It's Number 1 in the Bill of Rights. We Americans take that right very serious.
It is a gorgeous day in the Tropical Tip. Blue sky, a 15 mph breeze, and currently (at 12:45pm) 75º. Yes, I would classify this one as a "Chamber of Commerce day." Rufus has been out for a walk, I rode my bicycle around the island, made breakfast on the griddle in shorts and a t-shirt, then went for a motorcycle ride. This is how things should be in this climate.
On the scooter forum where I hang out, one of the participants there read this blog and took exception to my use of the word "visceral" a while back. Seems that what I ride is different from what he rides (still pretty similar in the grand scheme of things), and he felt the need to expound on his ride giving him satisfaction and my choice of ride is like "sitting in a chair, watching a TV screen." Not being one to be silent when challenged, I tried explaining to him that we can each enjoy what we have. He specifically said, "I don't get it." Well, that and a bunch of other drivel like what got him kicked off that forum for a year, a few years back.
There are people out there who do not have the ability to empathize: anyone doing something they wouldn't enjoy needs to be told that they are doing life wrong. Well, actually, that is a lack of empathy and no ability to keep their mouth shut. That brings up the difference between "Freedom of Speech" and being polite in society. Our Bill of Rights grants every citizen that "freedom of speech." As often stated: it does not give you the right to yell "FIRE!" in a crowded theater. It does not give you the right to go into someone's house or other private property and... spout off. If you come into my house and proceed to tell me I am doing something wrong (whether that is true or imagined), as the property owner, I can ask you to shut up and leave. If you refuse to, I can punch you in the face and throw you out. Some might debate the legality or intelligence of doing that, but the fact is: freedom of speech stops at the door of a private property.
What many people don't realize: much of the internet is "privately owned." I participate on that scooter/motorcycle forum, but I don't own it. It isn't public property. The people who own that website get to make up the rules of conduct, including the right to toss you off that forum for any general behavior they deem violates those rules of conduct. That's how this guy I was speaking of earlier got tossed off that forum for a year: obnoxious behavior isn't protected by the Bill of Rights on private property.
Thus, the mention of "polite society" above. I'm not talking about sipping tea with your pinky out... rather, there are some things that one shouldn't do that may be protected by that freedom of speech notion. Hate speech, inciting violence - things like that are not protected. And then there are some things that most people should know better than to say: like coming up to someone you don't know and insulting their outfit. Yes, you have the right to say it... but it doesn't make the behavior right. And that's what this guy on the forum doesn't get. He didn't have the intelligence or guts to make a direct comment on this blog, so he took it to what he considers "a public forum." For the record, Blogger owns this space, but it is my blog - if you make a comment here I find rude, I can delete it. If you try to advertise something here, I will delete it. If you disagree with me regarding something I have written, but do so in an intelligent manner, I won't likely delete it.
And that brings up the topic of "moderators" - almost all forums have someone who keeps order on the forum, to prevent it from becoming a total shit show. If someone comes into the forum just to try to start arguments or just generally be obnoxious (I don't know why some people get a kick out of that), a moderator may give them a warning, and then ban them from being able to post on the forum if they don't change their behavior. I've seen some banned people join the forum again, under a different name, but their behavior gives them away... and they generally wind up with a lifetime ban. That doesn't stop them from finding another forum to annoy.
I consider those forums a bit like going into a neighborhood bar (no, I am not one to frequent bars) - you go in, see people you know, sit down and have some conversation. If you get obnoxious, the bar tender or bouncer will toss your ass out. Moderators are the "bouncer" of internet forums.
How about out on a street corner? Are you allowed to say anything you want? Mostly. But no one is forced to listen to you, and you may find a fight on your hands if you incite someone with a view different from yours. And that's my point for "polite society." If you behave in a civil manner, whether on a street corner or in an internet forum, your odds of creating a problem are greatly diminished. Unless, of course, you are one of those assholes that just likes to start a fight... but that is a sad way to go through life.
While riding my motorcycle today, I got behind an SUV with a sticker on the window that read "Fuck Biden." Is that free speech? Probably. Is it acceptable in "polite society"? Not from my perspective, but I tend to be a "just be nice" (as much as I can handle) kinda guy. The person with that on their back window is someone I would tend to avoid. Polite society... there just isn't much of that these days.
4 comments:
I concur. My preference is, "Let's Go Brandon". Same thought but in a more polite presentation.
Hi Earl. As a former business owner, I never put anything political on my cars... odds are pretty good you're going to run off half of your potential customers. It doesn't seem to bother anyone if you say you have no regard for ANY politician, but you can piss 'em off if you put on a bumper sticker for one side or the other. ;-) On a sailing forum I used to participate on, I saw nice people become quite vile when politics came up for discussion. There are some topics I just keep to myself. And along that same line: no one's mind has ever been changed by a bumper sticker or a meme on the internet.
Agreed. I never put any bumper stickers on my vehicles, and in business situations keep my politics to myself - you can’t win and can only lose.
I went *once* in 2009 to Puget Sound Guitar Workshop in Bremerton, near Seattle. Pulling into the parking lot, mine was the only vehicle without an Obama bumper sticker, and I was one of the few people not wearing an Obama t-shirt. I worried about the safety of my vehicle and camper the whole week. The Democratic national convention would have been less partisan and rabid. While there was some good guitar instruction in the classes, the week was pretty disappointing. I went for guitar classes and jamming but got a political rally instead. A friend of mine from another music camp is retired Air Force but did not dare admit it in that crowd. Sad…..
I get that, Earl. We spent 5 summer seasons in the San Juan Islands and understand the way that area "leans." We used to enjoy side trips into Seattle. No more.
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