Kill, Hurt, Main

Bo_SelectaBo_Selecta Join Date: 2002-11-19 Member: 9374Members, Constellation
in Discussions
<div class="IPBDescription">no, not really</div> I'm curious, could someone please answer this question for me?
I just -tried- to respond to a news article which said a girl in America had a visit from the Secret Service because she said she said she wouldn't care if the president died tomorrow.
So.. naturally, my response was "kill kill kill the president!!!11 are you going to arrest me now? omg the world has gone insane <!--emo&:(--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/sad-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->"
my message got deleted. okay, that remark my have been ... trollish of you look at it the wrong way.
next post: "is it illegal to post the words 'kill the president' on the internet? serious question :/"
..
and it gets deleted...
so, my question is: IS it illegal (in the US)? serious question :/
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Comments

  • ElectricSheepElectricSheep Join Date: 2003-04-21 Member: 15716Members
    edited October 2004
    No, but whatever news site you posted it on might not like it.
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  • Bo_SelectaBo_Selecta Join Date: 2002-11-19 Member: 9374Members, Constellation
    Ah ok, just wondering =D
    (It was a bit odd though, the 'news' site I was trying to post to is used to seeing a lot more action then what -I- posted, so I was getting kind of curious.)
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  • CrystalSnakeCrystalSnake Join Date: 2002-01-27 Member: 110Members
    Is it illegal to say "I hope Bush loses the next election"?
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  • reasareasa Join Date: 2002-11-10 Member: 8010Members, Constellation
    With the tensions around this race common sense should tell you that now would not be a good time to start saying things like that in any type of public place, online or off.
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  • Bo_SelectaBo_Selecta Join Date: 2002-11-19 Member: 9374Members, Constellation
    edited October 2004
    So.. thoughtcrimes ARE Double Plus Ungood in the US.. sorry.
    (actually, I'm neither 'left' or 'right 'wing, so I don't know what to think of this...)
    It's just that maybe I'm a bit naive and actually trusted the 'truth" propaghanda I've been hearing all my life... obviously, nobody is interested in the truth (including Europe)
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  • SkulkBaitSkulkBait Join Date: 2003-02-11 Member: 13423Members
    In the US it is technically illegal to threaten to kill somebody, threatening to kill the president is treason (I think). However, hoping with all your soul that the president meet an untimely end is perfectly legal, and expressing this in a public place is also legal.

    <!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> With the tensions around this race common sense should tell you that now would not be a good time to start saying things like that in any type of public place, online or off.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Why? Does the first amendment go out the window at the first sign of trouble these days? What has my country become...
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  • reasareasa Join Date: 2002-11-10 Member: 8010Members, Constellation
    <!--QuoteBegin-SkulkBait+Oct 30 2004, 03:26 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (SkulkBait @ Oct 30 2004, 03:26 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Why? Does the first amendment go out the window at the first sign of trouble these days? What has my country become... <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    So you think it's a good idea to go around posting/saying "kill kill kill the president"?

    That seems like crossing the line between the 1st amendment and stupidity.
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  • SkulkBaitSkulkBait Join Date: 2003-02-11 Member: 13423Members
    edited October 2004
    <!--QuoteBegin-reasa+Oct 30 2004, 03:41 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (reasa @ Oct 30 2004, 03:41 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> <!--QuoteBegin-SkulkBait+Oct 30 2004, 03:26 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (SkulkBait @ Oct 30 2004, 03:26 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Why? Does the first amendment go out the window at the first sign of trouble these days? What has my country become... <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    So you think it's a good idea to go around posting/saying "kill kill kill the president"?

    That seems like crossing the line between the 1st amendment and stupidity. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    No, I thought you were refering to the original statement "I wouldn't care if the president were to die tomarrow"

    Oh yeah, Bo Selecta, its MAIM, not MAIN, ok?
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  • The_FinchThe_Finch Join Date: 2002-11-13 Member: 8498Members
    There's a difference between saying you don't care if the president dies and threatening to kill him. Threatening people isn't protected speech and threatening the president is a federal offense, but I don't think that it's classified as treason.

    I don't think that most anti-Bush people want him die, just lose his job.
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  • ForlornForlorn Join Date: 2002-11-01 Member: 2634Banned
    You are a certified nut job when you wish for a leader who was peacable elected into power to get murdered. I would never do such a thing no matter how much I disagree, have some respect and stop being a fool.

    On the other hand, wishing for a dictator who gets into power by force and starvation techniques, I would ask for them to die.
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  • EpidemicEpidemic Dark Force Gorge Join Date: 2003-06-29 Member: 17781Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-reasa+Oct 30 2004, 06:34 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (reasa @ Oct 30 2004, 06:34 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> With the tensions around this race common sense should tell you that now would not be a good time to start saying things like that in any type of public place, online or off. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    So you are basically getting state-censored, gg.
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  • mirrodinmirrodin Join Date: 2004-06-29 Member: 29621Members
    As long as you don't threaten someone you have the RIGHT to say your mind. Honestly, the president is just some senator who you guys voted for more than the other guys.

    I love laughing at you Americans, you VOTED Bush into power. hahahahaha (etc)
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  • CronosCronos Join Date: 2002-10-18 Member: 1542Members
    Well, since the US has something like a, what? 10? 20? Percent voting rate, it's far far far more likely that most people sat on their **** and watched in utter horror as OTHERS voted Bush in.

    Phegh. Anyway, back on topic.

    The secret service were right to investigate whether the "ZOMGZ KILL TEH BUSHZOR" exclamation was truth or random frustration. It's their job to protect their nation and their head of state and I see no problem with them doing their job.

    As for the newspaper censorship thingy, it is their site after all.
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  • UltimaGeckoUltimaGecko hates endnotes Join Date: 2003-05-14 Member: 16320Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-Cronos+Oct 31 2004, 02:38 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Cronos @ Oct 31 2004, 02:38 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Well, since the US has something like a, what? 10? 20? Percent voting rate, it's far far far more likely that most people sat on their **** and watched in utter horror as OTHERS voted Bush in.

    Phegh. Anyway, back on topic.

    The secret service were right to investigate whether the "ZOMGZ KILL TEH BUSHZOR" exclamation was truth or random frustration. It's their job to protect their nation and their head of state and I see no problem with them doing their job.

    As for the newspaper censorship thingy, it is their site after all. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    48% voter turn out in 2000, last I heard. Besides, Bush lost the popular vote and won the electoral vote (...barring that Florida debacle...).

    Along with the fact the president doesn't need to be a senator...wherever you got that idea, mirrodin.


    Protected speech should have been covered in your 6th grade social studies, or 10th grade civics class. So, you should know (as the basics):

    1. You cannot use free speech as an argument to produce libel (writing false information about someone in order to injure their reputation (some magazines do this about celebrities, but they don't usually care)) and slander (same as libel, just in spoken word).

    2. Private property (and essentially forums) are allowed to enforce speech limitations as they see fit - it's there stuff and you came there of your own free will. If someone asks you to leave their property you better do it. Although, feel free to run out onto the street and yell obscenities at their house - as long as you're not disturbing the peace).

    3. You cannot use free speech with the intent to deliberately cause harm to others; the often used "Shouting FIRE! in a theatre", threatning someone and the like. Generally be offended falls under here for being mentally anguished (...wussies).



    As long as you're not threatning or plotting anyone, you should be fine. Although, I don't see why threatening the president should grant him any special enforcement higher than anyone else. That kind of...constitutes uneqaulity to me...

    Pffft, no real point in threatening the president anyway, is there?
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  • LegatLegat Join Date: 2003-07-02 Member: 17868Members
    edited November 2004
    As far as I know it is illegal to threaten the US presidents life directly or indirectly. The secret sevice seems a bit paranoic about that though, on the other hand it is somehow justified as the US seem to have a habit in assasinating their Presidents. (just joking. Don't jump at me please)
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  • cannon_fodder11cannon_fodder11 Join Date: 2004-08-03 Member: 30339Members
    The REALLY stupid thing is that if someone was actually planning to kill the president, they probably wouldn't advertise that fact. They would stick to the shadows.

    And I see nothing threatening about someone saying "I wouldn't care if the president died tomorrow...".

    The Finch- I don't want him to die, I want him to be exiled to the Middle East. He could make alot of new friends, heh.

    Crystalsnake- going by Bush's complete disregard for freedom of speech and press, it might be soon.
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