free to walk into the middle of a movie theater and fire a shot into the ceiling and cause a panic that results in dozens of injuries and maybe a death. And you know what? I’m fine with that. Because hurting people is wrong. And freedoms that hurt other people are, therefore, wrong.
Something to think about, when somebody starts nattering “Freedom!”. Is he talking about being free to hurt someone else? Darlin’, that ain’t freedom, that’s just thuggery being dressed in fine silken robes.
– Badtux the Somewhat-free Penguin
Badtux the Snarky Penguin 
IDK. In America you are “free” to do those things…however, you are not free from the repercussions from this act. In other countries, you may be more or less free to do these things (gun control being the obvious difference), but most countries have the same basic rules (excepting Russia, where it is again legal to beat your wife+, as long as you don’t hospitalize her or do it too often) and consequences.
However, you point is well taken that too many of our “freedom” criers refuse to accept that there are consequences to their action.
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As a practical matter, if society as a whole as embodied by the State or otherwise will punish me for performing an act, I’m not free to do it. By your standard Sovoks were free to criticize their government — even though it would result in them being sent to the gulags.
My point is that many people use the word “freedom” to whine that they should have the right to perform what is, in the end, simple thuggery. Then get all butt-hurt because they don’t get to hurt people consequence-free.
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Whenever I see something using the words “freedom,” “liberty” or “independence” in its name, I know it’s a front for fascism. The fascists have perverted words into having hidden meanings that are 180 degrees opposite from what we always thought those words mean. Orwellian!
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You have raised a large and serious question there. We value our freedom in this country and yet some ‘freedoms’ create much strife and division.
Hate speech seems to making a big stink lately. A few other of our Freedoms have gotten out of hand lately.
I think education was the controlling factor but look where that has left us?
Where can we draw lines of what is acceptable?
A hard question
w3ski
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I think I drew the line pretty well up there. If it hurts people, it’s not acceptable. People discover new ways of hurting other people every day. If they use “Freedom!” as their excuse to do so, that’s just thuggery wearing fancy robes, that’s not true freedom, which is the freedom to be the person I want to be and do the things I want to do as long as I don’t hurt other people.
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