Great article explaining the history of the phrase, the case and why it's incorrectly cited.

At the risk of sounding trite, I love how short this article is. These type of arguments often times get lost on censorship advocates because it just takes too long to explain to them that they are censorship advocates in the first place. I feel like this is short enough (but still makes the case) that I can actually share it with some unwittingly authoritarian friends.

@siggy47 the other day I was having lunch with a friend who is working on his doctorate. He's a young guy and left of me politically but very open minded and sharp. It occurred to me that he may not realize how progressive the US was running up to WW1 & WW2. There are many educated people that have a very short view of US politics. Woodrow Wilson was a hard Progressive Christian Nationalist. We aren't really taught this in history class but Wilson and FDR were big time progressives and they were very popular.

Do you find this to be true in your circles? This ignorance of the progressive era?

Its such a bad argument in regards to free speech. The first amendment does not protect your rights on my property... Its directed at the government not private property owners.

This was one of many falsehoods I was taught in school about the Constitution and the history. I used to rant and complain about the Constitution but the truth is no one cares. They just want to win their arguments and get their way. Its good and fine to understand what the document says and how that applies, don't get me wrong. I'm all for it.

The people who really latch on to shutting people up do not care about the logically flaws in their arguments. They just want their way. I think conservatives are starting to get this and its one of many reasons why there is more conflict around political discourse today. Trump demonstrated another way to approach things and many have copied him. But if he had not come along, someone else would have done it. He wasn't the first and he won't be the last.

What always kills me about the left wanting to give the state more power is that they haven't won yet. Every time they think they might lose they try to freak us out about how dangerous it would be for the other guy to win. So we need to stop him. Yet every 4 years the position has more power. Libertarians get it but it seems they are the few that do.

I have heard of this story before. I think it was also when they were talking about free speech in school, if l recall correctly.

The whole “shouting fire in a crowded theater” argument is as bogus as the day is long. If people shout fire, there is either a fire or not. This leaves it to you to discern the truth of the matter for yourself. Of course, you may be surrounded by a mob of herd creatures that have no minds of their own that may panic because that is how they were indoctrinated. However, I don’t think anyone here falls into that category! Can you prove me wrong?

Is this an extension of maritime law?

Update: Today a black or Hispanic person can get away with arson by playing the race card

This theatre has covid!

Airplane: terrorist on board! Muslims are sitting in aisle seats!

Threat to democracy is another example of false panic. To quote Torrance from bring it on, we are a cheerocracy!

I shouted fire on X/twitter