On the limits and limiting of speech

[drwex]

I'm starting to noodle at material that attempts to make sense of what limits we want to impose on speech, given the First Amendment and our generally understood American social values.

A lot of distinction turns on the difference between "speech to" versus "speech about." Right now, I find myself aligned with people who think it makes sense to limit the former but not the latter.

Comments

[elusiveat.livejournal.com]

Ahhh. The "to" refers to the fact that you're speaking *to* somebody, not that you are speaking in order *to* do something.

Fairly certain I don't agree with the usefulness of this distinction, but thanks for clarifying : )

[drwex]

Right now I can't think of another way to distinguish generally hateful speech (which I may dislike but want to see protected) from verbal attacks, fighting words, bullying/harassment. An anti-abortion protester should have the right to hold up a sign with an aborted fetus and express the opinion "abortion is murder". But that same person should not be allowed to pick out a woman and scream "you are murdering your baby!" at that woman's face.

[drwex]

Right now I can't think of another way to distinguish generally hateful speech (which I may dislike but want to see protected) from verbal attacks, fighting words, bullying/harassment. An anti-abortion protester should have the right to hold up a sign with an aborted fetus and express the opinion "abortion is murder". But that same person should not be allowed to pick out a woman and scream "you are murdering your baby!" at that woman's face.