People call out 'First Amendment' WAY too often

[Arta]

People don't have the right to legal redress just because someone happened to offend them about something. Different people get offended by different things all the time. People shouldn't expect that they have the right to go through life never being offended by anything.

Trite example: I wear leather shoes. If a vegetarian sued me because my shoes offended them, would that be ok? Similarly, if someone was offended by me calling them a blithering idiot, should they have the right to redress? No. If I write a play that satirises someone's religion, should I be legally required to cease performances of the play? Or pay damages? No.

Obviously this isn't the same as wanting redress when someone makes a factually incorrect accusation: that's fine. I'm just talking about people who believe that they should never be offended by, anyone, ever, and/or expect government to get involved when they are. Those people need to shut up.

[Adron]

ok, let me try to figure that last bit out.

People don't have the right to not be offended means.... "People have the right to be offended"?

Try "People have the right to offend"?

[Topaz]

But it gets to be an issue when power and influence is involved. You can completely destroy, per say, a Senator's reputation and make it so that he cannot run again. Destroying his reputation should either have a consequence, or draw the line from how much you can really say. ( Editing free speech amendment in the best interests of the people )

[MyndFyre]

But it gets to be an issue when power and influence is involved. You can completely destroy, per say, a Senator's reputation and make it so that he cannot run again. Destroying his reputation should either have a consequence, or draw the line from how much you can really say. ( Editing free speech amendment in the best interests of the people )

But that steps on his livelihood.  We have laws against that.  But if I offended Senator Teddy Drink-em-down Kennedy, he'd have to get over it.

[Forged]

Destroying his reputation should either have a consequence, or draw the line from how much you can really say. ( Editing free speech amendment in the best interests of the people )

I belive libel and slander are both illegal.  However if the allegations are true it is neither.