YOU ASK YOURSELF/TOPIC FREE SPEECH :
Posted by A NON FARMER, Monday, 25 May 2009 3:14:50 PM:
“I am simply trying to apply that pressure here in the absence of any care being displayed by the traditional media.
In the course of that I might choose to spit the dummy; or in the eyes of some, appear to do so.
I might not get the message across to some for some reason or other. (Did I suggest that might not be entirely my fault?)

ANOTHER THREAD OF YOURS/WANTING FREE SPEECH WITHDRAWN:
Posted by A NON FARMER, Wednesday, 20 May 2009 8:22:49 PM
This, all of course, is intellectual stuff, no doubt.
Why then, has not the great moderator in the sky shoved you in the corner?
If we cannot soar with the eagles; then why should we be grounded with such turkeys?
If the thread cannot progress without some timely intervention from the 'umpire' then why would anyone bother much any more?

YOU REJECT RESPONSES:
Posted by A NON FARMER, Friday, 22 May 2009 10:20:10 PM
Forgive me Bucko -
A beautiful conventional response, your's.
But why the Dickens would I be bothering anyone here if your straight arrow ideas worked.
I've been there and tried all that crap.

Posted by A NON FARMER, Sunday, 24 May 2009 9:44:31 PM
“Should I start a new thread, ‘nutter’s corner’ just for those few? If my poor efforts are so utterly featherbrained then may I refer the replies of the utter crackpots to “Nutter’s Corner” and leave the rest of the show to the intellectually advantaged?”
YES YOU SHOULD HAVE AND STAYED THERE.

What a strange approach that N-F has deployed in attempting to strike up an intelligent conversation with strangers about his/her pet peeve/s - a bit like those strange characters who occasionally blow in to your local pub muttering away about something, then abusing the locals because they aren't treated with the gravitas and respect they think should be forthcoming.

We know what happens to those types, don't we? They're always free to rant, abuse and bluster, but they usually end up doing so at themselves - outside.

Unless of course they learn some manners and pull their heads in, in which case they are invariably welcomed, at least by those they haven't managed to antagonise personally already.

It seems that ‘Pelican’ doesn’t understand one of the first traditions of democracy.
Perhaps fishin’ is more fun than engaging the brain.
Oh why not say it – this is the first pelican I’ve met that writes?

Such profound logic for the wise feathery one to say –
“We have freedom of speech but we also have the freedom not to speak.
I generally don't enter topics where I have nothing to offer or I don't understand the purpose or intent of the topic.”

But stop –
Here is perhaps an example of another of my precipitate responses.
I’ve reacted to only one inference that could be drawn from Pelican’s note.
I may have misinterpreted what was meant – but I don’t really thee-eenk so.

What did Pelican mean – freedom NOT to speak?
Here’s a person speaking here, clearly not actually some pelican – whilst simultaneously declaiming about not speaking.
Is Pelican an Egyptian God warning me off or just a sort of verbose Stoic, then?

Sounds like Sesame Street’s ‘Sam the American Eagle’ to me. (Hey Pelican, boyo; are you naked under your feathers?)

Pelican’s next line in that brief soiree actually opens many questions.
Vast resources (included human lives) have allegedly been expended maintaining democracy.
Part of that is free speech under the UNHCR.

So in a way Pelican is undoubtedly free to speak about not wanting to speak despite maybe having absolutely no handle on such a basal right within human rights as that of FREEDOM of SPEECH.

So acerbically speaking I can’t get a draught on much of anything here.
Please believe me when I say that I’m not angry.
I simply cannot find much of any decency or intellectual challenge here.
Even non committal statements hold barbs here.

Only thing I can’t work out-
Who pays you squeezers?
KRuddles – his Oppo, or the Bankstown Rissole – or all three?

Wise old Indian saying – “No-one can soar with the Eagles when they’re stuck on the ground with the Turkeys”.

There is another wise old Indian saying:

"Turkey who think he is Eagle run round in small circle with beak wedged up wozzer".

non farmer cant you see your doing it again?
why do you persist in being a fisure of men?

you go reacting to pelican for replying to you[clicking on his tag reveals he does plenty of posting[thus his comment should be valued when he replies he has nothing to say

but not content you make some mad ravings[then seemingly having vented come up that somehow we are govt paid stooges[and likely a few of us are,..but if so[so what]it gives weight to what they post

speaking for myself i get a pension[thus could be said being paid to post[but know im a free agent as to what i chose to post about[and am only replying to you now because your topic is the only new post in my in-box]and framing a reply for me is simply an activity i chose to do

now im chosing to end the post[allowing you to do as you chose]

Dear Non Farmer,

I'm getting a sneaking suspicion that you enjoy
a bit of a stir.

Look at all the posts that you've received with
your current thread.

The more you provoke people the more they react -
good tactic. (If all you're interested in is
getting people to respond) - however if you want
a genuine discussion on any topic - you have
to be a bit more tolerant, and actually encourage
a variety of opinions, even if they're not ones
you agree with. You also have to be clear on what
your topic is - and what you'd like discussed.
Opaque references leave the door open for discussions
going off track.

I like your consistant referrals to turkeys and eagles.
But it's wise to remember that you can't expect the
same from a sparrow - as you can from an eagle.
And if you insist on behaving like a sparrow, as
you've been doing to date, - you've
only yourself to blame as to how people react to you.

Your attack on Pelican, one of our most valued Forum
contributors was seriously out of line.
You owe the lady an apology.

Now to get back to your topic - Freedom of Speech.
I've always understood Freedom of Speech to be the
right to speak out publicly or privately. The term
covers all forms of expression, including books,
magazines, radio, television, and films.
Most scholars consider freedom of speech a
natural right.

People should be
free to critize the laws of their community and the
policies of their government. A government is less
likely to impose unjust laws on people who can openly
criticize its decisions. Without freedom of speech,
people can't have complete political freedom.

In a democracy, freedom of speech is a necessity.
Democratic constitutions guarantee people the
right to express their opinions freely because
democracy is government of, by, and for the people.
The people need information to help them determine
the best political and social policies. The
governments need to know what most people - and
various minorities - believe and want.