The First Amendment of the US Constitution states: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances
America is going through some interesting growing pains at the moment. We pride ourselves on being the home of the free and the land in which free speech is protected. The reality is that many people are confused in their understanding that free speech doesn’t mean you can actually say anything you want anytime you want.
Screaming “fire” in a crowded room is one extreme example of speech not allowed. The reality is that all speech isn’t protected and allowable. Scholars generally agree that unprotected speech falls generally within nine categories:
- Obscenity
- Fighting words
- Defamation (includes libel, slander)
- Child pornography
- Perjury
- Blackmail
- Incitement to imminent lawless action
- True threats
- Solicitations to commit crimes
The amendment is largely in place to respect people’s ability to legally criticize the government and for the press to have the ability to write and report without threat of persecution.
That gives a Cliff Note version of what is not protected under the First Amendment, but the essentially repercussion free platform provided by the internet (i.e. Twitter & Facebook) allow the average person to say the most vile, inflammatory, insensitive things to people, for the world to see, behind the safety of a keyboard.
In most cases, it is their right, under the First Amendment, but a question is thus raised as to what is acceptable to say and who has the right and authority to police what is said and what is deemed acceptable or politically correct?
The answer, of course is purely subjective. Words, often in themselves do not have the same effect dependent on the context in which they are delivered. I use profane language all the time. I was fluent in curse words by the time I was 5 or 6. I grew up in an environment where all of the kids, outside in the streets, spoke as if a prize were given at the end of the day for most cursing. Who am I kidding? I learned it from a mom, who on many days will break out into Tina Turner, as a dainty, proper King’s English speaking Brit, but catch her right (or wrong) and you would think she was a drunken sailor on leave for the first time in months.
I hate bullying in any and all forms. Saying (or doing) things to people who are unable to protect themselves from your actions is simply an act of cowardice. The internet unfortunately provides that perfect platform for people to hide behind words either through anonymity or the fact that they can just say anything and potentially direct it to anyone without fear of reprisal.
However, as a relative recent addition to social media and as a formerly fiercely private individual who is now “all in” on a public platform, I struggle with political correctness at almost every turn.
The demographic for Diary Of A Mad Mind is high school age and up. I reconcile my profanity with its minimal usage. I have a sardonic sense of wit and if I really released the thread of thoughts that race through my mind most would question my madness and who gave me the day pass to walk amongst society.
I edit myself constantly, aware of a responsibility I have once I decided to share my thoughts for public consumption. The genuineness of the message remains intact, I just attempt to be cognizant of the affect words have on others. That said, it really is exhausting trying to take everyone’s sensitive assess into consideration.
Two articles I wrote are perfect examples. “Move B****” is actually a piece about people moving out of the left lane in traffic patterns. I understand the B word has misogynistic connotations, but once you look beyond the headline it is simply an attempt to infuse Ludacris’ song into a headline for a PSA that affects us all. One can argue that it is not as funny or clever as I intended, but contextually misogynistic, I think not.
Another is “Wish A N**** Would”. I am particularly sensitive to how the N word is delivered in public, especially amongst mixed company. I think the N word is offensive, but I am not immune to discussions accepting that there is context related to the word’s offense. Who says it, to whom it is said and the context in which it is delivered all factor in the discussion. Non-African Americans should not say the word period (though Fat Joe is given a circumstantial pass). In my article it was used in a self-deprecating manner reflective of a young man’s growth.
Context really is key to so much that is said or written. It has become too easy for everyone to become offended by every fucking thing. Trust there is so much out there that is objectively offensive, racist, malicious and needs to be called out vociferously. I just do not want us to become the boy who cries wolf as a society, where we protest everything to the point that when something really needs to be addressed we are so desensitized to the outcry.
So who defines objective standards for what is offensive. No one and everyone. To use the colloquial expression and paraphrase the statement made famous by former US Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart in his attempt to define obscenity; I may not know how to define it, but I know it when I see it.
