12-06-2015, 02:08 PM
@Qdeathstar:
Yes, well, I sort of agree with you on some of those points.
So, if it doesn't matter to you, I think it would be a good idea to get rid of overt slavery
and those pesky racist symbols just to get a bit ahead of the game.
And, actually, there are some quite conclusive scientific studies that say symbols actually
matter a whole lot.
And since I'm a wanna-be writer, I'm inclined to believe that words (symbols if you will)
actually do matter as well; but that's probably just bias on my part.
Ray
P.S.
Two events that may be a bit pertinent to free speech (symbolically at least):
1. Beginning January 1, 2016 we Texans are going to be able to legally carry guns in public view.
(I, personally, believe God intended for Texans to carry six-shooters in holsters on their hips.)
The only thing I think this will change, is that there will be more armed robberies of people carrying
$700 handguns in plain view. Consider: Yours is in your holster when the thief comes up with his drawn.
I believe the invitation to "Let's fight this out fair and square" will usually be declined.
2. Beginning on September 1, 2016, Texas' public four year universities must allow concealed
carry on campuses (so post-graduate Math students won't be packing six-shooters openly as yet).
The only thing I think this will change, since 64% of firearm deaths in the U.S. (2013 statistics) are suicides,
is that more students will shoot themselves. (Out of 2474 of the 4 year college campuses in the U.S.,
13 have actually had someone kill someone else with a gun [0.5%]. About 80% [or so, statistics vary
as there has been such contention/and outright failure to report the actual numbers] have had suicides
involving guns).
Though I can't help thinking that those drunken fraternity parties will get a lot more interesting.
I'm not sure about the USA, but Texans have been known to openly slather (usually
barbecue) often. As far as slander goes, yes, pretty wild-west.
If you are a public figure, it's even worse, anything goes. Even written stories, with personal
eye-witness accounts of you having sex with goats (actual story written about a politician)
are hard to pursue in the courts.
The politician, after a few years, actually won the court battle; but only against the publication which
had gone out of business. Both the editor and the eye-witness each claimed the other was responsible
for making the story up.
Unfortunately, for the politician, the court case and the salacious story caused reputable publications
to have a look into his personal life and it was discovered that he had a predilection for under-age girls.
No convictions or anything, just large payments to various parents.
Yes, well, I sort of agree with you on some of those points.
So, if it doesn't matter to you, I think it would be a good idea to get rid of overt slavery
and those pesky racist symbols just to get a bit ahead of the game.
And, actually, there are some quite conclusive scientific studies that say symbols actually
matter a whole lot.
And since I'm a wanna-be writer, I'm inclined to believe that words (symbols if you will)
actually do matter as well; but that's probably just bias on my part.
Ray
P.S.
Two events that may be a bit pertinent to free speech (symbolically at least):
1. Beginning January 1, 2016 we Texans are going to be able to legally carry guns in public view.
(I, personally, believe God intended for Texans to carry six-shooters in holsters on their hips.)
The only thing I think this will change, is that there will be more armed robberies of people carrying
$700 handguns in plain view. Consider: Yours is in your holster when the thief comes up with his drawn.
I believe the invitation to "Let's fight this out fair and square" will usually be declined.
2. Beginning on September 1, 2016, Texas' public four year universities must allow concealed
carry on campuses (so post-graduate Math students won't be packing six-shooters openly as yet).
The only thing I think this will change, since 64% of firearm deaths in the U.S. (2013 statistics) are suicides,
is that more students will shoot themselves. (Out of 2474 of the 4 year college campuses in the U.S.,
13 have actually had someone kill someone else with a gun [0.5%]. About 80% [or so, statistics vary
as there has been such contention/and outright failure to report the actual numbers] have had suicides
involving guns).
Though I can't help thinking that those drunken fraternity parties will get a lot more interesting.
(12-06-2015, 02:08 PM)just mercedes Wrote: In NZ we have a certain amount of free speech - it stops short of personal invective though, which is actionable both criminally and through the civil courts. Basically, you can't tell lies about someone or something without repercussions. USA seems to have open slather, and I respond really badly to the bellicose bullying that a lot of American media seems to be. Belligerent. Hate crimes we call them.
I'm not sure about the USA, but Texans have been known to openly slather (usually
barbecue) often. As far as slander goes, yes, pretty wild-west.
If you are a public figure, it's even worse, anything goes. Even written stories, with personal
eye-witness accounts of you having sex with goats (actual story written about a politician)
are hard to pursue in the courts.
The politician, after a few years, actually won the court battle; but only against the publication which
had gone out of business. Both the editor and the eye-witness each claimed the other was responsible
for making the story up.
Unfortunately, for the politician, the court case and the salacious story caused reputable publications
to have a look into his personal life and it was discovered that he had a predilection for under-age girls.
No convictions or anything, just large payments to various parents.
a brightly colored fungus that grows in bark inclusions