Again, not true.  What if I view religion as poisonous and damaging to society so I go to churches to and try to convince people to become atheists.  People are still going to be offended, and depending on the society, the government not view my intentions as good and throw me in jail simply because I offended some people.

What I don't understand is this mentality that people deserve to be protected by the government from getting their feelings hurt, or hearing something they don't want to hear.

The unlimited and unregulated exchange of ideas, no matter how offensive you may find those ideas, is the only way to run a free society.

yes, but I do get what you're saying, freedom of speech is probably the most abused amendment, it gives people the right to say hurtful/controversial things and then hide behind the Constitution. the first amendment was created so the government would over-step its boundaries on citizen's right, and so that the citizens can have the right to concerning the governments/their countries activities.

but I wouldn't have anyone limiting freedom of speech; it goes to the saying "give him an inch, and he'll take a mile" giving the power to someone to limit the very fundamentals of our rights will lead to no good.if what you find to be offensive, you also have to right to speak up against it, go on youtube/blog/write to your local news organization, you have a right to be heard and that's what the the freedom of speech allows you to do.

If you think that religion is poisonous and damaging to society, a church would be the least appropriate place to express those views if you don't want to offend anyone and want to be taken seriously.

"What I don't understand is this mentality that people deserve to be protected by the government from getting their feelings hurt, or hearing something they don't want to hear."

Really? If some parents keep insulting their kids and hurt their feeling in several non-physical ways you don't think the government should step in because they never actually hit him/her? Mental harm is not only acquired through physical violence, which is why the kid deserve protection from physical- as well as non-physical abuse.

Yes of course we should be allowed to say what we like, especially these days when 'not being offended' seems to be seen as a right.
Some mods on this site seem to take offense too easily and ban people for the most trivial comments, which may seem a petty thing to bring up, but it's a gradual drip drip effect until everyone is careful what they say for fear of offending or being banned, and in some countries imprisoned or killed!
Well sorry, if my opinion offends then that's your problem and you should learn to give my opinion as much contempt as I do others I do not agree with, it's not a personal attack I just find some peoples opinions moronic and I shall tell them so.

Of course if you disagree with me 'you're an idiot', which of course will not offend anyone will it ;)


"I disagree strongly with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it."

François-Marie Arouet

Again, expressing ideas is not about NOT offending people.  Frankly I find your views on free speech a bit offensive as they put peoples' opinions about what they want to hear before the liberties of other people.  Still you are free to say them and I am free to scoff and tell you that you are wrong.

And I would say a church is precisely the place I would want to go if I was looking for theist that I wanted to debate.  I am sure I would be asked to leave at some point, at which point, I would.

First there is a huge difference between public speech that people find offensive and targeted individual verbal attacks on a child.  Total strawman argument.  There are such things are verbal battery.  That is not covered by free speech.

The difference is some hillbilly asshole can stand on the street corner shouting "send all the balcks back to Africa, they are ruining the country" and you can walk by, ignoring him.

If the same person goes up to a black child and starts verbally beraiting them, then that is an individual attack on a person.

One is acceptable and one is not.  I hope you can see the difference.