Thoughtful Thursdays for 3/8/12
The topic for today's Thoughtful Thursday has been buzzing around in my head for several days now. Not only has this topic been in the news a great deal lately but I have also noticed people commenting on facebook about inappropriate speech and behavior. After throwing several ideas around I came up with this as my topic for today.
I am a very firm believer of the Freedom of Speech. Without this, I wouldn't be here blogging. I wouldn't be able to read some really awesome books. I would never have had the opportunity to hear others thoughts, opinions and dreams via the internet, television and radio. I do believe that Freedom of Speech is a good thing.
On the other hand, many forget about their responsibility when speaking and writing. Responsibility? I don't remember reading or hearing about responsibility when claiming freedom of speech. What responsibility does one have?
People often forget that words can be extremely powerful weapons. Words can destroy a reputation, build a rumor, fuel a lie, sway ideas and more. Those individuals who have the ability to broadcast their opinions to the public at large through radio, television or print should put a great deal of thought into the actual words they decide to use in their works. After the word is said, it cannot, no matter how much you try, be taken back. No amount of apologizing can rectify the fact that someone used poor judgement, poor word choice and allowed many to hear it.
I am not saying that they should not be allowed to speak their mind, voice their opinion or bare their souls if they should chose. As I said, I am all for freedom of speech and believe all have the right to speak their mind. But I believe it is time for some to recover from diarrhea of the mouth (which is the disease when one does not know when to be quiet, continues to allow words to flow out of their mouths without much thought into what they are actually saying because they just want to prove their point).
It is time for people to stop for a moment, assess the situation they are in and decide if that profanity should fly out of their mouth. Just for the record- yes the occasional swear word does pass my lips. However I do not chose to greet my friends by cussing at them, I don't casually throw around swear words around others I do not know or around kids. I find people who chose to use these words at every moment possible to be showing their ignorance. They might as well wear a big letter on their foreheads. We are not amused, awed, or scared of your brilliant usage of the language.
So what do you think? Am I wrong in my thinking? Should everyone be allowed to say whatever they want, whenever they want? What do you think this might as about us as a society? What are your thoughts? I promise- all responses will be allowed- because I am all for freedom of speech.
Thanks for visiting me here on the hill. Leave me a comment and let me know you stopped by. I hope you stop back again soon.
The topic for today's Thoughtful Thursday has been buzzing around in my head for several days now. Not only has this topic been in the news a great deal lately but I have also noticed people commenting on facebook about inappropriate speech and behavior. After throwing several ideas around I came up with this as my topic for today.
I am a very firm believer of the Freedom of Speech. Without this, I wouldn't be here blogging. I wouldn't be able to read some really awesome books. I would never have had the opportunity to hear others thoughts, opinions and dreams via the internet, television and radio. I do believe that Freedom of Speech is a good thing.
On the other hand, many forget about their responsibility when speaking and writing. Responsibility? I don't remember reading or hearing about responsibility when claiming freedom of speech. What responsibility does one have?
People often forget that words can be extremely powerful weapons. Words can destroy a reputation, build a rumor, fuel a lie, sway ideas and more. Those individuals who have the ability to broadcast their opinions to the public at large through radio, television or print should put a great deal of thought into the actual words they decide to use in their works. After the word is said, it cannot, no matter how much you try, be taken back. No amount of apologizing can rectify the fact that someone used poor judgement, poor word choice and allowed many to hear it.
I am not saying that they should not be allowed to speak their mind, voice their opinion or bare their souls if they should chose. As I said, I am all for freedom of speech and believe all have the right to speak their mind. But I believe it is time for some to recover from diarrhea of the mouth (which is the disease when one does not know when to be quiet, continues to allow words to flow out of their mouths without much thought into what they are actually saying because they just want to prove their point).
It is time for people to stop for a moment, assess the situation they are in and decide if that profanity should fly out of their mouth. Just for the record- yes the occasional swear word does pass my lips. However I do not chose to greet my friends by cussing at them, I don't casually throw around swear words around others I do not know or around kids. I find people who chose to use these words at every moment possible to be showing their ignorance. They might as well wear a big letter on their foreheads. We are not amused, awed, or scared of your brilliant usage of the language.
So what do you think? Am I wrong in my thinking? Should everyone be allowed to say whatever they want, whenever they want? What do you think this might as about us as a society? What are your thoughts? I promise- all responses will be allowed- because I am all for freedom of speech.
Thanks for visiting me here on the hill. Leave me a comment and let me know you stopped by. I hope you stop back again soon.
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