The Thinking ‘Kat: Freedom isn’t Free
As I read the latest thoughtful post from Rawen’s Musings, I found myself reflecting upon both direct online experiences, and the general trend of people and their assumptions. The concept of free speech is one I have always considered as vital to society, but this right does not – and should not – grant freedom from the consequences of what we say.
If you insult someone, lie about someone, and demean someone, can you then turn around and say ‘I was exercising my rights’, as a catch-all statement to absolve yourself? What makes you think you should have that privilege? By all means, issue crude attacks on someone online, or worse, veer into the realm of racist, sexist and bigoted speech, but what makes you think that there should be no consequences? You have the right to say whatever you wish, but if your employer were to see your racist, sexist or bigoted tirade, they would be well within their rights to act, to show you your words have consequences.
Repercussions to freedom of speech do not mean you lack freedom of speech, they merely show you that you do not have carte blanche to be nasty, cruel or deceitful. If you do not want consequences, maybe pause to think about what you say. Check out Rawen’s post, it is far more insightful and eloquent than my own!
