What "freedom of speech" really means - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian · 12-09-2003, 08:51 PM

Ever wonder what freedom of speech means? Does it really mean that you can say whatever you feel like on an online message board, even posting stuff that would violate a Terms of Service agreement? I have been online long enough to know that is not the case and that is not what it really means.

Below is a quote from a site that I frequent every day that explains the rules and standards for that site's message boards. I'm pretty sure that everybody knows that what applies to that site will most likely apply to every other web site and message board.

Quote:

I have a right to free speech! What right do you have to delete my messages?

Yes, you may have a right to free speech, but not here. When you signed up for the GameFAQs message boards, you voluntarily gave up the right to certain kinds of speech in return for the ability to use the boards. If you do not feel that you can follow the rules here, you have the right to create your own message boards and make your own rules there. GameFAQs is a private business, and if you'd actually read the Bill of Rights, you'll see that "Freedom of Speech" applies to the government, not here.

To sum it all up, I think the administrator of that site couldn't have put it any better. In fact, that was always how I interpreted free speech.

Any thoughts?

robyrob · 12-09-2003, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Brian
Ever wonder what freedom of speech means? Does it really mean that you can say whatever you feel like on an online message board, even posting stuff that would violate a Terms of Service agreement? I have been online long enough to know that is not the case and that is not what it really means.

Below is a quote from a site that I frequent every day that explains the rules and standards for that site's message boards. I'm pretty sure that everybody knows that what applies to that site will most likely apply to every other web site and message board.

To sum it all up, I think the administrator of that site couldn't have put it any better. In fact, that was always how I interpreted free speech.

Any thoughts?

Freedom of speech is over-rated; have you heard some of the garbage people say?

°Bubbly Blonde° · 12-09-2003, 09:03 PM

ok..

..yeah, I guess...

Janice · 12-10-2003, 12:08 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Brian
To sum it all up, I think the administrator of that site couldn't have put it any better. In fact, that was always how I interpreted free speech.
Any thoughts?

I think it's a great quote. Some people try to take over a site, but at the end of the day, it belongs to someone else.
We may be members here, but we're TJ's guests.

Hollow · 12-10-2003, 12:21 AM

earlier today TJ deleted a post someone made and said they could be sued for slander or whatever. wtf? they shouldnt of said we have a freedom of speech in the bill of rights if we dont. im not talking about being able to talk crap on a message board but if you could get sued, youre apparently breaking the law.

Janice · 12-10-2003, 12:30 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by sArAh123¼
earlier today TJ deleted a post someone made and said they could be sued for slander or whatever. wtf? they shouldnt of said we have a freedom of speech in the bill of rights if we dont. im not talking about being able to talk crap on a message board but if you could get sued, youre apparently breaking the law.

Since slander was the reason for TJ deleting the post, that is illegal. Freedom of Speech doesn't make a person exempt from slandering someone.

Rebel Queen 1980 · 12-10-2003, 12:31 AM

Well it is true,I mean you want somebody posting crap about
you or someone else would you?

Hollow · 12-10-2003, 12:39 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Janice
Since slander was the reason for TJ deleting the post, that is illegal. Freedom of Speech doesn't make a person exempt from slandering someone.

By slandering someone.. does that mean putting them down and talking crap about them?

Brian · 12-10-2003, 12:41 AM

No that means intentionally saying something about them that isn't true with the intent to cause harm to that person's reputation.

From dictionary.com

Law. Oral communication of false statements injurious to a person's reputation.
A false and malicious statement or report about someone.

Hollow · 12-10-2003, 12:45 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Brian
No that means intentionally saying something about them that isn't true with the intent to cause harm to that person's reputation.

From dictionary.com

Law. Oral communication of false statements injurious to a person's reputation.
A false and malicious statement or report about someone.

o ok... thats reasonable

jsizzle · 12-10-2003, 01:14 AM

With everything that follows the word free there's always the fine print people mostly never read...

fr00ti · 12-10-2003, 01:19 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by jsizzle
With everything that follows the word free there's always the fine print people mostly never read...

Rebel Queen 1980 · 12-10-2003, 01:35 AM

Yea,I know what you mean,I think I read not too along
that some kid got in trouble for here for writing trash
about a schoolteacher or something like that.

12-09-2003, 09:03 PM	#3
°Bubbly Blonde° <3 Forum Veteran Join Date: Nov 25, 2001 Location: Playboy Mansion Posts: 5,876	ok.. ..yeah, I guess...
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12-10-2003, 01:14 AM	#11
jsizzle Coolest Raven Fan Senior Member Join Date: Jun 26, 2003 Location: Watching Raven-Symone grow older and get sexier... Posts: 1,188	With everything that follows the word free there's always the fine print people mostly never read...
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12-10-2003, 12:21 AM	#5
Hollow Member Forum Superstar Join Date: Dec 16, 2001 Posts: 30,406	earlier today TJ deleted a post someone made and said they could be sued for slander or whatever. wtf? they shouldnt of said we have a freedom of speech in the bill of rights if we dont. im not talking about being able to talk crap on a message board but if you could get sued, youre apparently breaking the law.

12-10-2003, 12:31 AM	#7
Rebel Queen 1980 Member Senior Member Join Date: Nov 05, 2002 Location: Watching Classic Sitcoms 24/7.... Posts: 1,509	Well it is true,I mean you want somebody posting crap about you or someone else would you?

12-10-2003, 12:41 AM	#9
Brian Member Forum Celebrity Join Date: Jun 23, 2001 Posts: 20,451	No that means intentionally saying something about them that isn't true with the intent to cause harm to that person's reputation. From dictionary.com Law. Oral communication of false statements injurious to a person's reputation. A false and malicious statement or report about someone.

12-10-2003, 01:35 AM	#13
Rebel Queen 1980 Member Senior Member Join Date: Nov 05, 2002 Location: Watching Classic Sitcoms 24/7.... Posts: 1,509	Yea,I know what you mean,I think I read not too along that some kid got in trouble for here for writing trash about a schoolteacher or something like that.