[garinda]

Originally Posted by Meccy

Gayle,

I have every sympathy for your view on decency but I would ask this question. Where do you draw the line? One mans opinion on what is decent is not necessarily another's.

Freedom of speech should be absolute. You imply that is for political issues. We now have laws in this country that restrict public comments on race and religion. In theory I can be brought before the law if I were to publish a view which, in someone's opinion contravened these laws. Even if I considered myself wholly justified in making that view. Here is the crux of the matter though. The moment we allow others to determine which opinions are legal and which are not we are a short road to tyranny.

Some might have opinions which we find abhorrent. It is the measure of us as an informed democracy how we disregard them.

Would that freedom of speech also be available to pedophiles, for example?

Stand up child molesters, 'entertaining' others of the ilk?

Happily in most decent civilisations there are limits on what can and can't be said.