Making a law against yelling fire in a crowded theater substitutes government restrictions for common sense. there is no harm in yelling fire, unless those that are listening refuse to think for themselves... do i see flames, do i smell smoke, do i feel heat, do i hear the roar...
it prevents debate on whether the one who yells is a complete idiot and liar... but gives the government an excuse to cull the very speech that may save people from a totalitarian regime.
“gives the government an excuse to cull the very speech that may save people from a totalitarian regime.”
Also might chill the kind of speech that would save people if an actual fire broke out in a crowded theater.
Can you yell “Theater” in a crowded fire?
Well there really aren’t laws against yelling fire in a crowded theater. The laws are about making false claims that cause harm. Penn and Teller had a routine about it, Penn is juggling torches and then has “the worst accident you can possibly have” catches it by the lit end, drop that and the other 2 and starts yelling fire over and over while walking slowly off stage to grab an extinguisher walk back and put them out. As he says “showing his commitment to the 1st amendment by yelling fire in a crowded theater”. Of course the audience knows what’s happening, nobody freaks out, no harm happens.
Falsely yell fire in a theater and there’s a rush to the exits and somebody gets hurt, THEN you’re in trouble.