Should bad opinions be censored?

[Four-sided Triangles]

It was fun for a while, I have to admit, but after a couple of centuries, not so much. People's opinions are astonishingly banal.

With internet trolls and GOP candidates, I'm pretty sure that opinions are pretty "interesting" today.

[Farnhamia]

It was fun for a while, I have to admit, but after a couple of centuries, not so much. People's opinions are astonishingly banal.

With internet trolls and GOP candidates, I'm pretty sure that opinions are pretty "interesting" today.

Not from what I read here and in the papers and hear on the news, no.

[JJ Place]

I support free speech.

No you don't.

I think it is one of our greatest freedoms that we have. However, there are some groups who use it to gather cult followings based on outright lies. You have all heard of them.

It may be easy to dismiss it and say these people have no real influence on the world, but aside from the flat earth people, polls show that a significant percentage of the population believes in the other things stated.

From this, I have discovered that a significant proportion of the population matters very little in influence of the world.

That is because even the most illogical views can be made to seem logical with the right words. People are easily swayed and tend to follow people who dont "conform" to beliefs that most people have. There are people who think the earth is flat, people who think we never went to the moon, people who think dinosaurs and human beings walked among each other, people who STILL think Obama is a muslim.

Good. That separates out the dimwitted incredibly easily. No need to keep that information hidden; that only leads to problems.

Thats why ive been thinking, why should insane conspiracy theorists even have a voice when its so clear they they are wrong?

The Earth's ellipsoid shape was an insane conspiracy theory in 1600 because of the Catholic Church's protest.

Why not just censor/condemn it? If you have no proof to back up what you say or if science has disproven you, what good is your crazed point of view?

Free Speech.

Its ok to have an opinion, but

but as long as it's my opinion.

[Cracka]

Occasionally people, myself included have the worst opinions (Mainly offensive) witch should be censored to an extent but at the same time these "Bad opinions" may make the discussion, argument interesting.

[Euronion]

No, definitely no. "Bad" opinions need only be disproven and defeated, not censored.

Besides, if you censored most of these conspiracy nuts it would only make them think they're onto something and they'd start yelling even louder, and nobody wants that.

I think there might be other reasons, like protecting natural rights, but whatever floats your boat.
"Bad" opinions are not just acceptable, they are imperative. If everyone agreed we would just become extremist and polarized [cough] Republican Party [cough]. Bad opinions put things in perspective.

Can we please get through at least one thread in the General Forum where people do not start ranting about republicans, besides they will control the White House and the Senate pretty soon so. . .

[Cromarty]

they will control the White House and the Senate pretty soon so. . .

[Hittanryan]

I think there might be other reasons, like protecting natural rights, but whatever floats your boat.
"Bad" opinions are not just acceptable, they are imperative. If everyone agreed we would just become extremist and polarized [cough] Republican Party [cough]. Bad opinions put things in perspective.

Can we please get through at least one thread in the General Forum where people do not start ranting about republicans, besides they will control the White House and the Senate pretty soon so. . .

I wouldn't bet on it. Speaking of which, whatever happened to "Jobs, jobs, jobs"?

[Euronion]

they will control the White House and the Senate pretty soon so. . .

I thank God everyday that the people on NS are the minority in real life, and that the majority will elect who is right for the job, but we stray from the topic at hand, your opinion is "bad" but that does not mean it should be censored, in fact I encourage it, by censoring you we only add to your credibility and only show that we might be scared by what you say, but I am not, and neither should anyone else

[The Black Forrest]

I think there might be other reasons, like protecting natural rights, but whatever floats your boat.
"Bad" opinions are not just acceptable, they are imperative. If everyone agreed we would just become extremist and polarized [cough] Republican Party [cough]. Bad opinions put things in perspective.

Can we please get through at least one thread in the General Forum where people do not start ranting about republicans, besides they will control the White House and the Senate pretty soon so. . .

President Newt?

Not going to happen.

Own the Senate? Seriously. Screw you middle class but give us the power and we will "help" you.

They will probably loose seats on both sides.

Mind you I want them to controll one part. Better over-site.

No party should own all of it.

[Euronion]

Can we please get through at least one thread in the General Forum where people do not start ranting about republicans, besides they will control the White House and the Senate pretty soon so. . .

I wouldn't bet on it. Speaking of which, whatever happened to "Jobs, jobs, jobs"?

didn't you see the Iowa Presidential Debate tonight? it was at 9pm EST, that question took up a majority of their talk time, and I am now more open to Gingrich and Romney being president, though I am not crazy about their last names, Gingrich sounds like some sort of foot fungi and every time I hear Romney I think of a Hamster, but again that is irrelevant

[Euronion]

Can we please get through at least one thread in the General Forum where people do not start ranting about republicans, besides they will control the White House and the Senate pretty soon so. . .

President Newt?

Not going to happen.

Own the Senate? Seriously. Screw you middle class but give us the power and we will "help" you.

They will probably loose seats on both sides.

Mind you I want them to controll one part. Better over-site.

No party should own all of it.

that's the way politics works, Americans elect people who they think will fix things, then when they fail they turn to the opposition and give them all the power, then when the opposition fails it goes back to the original people to try and fix things, if they fail then it is back to the opposition and it cycles

[The Black Forrest]

President Newt?

Not going to happen.

Own the Senate? Seriously. Screw you middle class but give us the power and we will "help" you.

They will probably loose seats on both sides.

Mind you I want them to controll one part. Better over-site.

No party should own all of it.

that's the way politics works, Americans elect people who they think will fix things, then when they fail they turn to the opposition and give them all the power, then when the opposition fails it goes back to the original people to try and fix things, if they fail then it is back to the opposition and it cycles

Well. If the Repubs win all, people deserve the screw-over they will get. Trickle down didn't work back then. It won't work now.

[Hittanryan]

I wouldn't bet on it. Speaking of which, whatever happened to "Jobs, jobs, jobs"?

didn't you see the Iowa Presidential Debate tonight? it was at 9pm EST, that question took up a majority of their talk time, and I am now more open to Gingrich and Romney being president, though I am not crazy about their last names, Gingrich sounds like some sort of foot fungi and every time I hear Romney I think of a Hamster, but again that is irrelevant

Ah, Gingrich. The fiscal conservative that racked up several hundred thousand dollars worth of debt at Tiffany's. The one who demanded Clinton be impeached over an affair while having an affair himself. The man who sat beside Nancy Pelosi and said we must address climate change when it was clear 2008 would be a democratic victory, then completely reversing his position in 2011. The candidate who blames Obama for the recession when it was during his term as House Speaker that the groundwork was laid for said meltdown.

Obama 2012. Now, let's end this threadjack. Your opinion may be extremely misguided, but there is no need to censor it. It is virtually a parody in and of itself.

[Benedictus]

No. They are opinions afterall.

[Euronion]

didn't you see the Iowa Presidential Debate tonight? it was at 9pm EST, that question took up a majority of their talk time, and I am now more open to Gingrich and Romney being president, though I am not crazy about their last names, Gingrich sounds like some sort of foot fungi and every time I hear Romney I think of a Hamster, but again that is irrelevant

Ah, Gingrich. The fiscal conservative that racked up several hundred thousand dollars worth of debt at Tiffany's. The one who demanded Clinton be impeached over an affair while having an affair himself. The man who sat beside Nancy Pelosi and said we must address climate change when it was clear 2008 would be a democratic victory, then completely reversing his position in 2011. The candidate who blames Obama for the recession when it was during his term as House Speaker that the groundwork was laid for said meltdown.

Obama 2012. Now, let's end this threadjack. Your opinion may be extremely misguided, but there is no need to censor it. It is virtually a parody in and of itself.

I have tried to say "let's get back on topic" for a while now, but you people cannot help but attack me and my choice candidate, no person is perfect, and by attacking a man's/woman's character you are only stating that you can't find anything concrete to pin against them so you personally attack them.

[Hittanryan]

Ah, Gingrich. The fiscal conservative that racked up several hundred thousand dollars worth of debt at Tiffany's. The one who demanded Clinton be impeached over an affair while having an affair himself. The man who sat beside Nancy Pelosi and said we must address climate change when it was clear 2008 would be a democratic victory, then completely reversing his position in 2011. The candidate who blames Obama for the recession when it was during his term as House Speaker that the groundwork was laid for said meltdown.

Obama 2012. Now, let's end this threadjack. Your opinion may be extremely misguided, but there is no need to censor it. It is virtually a parody in and of itself.

I have tried to say "let's get back on topic" for a while now, but you people cannot help but attack me and my choice candidate, no person is perfect, and by attacking a man's/woman's character you are only stating that you can't find anything concrete to pin against them so you personally attack them.

Severe deregulation backfire and failed trickle-down economics. There, concrete and unambiguous this time. Happy? Now, back on topic.

[Euronion]

I have tried to say "let's get back on topic" for a while now, but you people cannot help but attack me and my choice candidate, no person is perfect, and by attacking a man's/woman's character you are only stating that you can't find anything concrete to pin against them so you personally attack them.

Severe deregulation backfire and failed trickle-down economics. There, concrete and unambiguous this time. Happy? Now, back on topic.

[Malhavok]

Severe deregulation backfire and failed trickle-down economics. There, concrete and unambiguous this time. Happy? Now, back on topic.

What an eloquent and well put reply. I certainly have rethought my position in light of this.

[New England and The Maritimes]

No thanks, I'm desperately in love with freedom.

[Anitgrum]

Who decides what is or isn't a "bad opinion" ?

SCIENCE!

Yes because science can prove all opinions to be correct or incorrect like which flavor of ice cream taste the most delicious.

[Jinos]

No. Bad opinions should be destroyed, not censored.

HULK SMASH BAD OPINION

[Zeth Rekia]

This would be akin to barricading your ass with a steel plate.

[Malhavok]

This would be akin to barricading your ass with a steel plate.

Now there's a nice image to to have whilst eating your cornflakes

[West Failure]

I think there are limits to free speech, and every country including the US has them. Inciting people to commit genocide I think is not acceptable. Treason is another example. Personally I don't think outright lying should be allowed, so people should be able to be challenged in court. I would like to have Fred Phelps legally prove that God hates fags or shut up.

[Seibertron]

No because they are hilarious!