People take free speech for granted in the west.

[Amandistan]

So I often hear people in the west complain about free speech yet they don't have internet sites blocked, speaking out against the government won't get you thrown in prison. FB, twitter, Youtube, google etc are not taken down because politicians suspect someone is speaking badly of them.

Well, In Turkey this happens. In the mid-east this happens.
Next time you speak negatively about your government, go to a demonstration and read some of your favorite webpages, please remember this.

I love Turkey but not this. I love the government too by the way. I wold never say a negative word against the wonderful leader.

[Master Ray]

Agreed, A.  Hope you're doing OK in Turkey. 

[Pol]

I guess we do take our democracy and freedoms for granted and sometimes forget how lucky we are

[Amandistan]

Yes, I am okay. They shut off youtube for some reason. I have no idea why the gov feels youtube hurts anything.

[Pol]

No youtube = No indoorsmokers , sorry I'm probably the only subscriber on here

[Bunny]

There is and never has been, any such thing as free speech, in any country. Only that which any government deems acceptable. Its a fact of life.

[szmurf]

There is and never has been, any such thing as free speech, in any country. Only that which any government deems acceptable. Its a fact of life.

Oh please.  It's not the government that filters the news in the US, it's the owners of the TV stations and newspapers.  You can find any crazy idea you believe on the internet, as well as any number of sick and disgusting perversions that you crave.  OK - If you're a fan of sadistic murders and child pornography, then maybe the government does come into stop that being aired.  If you want to call that censorship, then whatever.

Pretty sure the UK, France, Germany, and any number of other countries are the same.

[Pol]

Of course the government are right to censor certain things and stop certain things being said and also issue age restrictions on films etc . I think that we have just about got the balance right here in the UK

[Bunny]

There is and never has been, any such thing as free speech, in any country. Only that which any government deems acceptable. Its a fact of life.

Oh please.  It's not the government that filters the news in the US, it's the owners of the TV stations and newspapers.  You can find any crazy idea you believe on the internet, as well as any number of sick and disgusting perversions that you crave.  OK - If you're a fan of sadistic murders and child pornography, then maybe the government does come into stop that being aired.  If you want to call that censorship, then whatever.

Pretty sure the UK, France, Germany, and any number of other countries are the same.

No. But its Government that makes laws that decree what is or what isnt acceptable. For example, I think it wasTony Blair's Government, that passed the agenda for hate crimes. Quite correct that any poison should be clamped down on but for example if I was having banter with someone of a different skin colour or religion as a friend, ans someone else not involved said it was offensive, even if me and said friend took it for what it was, then it is a crime. Equally Freedom of Information act, regularily used by newspapers, can still be blocked and delayed by authorities. So no. Newspapers have some part in it, but the state also governs them. Im not a huge conspiracy theorist or convinced that all information needs to be out there, but rules are ultimately made by those that Govern. They only change when there is demand to change them.

[Amandistan]

This is all true but people in Turkey have been arrested for speaking their mind about the current state.

[Bunny]

I suppose, A, that its levels of acceptability. I think Turkey has a poor record on Human Rights and thats part of the reason theyve never been allowed in the EU.

[Amandistan]

I agree. Especially the way the kurds are viewed. Not very nice or tolerant.