Chapter 9, Problem 1RA-P267

Summary Introduction

Introduction

I have responded to obnoxious verbal behavior most often by not engaging the person. Free speech is only protected if it does not threaten anyone or incite rioting. It is important to guard our freedom of speech in order to maintain our government. An important part of this is to recognize the difference between speech that expresses a difference of opinion and speech that creates threatening or dangerous circumstances. As the saying goes, you cannot scream “FIRE” in a crowded theater and claim freedom of speech.

Explanation of Solution

Answer and explanation

(This question requires a subjective response, and this is an example.)

One example is the time I noticed obnoxious verbal behavior was when I attended a college football game. I was wearing the jersey and colors of the home team, but my seats were among those reserved for the fans of the visiting team. People around me singled me out for attention in the form of chanting about how my team would lose and was generally terrible. The volume increased whenever the visiting team made a big play or scored. I responded by not engaging those fans, even when my team took the lead and eventually won the game. The First Amendment protects the freedom of speech, but it is not unlimited. Speech that is motivated by hate and intends to intimidate others is not protected, nor speech that constitutes a threat to anyone. The verbal abuse directed my way that day was mostly playful attempts to get me to verbally spar with them. When I did not respond verbally, those fans turned their attention elsewhere. Free speech must remain protected, as it is part of a functioning democracy, and can act as a watchdog for government and corporate misbehavior.