Amen to that! - Robert Clockedile from Alert Thingy

Just curious....why did you say "almost"?....The first amendment doesn't use that word. It simply says "or abridging the freedom of speech." - Chris Rossini

God Bless America. - Thomas Hawk

I think the almost is because there are things you can say that can be hurtful to the reputation of another. I think they call it libel? - Mike Wills

Or anywhere else for that matter. http://x.newsjunk.com/0CY - Dave Winer

huh? speakup please! I can't hear you! - Marc Canter

It also doesn't provide a right to venue, or say that free speech ='s anyspeech. You can say what you want, but it may get you in trouble. - Scott Bannon from twhirl

of all forms of speech, satire has perhaps been given the widest berth of all. Satire even trumps copyright law which is why Weird Al Yankovic can make a song like "Eat It." Even though it clearly steals from the original artist. Libel is an exception to free speech as you mention Mike, but satire is typically protected even from libel suits. Satire may be the most free speech of all. - Thomas Hawk

but Dave's right, doesn't mean anyone has to listen. And an awful lot of people tune out Howard Stern for what he has to say every single day. - Thomas Hawk

Why not listen? It is good to hear differing ideas, even if you don't agree. Not listening is a form of arrogance as far as I am concerned. If you don't listen, how can you judge the merit of anything? - Michael Tefft

... along with Don Imus... or should be. - Mike Wills

Of course, we should try to listen when we can. But that's the best you can do. And if people try to offend or abuse other people, there's no law that says you have to listen. Yesterday Jason raised the First Amendment -- there was no need to, no one said these guys don't have a right to say what they want. But no one is forcing us to listen either. That's an important part of the discussion as well. - Dave Winer

It's a free marketplace of ideas; everyone's free to ignore you. - Ryan Sholin

True that, BUT listening might alert you to who's ready to take over in the middle of the night after falling asleep wearing those noise-canceling gadgets. - phil baumann

this might be true Mel, but the chaos of over-stimulation can be a powerful inspiration to make and create art. And for me, creating art is perhaps the highest calling of all. Sometimes out of chaos comes the best art of all. - Thomas Hawk from fftogo

The text doesn't have an "almost" - nor does it have an if, and, or but. In fact, the constitution is rather black and white on whether I should be able to say "Shit piss fuck cunt cocksucker motherfucker tits" on the radio - but the Supreme Court has magically found those exceptions every time it's ruled on obscenity though. Slander/Libel/shouting "fire" are a different sort of case because it directly infringes on others' rights and does quantifiable damage. - Eric P

Yes, what Thomas says... - Mary Anne Davis

Pinned to Jack Kerouac's wall to inspire his writing: "Art is the highest task and the proper metaphysical activity of this life."-Nietzsche - Thomas Hawk

You bastards with a written constitution. No fair! - Chris Nixon

Jason raised the First? Why? Has Congress threatened to get involved? How is the First relevant in any way? - Anthony Citrano