Freedom of Speech, Tilting at Windmills

Sigh.

ONE more time, folks: the First Amendment's guarantee of Freedom of Speech simply means "The government can't come after you for criticizing it."

That's it. You may freely criticize the government and they may not legally take action against you for doing so.

You may NOT advocate the committing of crimes, scream FIRE in a crowded theater, or, actually, even punch Nazis; while it IS a valid form of self expression, it's also assault and battery, and therefore illegal.

It also applies only to the GOVERNMENT; private citizens and corporations can take whatever action they deem appropriate, subject to the law. This is why I cannot come over to your house and spraypaint YNGVI IS A LOUSE across the front of it, despite my freedom to SAY it.

...which brings us to Facebook, Twitter, and Google. They have rules and terms of service, and reserve the right to terminate your account and/or access, temporarily or permanently, for violating those rules. Now, I don't LIKE this; they've done it to ME a time or two. However, the Constitution does not protect my right to post on Facebook. That's the way it is. I don't like it, I can go and start my OWN social network, with blackjack and hookers!

And overnight, my new social network will be overrun with Nazis, KKK types, flame wars, and, for some reason, tentacle porn. History has taught us this. This seems to be why Facebook HAS terms of service. You have freedom of speech, but it is not absolute, and no one is required to provide you a platform, or resources, or even stand there and listen to you. That's the way it is.

Talk all you want, but bring your own soapbox.

That being said? I think I should point out some things.

1. Don Quixote was NUTS; that was the entire theme of the BOOK. He was batshit crazy and thought he was a Knight Errant, centuries too late for that.

2. At one point he sees some windmills, and thinks they are evil giants. His friend Sancho begs him not to attack, but Don Quixote has NO time for that, and he attacks, charging into battle with his lance!

3. The windmills, being windmills, stand there unnoticing, and the episode does not end well for Don Quixote.

4. This has given rise to the English idiom, "Tilting at windmills," meaning "a foolish, pointless endeavor, brought on by delusion or a mistake."

5. The editorial cartoonist seems not to have known any of this, judging from the cartoon. Some folks pointed it out. True to form, he angrily doubled down and threatened to go all "James Woods" on them.

What did Puck say? "Lord, what fools these mortals be." I'm allowed to quote that; I read the play.