Should there be any limits on free speech?

Hey Zephyr! Are you serious? Now that is really going way too far! I don't think that would go over too well here in NY! DJ's in NYC have gotten fired for doing things less serious than that! I don't think that is appropriate no matter who's side you are on! That is just unacceptable and dangerous, as you have already stated! I think that DJ should lose his job and if he was working here in NY he would probably lose his DJ license! There are just some lines of privacy that shouldn't be crossed like putting someones life in jeopardy!

for a radio host to give out somebodies home phone number on the air is not just free speech. it was an intention to put a person in harms way which is illegal not to mention this person is a mayor. the radio host should be fired in my opinion i wouldn't doubt it if he will be later. keith olbermann on the other hand knows better than to do something like this to Sara Palin as he wouldn't be where he is doing something foolish like that.

No. Just because someone does something with their free speech that we do not like doesn't mean that there should be a limit as to anyone's freedom of speech. Because limits to freedoms always slide right into restrictions, and then, eventually, to eliminations. I'm not saying that that's not despicable, but seriously...there's stuff the guy whose phone number was abused can do. He could sue the radio host for example. I'm surprised the radio host thought that he WOULDN'T get sued, in fact. It's not like we're defenseless when someone abused their freedom to speak. There's always something we can do about it. It's just that law doesn't have to come into play.

No. No limits at all unless you're obscene or disrespect other people. You should have all the free speech you want but if you use obscene language or invade or publicise against the privacy of others or get perverse then you should be penalised.

I don't believe that freedom of speech includes the workplace. I couldn't, for instance, tell the idiot at CSX that I had to deal with when I worked for the railroad to kiss my a$$...although I wanted to sooo bad many times...because my boss would have fired me for that. I believe that radio station has to have certain standards regarding violating the privacy of others and that DJ should be dealt with by management.

While I'm sure the DJ has the right to do such a thing, I would think that he or at least the program director would have more common sense. If this man is actually hurt, or killed, because of what the DJ did then the station will certainly be held accountable for the deed since they created it.

There is the specific instance that you mention (seems to me like a malicious prank that should get the DJ fired as far as I can see), and then there's the principal of 'free speech' which is quite a can of worms. In the UK, there is no right of free speech which means our police are entitled to remove people who preach terrorism and violence on the streets. You cannot sustain an entitlement to free speech without limitations in which case it is no longer fee speech is it?? The far more worrying aspect of legislation that has been recently considered in the UK is not so much the limitations of free speech, but an active ban on speech specifically directed at fanatics, but which could result in all religions being gagged ie. not allowed to publicly express their views. So there's the issue, I don't believe in free speech as that allows people to say all sorts of unkind, untrue or harmful things without limitation, but equally I don't believe in prescribed speech that restricts me from expressing my thoughts publicly. I think each case has to be treated on merit assessed in the context in which it occurred.

Ah, I dont think thats right. I mean, if the DJ is so opposed to the political views of this person, yah he has free speech to say that he thinks its wrong, or whatnot, just voice his opinion on this person. But to actually give out the phonenumber is going way to far. Thats like someone giving out your phone number and saying "this guy is an @$$ and is ruining your town and taking all of your money, heres his phonenumber" I think that was really dumb on his part. Because this person isnt just a regular person, but a public official, and I bet hes getting SWAMPED with calls, concerns, yelling, and yes of course deathreats. Hes being harassed by everyone because of this DJ so I think he most deffinately went way to far on this one.

I think some people carry free speech to far....

Free speech, that's funny. I know that a lot of people who think that certain groups should not be allowed to speak will speak louder than they will by calling them names or trying to label them as infidels. Free speech is out right under the constitution but a lot of people think that entitles them to say whatever they want and then hide behind its steel power. I would rather have a healthy debate than call somebody a name but sometimes you just have to say it like it is. If Doberman gave out Palin phone number she would just out him anyway, how's that for free speech.

I think that what they did was wrong, and i think that it would be wrong to give out anyone's phone number, or address But once you start putting limits on our freedom of speech, is when we are going to start losing all of them.

I think the personal telephone is a part of privacy. without the permition you should not public it. I feel sorry to know the story. how can a professional did such mistakes.I think it's a basic rule to people in the world about to keep privacy. There are no absolute freedom in the world,so we should have some limits on free speech. it's a kind of protection to citizen's right.

i come from what some of you may consider a police state (it's not). even so i would say there are certain things that come under the heading of infringements.

During my University days, one of my favorite subjects is the Public Speaking subject. It was one of those subjects that I get a grade of 1.0. Public speaking have really helped a lot with my work as a call center agent and as a lector in our church as speaking and communication skills is concerned. With regards to free speech, this is the privilege that the radio commentators, senators and congressmen have. They are allowed to explain their side of the story or their reactions to certain happenings in the society. But given this kind of privilege, there are always limitations to this because without knowing, they are hitting below the belt and it may affect the privacy of the certain person that they are commenting. Giving out any personal information either a public or a private citizen is a big NO, NO. This is against in their CODE OF ETHICS and they can be sued- oral defamation or libel case.

Yah sure , some areas of speech mau hurt people , so why not limit it