Noted Elsewhere as a response to someone’s rebuttal argument about something that I’m quite certain was positively earth-shattering in its importance, was this gem:

“Wait, what’s that? None of these claims can be supported by actual facts and evidence, or even make sense? WELL FUQ YOU, THIS IS MY OPINION, AND OPINIONS DON’T NEED FACTS TO VALIDATE THEM. IT IS IN THE FIRST AMENDMENT THAT I GET TO SAY WHATEVER THE FUCK I WANT AND NO ONE CAN EVER DISAGREE WITH ME OR ELSE THEY’RE UNAMERICAN, SLUTTY TERRORISTS.”

Sad to say that this opinion is held by more than a few people, and only the part about opinions not needing facts to validate them is accurate.

The first amendment doesn’t have a damned thing to do with opinions – yours, mine or otherwise – and if our educational system wasn’t so fucked by a lack of funding, the factual amendment might actually still be taught in school.

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” 

That’s what it actually says.

There have been many discussions over the centuries (we are working on the third one for this country) about exactly what ‘freedom of speech’ means, and while more than a few restrictions have been placed on aspects of speech, but you know, the ability to disagree with someone, even on the internet, still exists.