[geoschmo]

Originally posted by Growltigga:
Geo, if you wish to criticize lawyers, I should ask you to ensure you qualify your remarks by reference to stating that you are remarking on US attorneys, and not lawyers or advocates around the globe

I will do no such thing. Disdain for those in the legal profession is not an American opinion exclusively. But I will tone it down. My Last comment was a parting shot. I will stow my cannon.

Geo, what do you do for a living?

I am a computer geek. I am sure you will have no trouble finding much ammunition to use against me in that regards. Most of it deserved I am sure.

Oh dear, Geo, the whole point of an argument or a debate is that is comprises two mutually contradicting viewpoints that (hopefully) reaches some form of consensus through logical discussion. I am not going off on a tangent, I am simply responding or giving examples to the left-field remarks you have made.

But you can't do that, because that is what I was doing. You hit the ball, I was merely attempting to get it back to the keeper before you got safely across the crease.

I am also not prejudiced against all things American (I even own a Hammecher Schlammer cat rehydrator). I am slightly prejudiced against the national perception/world view Americans have a tendency to project to the rest of humble mortals lucky enough to share the planet with Americans but generally, I like Americans fine.

As well you should be. I too am prejudiced against that perception which too many of my countrymen hold. I will thank you to not lump me in with them.

Your comments WERE directed at soccer fans and as such, are bound to be emotive to those of us who profess to enjoy soccer. My comments on linedancers I will admit are pure self-opinion.

My comments were not only bound to be emotive, they were intended to be so. But they were not directed at your nationality, any more than your comments against linedancers were directed at all Americans. However, your misguided reaction proved my point better than I could hope to, and I thank you for it.

Yes, booing is one thing, it is poor sportsmanship, and I would point out that having Asked Jeeves/google searched and checked, no-one can remember anyone ever being beaten up in any form of mass riot/fight at a Winter Olympics for carrying wrong flags or otherwise - what point are you trying to make by what appears to be a flawed comparator

The flaw was in your understanding of my original point, not in my comparator. I compared the raucous behavior of soccer fans to the ridiculous shenanigans of linedancers as equally comparable demonstrations of their lack intellectual prowess. You misinterpreted this as a denigration of your fair country, and attempted to drag the Olympics of late hosted in my fair country into the discussion for some unclear (too me) reason. I was merely pointing out that even if we were to discuss the argument on your fallacious terms, your argument would be found wanting as the behavior of the excessivly patriotic Americans in Salt Lake was admittedly rude, but it was by no account physically abusive.

Again, your point is flawed, freedom of speech can be said to be a human condition but we are talking about how it can be manifested, and that is governed by national legal systems

This is a true enough statement, although a bit simplistic. Mine was a poor choice of words. When I said a "human condition", my meaning was that the freedom is an indisputable fact. Freedom of speech I should have said is not a condition, but is an ultimate truth. It is a goal to attain. Whether or not you agree it can be, or even should be attained is a point of debate. You can argue that one does not have an inalianble right to freedom of speech. I can argue one does, and that any government that attempts to restrict this right is unnatural. Debating that point does not change the nature of the goal itself. You cannot redefine the truth of it for if you attempt to, you render it worthless.

I get it completely unfortunately. Racism in the US is not illegal. It is not illegal in 99% of Western democracies and the Klu Klux Klan, as the British National Party or the German Neo-Nazis factions are fully entitled to demonstrate and do what they want to profess a hatred for other races. What they cannot do is incite. Of course, any recourse to violence will be slammed down under provbably every jurisictional system.
Back to our example of public policy issues such as kiddy porn, try and get a permit for tholding a debating forum or rally for that and find out if you will get it. You wont. Therefor, you are saying that your right to exercise freedom of speech is being repressed and that constitutionally, you have a right to this. Try again.

And here lies the root of your own misdirection of the debate. For the original discussion was not about kiddie porn, or even about ones right to stand on a busy street corner and defame the cherished sensibilities of a polite society. The discussion was about whether the right to maintain an objectionable website is maintained under freedom of speech. All your subsequent arguments have been taking us away from that central point, not towards it. The website in question does not seek to incite. Read it and you will see. Or don't and stay ignorant. That is your right as well.

My views come from personel experience. I have live in the US for over 2 years on and off. You legal system is less permissive than you think and is far more akin to the european systems than you may notice. As to your constitutional rights, all I will say on this that you try and get these enforced if they were breached,

I stand by my statements. Yes, you may in fact be arrested for standing up on a corner and preaching hate or espousing the virtues of kiddie porn, if a crowd forms to listen to you. But you also will be arrested for standing on the same corner and quoting loudly from the bible, or reading the constitution of the United States. Anything that draws a crowd will become an inconvienence or a hazard to daily passage will draw the notice of the local constabulary, and get you a polite suggestion to "Move along buddy." If you refuse this, they will no doubt arrest you, but not for what you say. You will be arrested for causing a disturbance. There is a HUGE difference.