Quote Originally Posted by sicboater View Post
Uhhh. It looks like you guys are on the same page. Libel and Slander suits are not criminal, they are civil and damages must be proven to exist for them to be fruitful for the plaintiff. Threatening communication may be criminally actionable depending on the circumstances. In the end all of these actions conspire to "hurt" in a measurable way. Did I miss something? It just seems like you are both saying the same thing.

-Rob
I dunno, I kind of took Brad's point to be "you're free to say what you like, but by the same extension someone who doesn't like what you say is also free to pop a cap in yo' ass. Which means you won't be free to say anything anymore."

Interesting point. As others have noted, we enjoy free speech in a legal way, but we're certainly not free from its outcome, especially violent outcomes. Like assassination if you speak out over a very emotional subject. I may be free to preach what I like, but if it ends up with me being killed, I'm not sure I count that as being free.

In that way none of us are free to say whatever we want, particularly in situations which lead to a violent societal breakdown. If the outcome is death, then ergo there's no freedom? Perhaps that's why incitement to hatred is a crime in many countries and states (including the UK)?