The free speech thread

[Shell B]

I don't give a shit about those things, Clive. Every single one of those things is a crime because of a weakness in society, not the strength of the crime. Every single one of those crimes can be absolutely harmless if people bothered to investigate things further. Now, fraud becomes stealing, so free speech doesn't matter there. Stealing is not speaking. Slander is just stupid. Falsely reporting a crime can be considered an action as much as speaking as well. You have to actively go to the police station and bear false witness. It is no longer "free speech" there because you are under an expectation of honesty, by law. You're not just speaking to a group of people or yourself. Still, it is only an inconvenience if police bother to do their jobs properly. So, when you combine speech with another crime, it is no longer about free speech. And . . . free speech is too important a right to have it hindered in more ways than absolutely necessary.