What If There Was A Law Which Could Silence Anyone The Government Didn't Like?

[Hypognosis]

I'm referring to this as the STFU law, for short.

http://bit.ly/1wuROVu

Do you ever express views which are slightly un-PC?
Are you religious and getting shouted down because your religion insists on things which are now un-PC?
Do you ever express anti-establishment views?
Do you think the government should have the power to silence anyone they want?

Mysteriously, this thread:-
http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/News/Question1368891.html#answer-9365679
...no longer appears on "Latest Posts", when I post to it, which I did, just now and it's quiet at the moment.

[Milvus]

In some countries they do, not so much in the West. What's your point?

[Hypognosis]

The article I linked to is quite a long piece. I can only assume you didn't read it?

[kvalidir]

I think if a thread is over a month old (I think- some short time anyway) and you post to it then it doesn't show up in latests posts.

[kvalidir]

With regard to the purpose of your post, yes I agree a horrible and terrifying prospect, an one which must be opposed as vociferously as possible.

[Milvus]

The thread is still there and readable, not too many posts lately and I read it. A bit dull. What do you think is the problem.

[Hypognosis]

@Milvus

You think threats to freedom of speech are "a bit dull"???


@Kval
"I think if a thread is over a month old (I think- some short time anyway) and you post to it then it doesn't show up in latests posts. "

Oh, I wasn't aware of that. (I've only been on this forum for 5 years. lol!) Thanks.

[Milvus]

I don't think threats to freedom of speech are a bit dull, but the posts in that thread were. If you believe in freedom of speech, why do you post under a pseudonym and not your real name?

[Hypognosis]

You use a pseudonym. You should be asking that question of yourself ;-)

Most of the other forum users post under pseudonyms. Don't forget to ask them, too.

Rather than have the nagging feeling of other people knowing things about me -and- my name, whilst I know next to nothing about them other than their pseudonym, it seemed stupid to register an account under my real name. So I didn't.

I happen to like forums where pseudonyms are used. People speak more freely and frankly because they know there are no comebacks, whether that be from other forum users, or their close friends, family, current or future employer and so on.

This, at least partially, anwers my question for me: among our real-world peers and in the workplace we are not 100% free to speak our minds without there being undersirable consequences.

I agree that it is all slightly cowardly but I want to know what other people THINK about all sorts of things - I do not want them to get fired for saying it.

[Milvus]

My name is available on these forums if you want to track it. I don't have a problem with people using pseudonyms in the main. But you can't have uni-directional free speech. Stand up for what you say in your own name. But where do you draw the line? Terrorism. paedophilia? Should you be able to say anything you want?

[The_Necromancer]

Laws change in line with fickle public opinion. But you can be sure the establishment will always cling on to a few antiquated and draconian laws to bail them out of hot water.

[The_Necromancer]

Freedom of speech and expression carry with them the responsibility not to say or do certain things, merely because you may legally do so.

[Gromit]

The post is not appearing because the question was aked over 1 month ago.

After 1 month the questions are archived but not displayed. As it is only 300 questions are there.

[anotheoldgit]

There are already some on AnswerBank who would wish to silence others, also initiate a ban on certain newspapers, along with certain subject matter.

[ichkeria]

Theresa May touting for the Tory leadership, and some bloke mouthing off in reply.
The web's full of it. It's called free speech :-)

[Svejk]

If Leveson is implemented, free speech will be a distant memory.

[Old_Geezer]

I don't think freedom of speech is the same as obligation to divulge all about you. May not be in one's interest to do so.

[Gromit]

// some on AnswerBank who ...also initiate a ban on certain newspapers //

And how exactly is such a mythical ban implemented?

[Hypognosis]

@milvus

>>My name is available on these forums if you want to track it.

[Hypognosis]

^^ just lost several paragraphs, because the (*&^ing forum software doesn't like double greater-than symbols.

----My name is available on these forums if you want to track it. ---

Technically, how is that possible? (For anyone who isn't a moderator, for instance)?

If you're talking about trawling through all your posts, looking for 'clues' isn't that classic 'stalker' behaviour? Which is illegal.