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Freedom

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First of all we must ask ourselves a question. What material consists of inappropriate use of the freedom of speech on the Internet? Let us ponder on another question. What consists of appropriate use of the freedom of speech on the Internet. Joe may say that posting erotic fiction on the Internet in inappropriate or Jane may tell you that it is perfectly fine so long as the material is tasteful. What is tasteful? Is there an actual line that can or cannot be crossed with Joe and Jane's statements? No. As human beings we do not follow a strict guideline on what is acceptable and what isn't. We are fickle by nature and in some issues such as this one, we do not know where to draw the line.

Simply by this statement it is prudent that we must give each and every person the freedom of speech. Another fact that compounds on this statement is that when the powers that be gave us our equal rights only stated that we are to be granted freedom of speech. That right did not state a limit as to how far this freedom of speech may extend. You could easily argue that the freedom of speech is nothing more than a double standard. If the world had complete freedom of speech then we may a worldwide mutiny on our hands from the people that were seriously offended by what others say. I can truly understand why many would want to use censorship and regulate inappropriate gestures and comments.

Internet community sites should allow complete freedom of speech and there are absolutely ways to come to a compromise in this issue. If the material may be offensive to some people then display a warning before the public goes to see the material. This indicates that if people have seen the warning they know that whatever they see is at their own risk. They've been warned. If they feel that if may become offensive to them then they should not enter to the page. It's as simple as that.

It may also help to adapt a rating system or use the rating system used for television and clearly identify its meaning at the top or entrance of the page. This is an ingenious idea that the 'boobtube' producers use to protect their A-es. If Jane wants to write an erotic fiction then she will hopefully be courteous enough to inform us that it is either R or NC-17 including consensual sex or other colorful descriptions. If Joe broadcasts a video with his pals beating each other up then we hope he will rate a PG-14 or R for violence and racy language. If those codes or ratings were adapted then perhaps we can all move on and be a little less offended by 'inappropriate' material.

Also another technique to avoid Internet quibbles and flaming, encrypt the site with passwords and login names, a famous technique used by pornographic movie and video rippers. This must be working for them or they wouldn't still exist.

Freedom of speech should not be impugned upon but I also feel that there is a limit as to how far voices can go before they either hurt someone or just offend them. The difficult factor is that everyone has a different tolerance level as to what is deemed crossing the line. That is the sole reason as to why you can not just regulate 'inappropriate' material.

Learn more about this author, Nicole Oickle.
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