Comments on: Freedom of Speech? I Think Not! http://americancliche.net/2007/02/27/freedom-of-speech-i-think-not/ A weekly look at pop culture, bizarre and under-reported news, and political commentary Sun, 12 Oct 2008 06:03:14 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Anita http://americancliche.net/2007/02/27/freedom-of-speech-i-think-not/#comment-47666 Anita Wed, 07 Mar 2007 06:35:24 +0000 http://americancliche.net/2007/02/27/freedom-of-speech-i-think-not/#comment-47666 Hi Scott... thanks for the reply.. but I would never stand up for something unless I was certain that I would come out on top and in that case if I lost my job for speaking out about something that I believe in then so be it. I know too many people who hate their jobs not because of the work but due to the environment they are in. i was listening to your show today and i got the feeling that you have a burning issue that you are trying vent... as a girl thats what my girlfriends are for, generally we call it having a bitch :) you shouldnt feel bad for wanting to express an opinion... find a bartender!!! :) Hi Scott…

thanks for the reply.. but I would never stand up for something unless I was certain that I would come out on top and in that case if I lost my job for speaking out about something that I believe in then so be it. I know too many people who hate their jobs not because of the work but due to the environment they are in.

i was listening to your show today and i got the feeling that you have a burning issue that you are trying vent… as a girl thats what my girlfriends are for, generally we call it having a bitch :)
you shouldnt feel bad for wanting to express an opinion… find a bartender :)

]]> By: Adeo http://americancliche.net/2007/02/27/freedom-of-speech-i-think-not/#comment-47644 Adeo Tue, 06 Mar 2007 15:07:41 +0000 http://americancliche.net/2007/02/27/freedom-of-speech-i-think-not/#comment-47644 There are those who can get away with it, and those of us who can't. In the past I've expressed myself. I don't regret it, but I've gotten my ass kicked for it, by my boss. Anywhoo, do the communication thing and deal directly with the people who are pissing you off, if you can. There are those who can get away with it, and those of us who can’t. In the past I’ve expressed myself. I don’t regret it, but I’ve gotten my ass kicked for it, by my boss. Anywhoo, do the communication thing and deal directly with the people who are pissing you off, if you can.

]]> By: steelie http://americancliche.net/2007/02/27/freedom-of-speech-i-think-not/#comment-47545 steelie Mon, 05 Mar 2007 04:39:22 +0000 http://americancliche.net/2007/02/27/freedom-of-speech-i-think-not/#comment-47545 Hey Scott, I think it would ultimately depend on what you would want the final result of your venting/ranting to be... Is it more important that you really full-name-call-out specific people like in your “Dirtbag of the Week” segment (which I applaud you doing BTW) so other people can be disgusted and informed to react to that real and actual person in real life? Or would it be more important that you draw attention to a situation that’s affecting you and that you be able to vent about that situation for the sake of blowing off some steam? Is it more important that you pinpoint “Walt from accounting” as the jerk that never washes his hands at your work so anyone who hears your podcast and knows him, can confront and slap him? Or, is it more important (to You, I should specify) that you be able to vent about “that guy” with the hopes that he hears or reads and gets his shit together on his own? One situation is specific with immediate <i>potential</i> to set events (for better or worse) in motion and be hurtful to someone... the other situation is you getting something off your chest with the intent of merely venting, knowing that nothing may come of it... I realise that situations are not even that simple... you may work on a team of twenty people, eighteen of which are women, and you calling-out “a” guy from work gets “Walt” in trouble... I’m relatively new to blogging (just finished my first year at it) but I’ve read/heard/come to learn that if you don’t want something to come back and bite you in the ass — like the scorned-lover-video-sex-tape of which you often speak — best to “think twice about hitting send” and just not put it out there to begin with... I think your comment about the one-on-one face-to-face idea is the best. Let the other person know that there is an issue and give them the opportunity to address it privately themselves first. Hope that wasn’t too all over the place... late night. Love your show. -- steelie Hey Scott,

I think it would ultimately depend on what you would want the final result of your venting/ranting to be…

Is it more important that you really full-name-call-out specific people like in your “Dirtbag of the Week” segment (which I applaud you doing BTW) so other people can be disgusted and informed to react to that real and actual person in real life? Or would it be more important that you draw attention to a situation that’s affecting you and that you be able to vent about that situation for the sake of blowing off some steam? Is it more important that you pinpoint “Walt from accounting” as the jerk that never washes his hands at your work so anyone who hears your podcast and knows him, can confront and slap him? Or, is it more important (to You, I should specify) that you be able to vent about “that guy” with the hopes that he hears or reads and gets his shit together on his own?

One situation is specific with immediate potential to set events (for better or worse) in motion and be hurtful to someone… the other situation is you getting something off your chest with the intent of merely venting, knowing that nothing may come of it…

I realise that situations are not even that simple… you may work on a team of twenty people, eighteen of which are women, and you calling-out “a” guy from work gets “Walt” in trouble…

I’m relatively new to blogging (just finished my first year at it) but I’ve read/heard/come to learn that if you don’t want something to come back and bite you in the ass — like the scorned-lover-video-sex-tape of which you often speak — best to “think twice about hitting send” and just not put it out there to begin with…

I think your comment about the one-on-one face-to-face idea is the best. Let the other person know that there is an issue and give them the opportunity to address it privately themselves first.

Hope that wasn’t too all over the place… late night.
Love your show.—steelie

]]> By: Scott http://americancliche.net/2007/02/27/freedom-of-speech-i-think-not/#comment-47154 Scott Fri, 02 Mar 2007 06:36:11 +0000 http://americancliche.net/2007/02/27/freedom-of-speech-i-think-not/#comment-47154 Anita, While I admire the fact that you stand up for yourself, I think that having a "go screw" sort of attitude with everyone that dissagrees with you will eventually come back to bite you. How many times do you think you can get away with going over a boss's head before you're disciplined or fired? I don't think that people are scared that someone will judge them as much as they are worried that speaking your mind at every moment can screw with your financial future (in the case of a job) and your personal relationships. So again, I admire your courage, but I think your view may be a bit too black and white. -S Anita,

While I admire the fact that you stand up for yourself, I think that having a “go screw” sort of attitude with everyone that dissagrees with you will eventually come back to bite you. How many times do you think you can get away with going over a boss’s head before you’re disciplined or fired? I don’t think that people are scared that someone will judge them as much as they are worried that speaking your mind at every moment can screw with your financial future (in the case of a job) and your personal relationships.

So again, I admire your courage, but I think your view may be a bit too black and white.

-S

]]> By: Anita http://americancliche.net/2007/02/27/freedom-of-speech-i-think-not/#comment-47153 Anita Fri, 02 Mar 2007 06:08:55 +0000 http://americancliche.net/2007/02/27/freedom-of-speech-i-think-not/#comment-47153 hmm... I can happily say that I am the complete opposite... if I am pissed off, I can't help but let the person involved know about it. Last week my bank shut my account for no reason, they admitted the mistake and they would open it again 3-5 days... I told them that wasn't acceptable and after 30 minutes arguing with the branch manager and one of their little pleb workers I ended up leaving the bank $500 richer then when I entered. I had an issue at work with my boss, when I went and saw the general manager about her, I was the one given a promotion and a 30% pay increase. Work that out??? I say let people know you are pissed off. Too many people out there are scared that someone will judge them. It reminds me off the times at school where kids would do things for you so you would be their friend…nothing has changed. hmm… I can happily say that I am the complete opposite… if I am pissed off, I can’t help but let the person involved know about it. Last week my bank shut my account for no reason, they admitted the mistake and they would open it again 3-5 days… I told them that wasn’t acceptable and after 30 minutes arguing with the branch manager and one of their little pleb workers I ended up leaving the bank $500 richer then when I entered. I had an issue at work with my boss, when I went and saw the general manager about her, I was the one given a promotion and a 30% pay increase. Work that out??? I say let people know you are pissed off. Too many people out there are scared that someone will judge them. It reminds me off the times at school where kids would do things for you so you would be their friend…nothing has changed.

]]> By: Scott http://americancliche.net/2007/02/27/freedom-of-speech-i-think-not/#comment-47044 Scott Thu, 01 Mar 2007 15:41:52 +0000 http://americancliche.net/2007/02/27/freedom-of-speech-i-think-not/#comment-47044 Part of me wishes that when I posted something about someone that pissed me off that those people would read it. However, I struggle with idea then of why don't I just have a face to face conversation with the person? I think the best thing about blogs or podcasts and user generated media in general is that it helps you remember that other people deal with the same frustrations and problems that you do. One of my greatest wishes for any project I do is that someone listens to it or reads it and says "I know exactly what he means...I feel the same way!" If I succeed in that, then I am happy. -S Part of me wishes that when I posted something about someone that pissed me off that those people would read it. However, I struggle with idea then of why don’t I just have a face to face conversation with the person?

I think the best thing about blogs or podcasts and user generated media in general is that it helps you remember that other people deal with the same frustrations and problems that you do. One of my greatest wishes for any project I do is that someone listens to it or reads it and says “I know exactly what he means…I feel the same way!” If I succeed in that, then I am happy.

-S

]]> By: James Brown http://americancliche.net/2007/02/27/freedom-of-speech-i-think-not/#comment-46853 James Brown Wed, 28 Feb 2007 04:11:28 +0000 http://americancliche.net/2007/02/27/freedom-of-speech-i-think-not/#comment-46853 I know how you feel. There have been many times when something happened at work that just pissed me off to no end, but out of fear of retribution I chose not to blog about it. When I worked at a large online service I would often blog about things that happened at work only changing the names to protect the guilty. The main thing that stops me from blogging these days is the knowledge that no one bothers to read my blog. Once I have taken the time to write about whatever is on my mind it is out of my system so why post it? -JB I know how you feel. There have been many times when something happened at work that just pissed me off to no end, but out of fear of retribution I chose not to blog about it. When I worked at a large online service I would often blog about things that happened at work only changing the names to protect the guilty. The main thing that stops me from blogging these days is the knowledge that no one bothers to read my blog. Once I have taken the time to write about whatever is on my mind it is out of my system so why post it?

-JB

]]> By: Dan http://americancliche.net/2007/02/27/freedom-of-speech-i-think-not/#comment-46837 Dan Wed, 28 Feb 2007 02:41:06 +0000 http://americancliche.net/2007/02/27/freedom-of-speech-i-think-not/#comment-46837 hey scott, I don't have a podcast, or a blog. I am a college student in Wisconsin and was on iTunes tonight. I had never been on the Talk/Spoken Words stations. I clicked on your show, it looked intersting. I am currently listening to it, and enjoying it. Anyways, I was reading the blog you put up about being a "chicken-shit." Thinking about it, does it really get that restricting out there? I thought the technology age would bring an end to all of this. Being able to give your opinion. Then I thought, maybe I am thinking too independent because I am in college. Then I really thought about it, do I ever want to lose that? The freedom that I have right now. I think it comes down to being happy, if youre not happy, not being able to call people out and make your thoughts known. -Dan PS. I thought it was ironic that the football player w/ AIDS played for the Rough Riders. hey scott,
I don’t have a podcast, or a blog. I am a college student in Wisconsin and was on iTunes tonight. I had never been on the Talk/Spoken Words stations. I clicked on your show, it looked intersting. I am currently listening to it, and enjoying it.
Anyways, I was reading the blog you put up about being a “chicken-shit.” Thinking about it, does it really get that restricting out there? I thought the technology age would bring an end to all of this. Being able to give your opinion. Then I thought, maybe I am thinking too independent because I am in college. Then I really thought about it, do I ever want to lose that? The freedom that I have right now. I think it comes down to being happy, if youre not happy, not being able to call people out and make your thoughts known.

-Dan

PS. I thought it was ironic that the football player w/ AIDS played for the Rough Riders.

]]> By: Mark Howard http://americancliche.net/2007/02/27/freedom-of-speech-i-think-not/#comment-46831 Mark Howard Wed, 28 Feb 2007 01:45:35 +0000 http://americancliche.net/2007/02/27/freedom-of-speech-i-think-not/#comment-46831 Hi Scott I fall into the category of "Brain not in Gear prior to opening of facial aperture". ie, I leap before I look. A case in point is my professional life has been in the toilet since I made a comment in a reply to an email last year, and in a moment of rage, hit send. This action resulted in my losing my job, under the guise of "Business Restructuring", and hence, I have not worked in my chosen profession since. This has not put me off speaking my mind, but has made me think twice about hitting send afterward. Take care, and good luck with the Video show. Hi Scott
I fall into the category of “Brain not in Gear prior to opening of facial aperture”. ie, I leap before I look.
A case in point is my professional life has been in the toilet since I made a comment in a reply to an email last year, and in a moment of rage, hit send.
This action resulted in my losing my job, under the guise of “Business Restructuring”, and hence, I have not worked in my chosen profession since.
This has not put me off speaking my mind, but has made me think twice about hitting send afterward.
Take care, and good luck with the Video show.

]]> By: Kelly_K http://americancliche.net/2007/02/27/freedom-of-speech-i-think-not/#comment-46758 Kelly_K Tue, 27 Feb 2007 18:21:59 +0000 http://americancliche.net/2007/02/27/freedom-of-speech-i-think-not/#comment-46758 I know exactly what you are talking about and unfortunately fall into the chicken shit category, too. I usually feel that when it comes to the paycheck and the people that provide it, I become all talk and hot air. I completely understand your frustation - sometimes I am so cranked I feel that using the paper shredder at work is cathartic because I am destroying something. Pathetic. My husband, has his own blog, too, and must deal with this nonsense because he is a teacher and there is the possibility that one of his students, coworkers, or students' parents will read what he has bitched/blogged about. I know exactly what you are talking about and unfortunately fall into the chicken shit category, too. I usually feel that when it comes to the paycheck and the people that provide it, I become all talk and hot air. I completely understand your frustation – sometimes I am so cranked I feel that using the paper shredder at work is cathartic because I am destroying something. Pathetic. My husband, has his own blog, too, and must deal with this nonsense because he is a teacher and there is the possibility that one of his students, coworkers, or students’ parents will read what he has bitched/blogged about.

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