[OWK]

We seem to be having a discussion of unadulterated, unmitigated, unalloyed free speech, the pure uncut stuff. It was always my impression that free speech did not include the right to shout FIRE in a crowded building nor the right to shout down the opposition. I am genuinely curious as to your thoughts on this view.

My philosophy prohibits the initiation of force or fraud.

Shouting fire in a crowded theatre would not only be morally legitimate, but in fact appropriate if the theatre were on fire.

But if the theatre were not on fire, it would be fraudulent speech, which would be morally subject to restraining or punative force.

[aloysius89]

if fraudulent speech would be "subject to restraining or punitive force", would not equally fraudulent speech such as the shouting of slogans at a speech or the spamming or flaming of internet communication in order to prevent the exercise of free speech (i.e. communication of ideas) be equally subject to some restriction, regulation, or at least moral approbation?

[Dane]

My philosophy prohibits the initiation of force or fraud

Huh you were pretty fraudulant with your accusations earlier on this thread that LF had become a neo-nazi sanctuary, because of Jim Robinson, IMO.

JMO, but you OWK as a human with human frailties shouldn't try to play God.

But what the hey, that's the OWK everyone has learned to know and expect.

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

It's possible to consider the door of a mens' room stall a "publication"--but aside from such as that, publications which attract an audience are edited for the taste of that audience. The owners of the publications see to that, and have a right to do so.

A libertarian has no objection to property rights, and so has no logical objection to any particular publication's ownership editing the publication--even if that publication's ownership is libertarian.

FR is a moderated forum; its ownership has a right to moderate it. Its moderation is what defines its character, and its character defines, late or soon, its audience. IMHO any unmoderated forum is an open invitation to a de facto denial of service attack, in which the perspective of the forum is drowned out by noise expressing other perspectives without limit.

I see no constructive point to any such forum, over any length of time.