[WickedFemme]

I agree with Linus' post.
The point I want to make is about something called 'ego defenses'. I believe it was Freud who coined the term referring to the ego and the super ego. However, a lot has happened since then, etc.
There seems to be a propensity towards wanting to save face upon realizing that perhaps one has made a mistake or said something that was socially or otherwise wrong. At that point in time (right after the action), we all have a choice whether to take responsibility for our own thoughts, feelings, actions or not. Still many believe that by admitting their own humanity, which is to error; that they are somehow 'less than'; which couldn't be further from the truth. However, many may still carry unresolved guilt and possibly 'shame' issues and overcompensate to avoid inner emotional pain by justifying rather than taking reponsibility for their own stuff.

I prefer to think things through before I write and/or open my mouth; but it doesn't always happen that way... lol...

So, anyways... people want to use justifications, rationalizations, minimizations, etc.. to save face and avoid taking responsibility and sometimes it's conscious and sometimes it's not...

My opinion is that using the 1st amendment to justify one's own behavior to avoid taking reponsbility once called on it, is just that - a justification to save face. Constitutional law is an interesting subject and one that I have had the pleasure of being educated in the past through a course or two and it's interesting to me just how subjective it can be. Just as any other thought, idea, expression is subjective.

If i act like an ass in the forums and I'm called on it, I view it as an opportunity rather than some kind of violation of personal rights... clearly no one is being retained and/or being stripped of all their personal rights - such as being arrested and detained.