Ann Coulter cries that Canada is bullying her

[Flubber]

Ann Coulter??

My view is she whipped this up into being more than it was so that she would make the news and seem all important or controversial or something. Not speaking could cause more of a stir.

So the university likely served as an unwitting dupe in her ploy to make the news. I doubt that she planned this from the outset but once they had a warning from the university and enough protesters to make it plausible, it was a golden opportunity. She can play the aggreived free speech advocate and make the news for a few days, "establishing" that she is an important voice for the American right etc etc.

[Drake Tungsten]

She can play the aggreived free speech advocate and make the news for a few days, "establishing" that she is an important voice for the American right etc etc.

Yep. Smooth move, you dumb ****ing Canucks.

[MrFun]

Exactly. Hence, keep the ability to be able to state even distasteful opinions (at that time) and therefore you don't have to frantically change the law every X amount of years to determine what can be said.

QFT

[Asher]

Strawman. Yelling fire in a theater would result in injuries and/or death.

No, MrFun, it was not a strawman. You said:

I think anyone should be free to say anything, regardless of other people's opinion on whether or not it is contributing anything positive.

You didn't have any clause for exceptions. You used a universal qualifier.

The exceptions are the point. Every country has them, like yours.

So now you think when injuries and/or death may result from the speech, it's okay to ban it. But what's interesting is that is PRECISELY what the Canadian law says -- it's illegal to incite others to hatred where it is "likely that a disturbance in the peace" would result.

I don't think you bothered to read the law in question, because it sounds like you very much support it.

[Asher]

But someone did yell fire in a crowded theatre

Holy **** are you ever confused.

Someone did pull the fire alarm -- this is a crime, period. This is not a topic of discussion.

and Ann was libeled by that "warning letter" from the University.

Utterly false. Completely. So much that I don't even need to say anything other than:
1) The letter was sent in private ONLY TO HER
2) The letter merely INFORMED HER -- A FOREIGNER IN OUR COUNTRY -- of the laws of our country pertaining to public speaking

You have firmly cemented yourself near the cellar of this forum with this argument you keep trotting out. It's embarrassing.

[Ecofarm]

How can you uphold the argument of "the students were merely exercising their free speech" when someone, quite literally, yelled fire in a crowded theatre?

It's hysterical.

And you told someone to stop posting. Do I need to get the Monty clip?

[Asher]

This is only true if the University made their warning public. If it was personal communication, it can't be libel or hate speech.

I don't know the circumstances of this "warning letter" becoming public. But if it was released by Coulter's camp to show how she was being repressed (a definite posibility), the Uni is in the clear.

It was leaked by Coulter's camp, and selectively leaked to right-wing news organizations/blogs only. It was after those right-wing sources publicized it that the mainstream media, and the students, picked up on it.

Even aside from that, the letter is included in the thread. There is NO WAY that is Libel.

On the other hand, Coulter and her camp have intentionally lying to try to make the university look bad. Coulter kept insisting the police had to shut down the speech, when it was her own people that shut it down -- the police merely suggested moving it to a larger venue prior to it starting. If anything, her camp could be in trouble for knowingly spreading falsehood to defame the reputation of the university. (Not that this will happen, either)

[Asher]

How can you uphold the argument of "the students were merely exercising their free speech" when someone, quite literally, yelled fire in a crowded theatre?

It's hysterical.

Not sure what you don't get here. It's pretty simple.

The student (presumably) who pulled the fire alarm broke the law. He did not suppress freedom of speech in any way, because it was pulled before the speech took place and it only delayed things by a few minutes (The few people inside -- and look at the footage, there were NOT a lot and it was NOT crowded...the crowds were outside -- the few people inside simply left, then went back in when it was obvious there was no fire a few minutes later).

The 99.9% of the students outside protesting were not breaking the law, and they were exercising free speech.

The only thing hysterical here are your drama queen antics and your stupidity.

SIDENOTE PRO-TIP: No one "literally" screamed fire in a crowded theatre, somebody pulled the fire alarm in a theatre that seats 400 with a couple dozen people in it. Figure out what "literally" means.

[Ecofarm]

OK, they quite literally yelled fire in a not-so-crowded theatre, so it's just free speech?

The 99.9% of the students outside protesting were not breaking the law, and they were exercising free speech.

Should I check your teabagger posts?

[Asher]

OK, they quite literally yelled fire in a not-so-crowded theatre, so it's just free speech?

They quite literally pulled the fire alarm. They did not yell fire. You clearly do not know what literally means.

Should I check your teabagger posts?

Have no idea what you're talking about. Suspect you have know idea what you're talking about, either, as this is a recurring theme.

[Ecofarm]

They quite literally murmured fire in a sparse but not empty theatre.

Ok?

[Asher]

If you are going to troll, at least be humourous. Tedious trolls are the worst kind.

[Ecofarm]

It's not trolling. I'm making fun of you. There's a difference. Earlier might have been trolling some, but you've said ridiculous crap during the ****storm. That crap is still funny.

[Asher]

I've said nothing ridiculous. 99% of the **** you say is ridiculous.

It's either stupidity or you trolling, and if "making fun of me" involves making an ass out yourself, you're doing it wrong.

[notyoueither]

Strawman. Yelling fire in a theater would result in injuries and/or death.

So does inciting hatred.