NY Times: Examining Fans' Rights to Jeer at Games

[Mark Padgett]

From the story: "But many stadiums and arenas constructed with some public financing, or built on state land or land operated by a municipal authority, could be viewed as public entities. In that setting, a government cannot force citizens to surrender constitutional rights like free speech."

The classrooms at a state university are also "public entities" so, by this logic, there can be no restrictions on what a student who has paid tuition can say in a classroom during a class (such as directing blatant profanity at a teacher), and no restriction on the volume of speech (such as yelling and screaming at a teacher during class).

We also have the constitutional right to bear arms. Does this mean a public school cannot have a restriction on carrying a gun onto school property? Actually, this is an issue here in Oregon right now.

BTW - do we also have the right to arm bears?

OK - here's another one. I once worked with a guy in a retail store and we were required to wear long sleeved shirts. One day, he showed up in a short sleeved shirt. When the manager spoke to him about it, he said he had a constitutional right to "bare arms".

[Adam]

Originally Posted by Mark Padgett

From the story: "But many stadiums and arenas constructed with some public financing, or built on state land or land operated by a municipal authority, could be viewed as public entities. In that setting, a government cannot force citizens to surrender constitutional rights like free speech."

Abusive speech is not protected speech. And the right to free speech does not mean you have the right to use someone else's property to engage in it; even public property.

Mark, your reference to the 2nd amendment is spot on as well. Try walking into a county court house with your side arm some time. For that matter, try taking your side arm into the same municipal stadium that the Times thinks you should be able to freely express your speech in.

[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

Mark, your reference to the 2nd amendment is spot on as well. Try walking into a county court house with your side arm some time. For that matter, try taking your side arm into the same municipal stadium that the Times thinks you should be able to freely express your speech in.

Big difference. Neither of those venues (court house or stadium) are prohibiting you from bearing arms...they're denying you entry as long as you are bearing arms.

This is not a lot different than players wearing jewelry...we don't tell them to take it out, we only tell them they're not going to play with it in.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by Camron Rust

Big difference. Neither of those venues (court house or stadium) are prohibiting you from bearing arms...they're denying you entry as long as you are bearing arms.

This is not a lot different than players wearing jewelry...we don't tell them to take it out, we only tell them they're not going to play with it in.

And Johnny Knucklehead isn't being told he can't say whatever he wants. He just can't do it inside this venue at this time.

[Hugh Refner]

Originally Posted by Mark Padgett

BTW - do we also have the right to arm bears?

[Freddy]

Originally Posted by Mark Padgett

From the story: ". . . government cannot force citizens to surrender constitutional rights like free speech."

True enough, and rightfully so.
But when citizens under that government appeal to their rights as justification for their uncivil wrongs, that's when someone else always has to bear the ill effects. The effects of the resultant chaos is always borne on the civil desiring to maintain what's right.
That ought to give someone some cereal to chew on and spit out.

[rockyroad]

I was in the stands watching some buddies work a tournament game a few years ago (I had the next game) and some bozo started screaming at the crew. Profanities, comments about their mothers and their wives, just totally obnoxious stuff. I got up and moved closer to him and called out to him:

"Hey buddy! Where do you work?"

He looked at me kind of perplexed and said he worked at the local Firestone. So I told him:

"The one on 99th Street? I will be there tomorrow morning at 10:00. I'm going to spend the day screaming at you about how slow you are getting those tires mounted, and what a lousy job you did on that alignment."

He got all red in the face and actually said:

"You can't do that to me!"

When everyone around him started laughing, he got up and walked out. See - these people think that they should be able to say whatever they want to say to officials...but no one can say that kind of stuff to them.

[Multiple Sports]

Rocky Road -

That is one funny story...........

[26 Year Gap]

Originally Posted by rockyroad

I was in the stands watching some buddies work a tournament game a few years ago (I had the next game) and some bozo started screaming at the crew. Profanities, comments about their mothers and their wives, just totally obnoxious stuff. I got up and moved closer to him and called out to him:

"Hey buddy! Where do you work?"

He looked at me kind of perplexed and said he worked at the local Firestone. So I told him:

"The one on 99th Street? I will be there tomorrow morning at 10:00. I'm going to spend the day screaming at you about how slow you are getting those tires mounted, and what a lousy job you did on that alignment."

He got all red in the face and actually said:

"You can't do that to me!"

When everyone around him started laughing, he got up and walked out. See - these people think that they should be able to say whatever they want to say to officials...but no one can say that kind of stuff to them.

Originally Posted by Multiple Sports

Rocky Road -

That is one funny story...........

Did you follow through?

[rockyroad]

Originally Posted by 26 Year Gap

Did you follow through?

Nope...actually thought about swinging by there after I got off work the next day. But then I got unstupid and went home.

[chymechowder]

Originally Posted by rockyroad

I was in the stands watching some buddies work a tournament game a few years ago (I had the next game) and some bozo started screaming at the crew. Profanities, comments about their mothers and their wives, just totally obnoxious stuff. I got up and moved closer to him and called out to him:

"Hey buddy! Where do you work?"

He looked at me kind of perplexed and said he worked at the local Firestone. So I told him:

"The one on 99th Street? I will be there tomorrow morning at 10:00. I'm going to spend the day screaming at you about how slow you are getting those tires mounted, and what a lousy job you did on that alignment."

He got all red in the face and actually said:

"You can't do that to me!"

When everyone around him started laughing, he got up and walked out. See - these people think that they should be able to say whatever they want to say to officials...but no one can say that kind of stuff to them.

Your whole angle is brilliant. But the bolded part is my favorite.