I noticed while I was on here typing in an answer, one of the people responded to a question of why do certain people ask about illegal knowledge and not get caught.  The response was that they were protected by the freedom of speech amendment.  Do you think that this person is answering fairly or being selfish on maybe them asking some of these same questions.
212314
If I may help frame the question a bit ....\n\nThere is no such thing as illegal knowledge, at least not in the US.  If people want to discuss the best way to grow pot or build bombs or bake cakes, they are free to do so.  The actual growing of pot or building bombs may be illegal, but having and sharing information about how to do it is protected by the 1st Amendment, as you suggest.\n\nOther kinds of communication, however, can constitute crimes.  If two people share information about how to grow pot as part of a plan to break the law, they are engaged in a conspiracy to commit a crime and that is illegal--it is a crime even if they never get to the actual pot-growing stage so long as either of them does anything--like buying potting soil--to further the plot.\n\nIt can also be illegal to disclose certain military or State secrets, or to sell or use for personal gain certain business secrets that do not belong to you.  But the crime here is not the knowing, but the sharing.\n\nThat much is background.  The most common abuse of the 1st Amendment happens when someone says something really stupid or hateful and, when called on it, says "well, I have a 1st Amendment right to say that."  Of course they do, but that is beside the point.  The point is they said something stupid or hateful.  They are using the reference to the 1st Amendment to try to avoid taking responsibility for their action.  It is like saying "I right a right to be an idiot."  Sure, but is it really a good idea?
122311
Agree. Strongly agree. Why? Because for one, there are things that I say on Yahoo! Answers that people I know in my daily do not need to do. There are just some things that you dont mind stranger knowing because they are less judgemental... or that they really won't say anything to you... or that they you will tell you straight up what they think and you don't have to give a crap about it.\nFor two, there are some things that people ask over here regarding to those people, so it'd just be awkward if they found out.\nAnd for three, sometimes its just better so then they wont start answering your answers and then ask you questions regarding the question that you asked that they answered.\n\nWow, that was a mouthful...
170418
I would like to think they would be responsible in some ways as to find and delete those kinds of questions as quickly as possible. \nespecially with so many people reporting him for abuse. \ni mean they were quick enough to give me a violation for chatting, all because someone posted that i was a skinhead and had a nasty site somewhere, \nso i asked this person what he meant, next thing i know a violation email.\nCatch the weirdo's as quick as you catch the simple mistakes.
66245
This could be considered by some to be a violation of Usage Rule 1a - You may not use Yahoo! Answers to harass, abuse, threaten, or advocate violence against others.  The response of "take cover" could be considered offensive to someone who fits the description in the questions.\n\nIt could also be that your response was considered to be flippant or an attempt at humor which would violate Content Rule 2b: You may not post answers unless you are attempting to answer the question. Yahoo! reserves the right to remove answers that are clearly not attempts to answer the question.
613209
Can I join in on the argument? Just kidding. I'm starting like Pancha, and Squirrel. They have their own opinion on things. In fact, I think we should divide this debate into the two groups but I want to be in the group that stumpamudholenu is in. I just love the way he is able to bring princess, sealrborder and etc. down a notch.\nFreedom of speech!!\nGot to love and hate the first amendment.
11992
Death by shunning or cyber-stoning?\n\nTo some it is more importmant to appear to have all the answers than to let others know when they have looked up the answer.  Just because we cannot see them, they believe that most of us are as stupid and will not know even when we catch them doing this.\n\nI am afraid that this is the price the rest of us must pay to allow for anyone to use this site.  Perhaps if this is reported as abuse everytime they do this and someone catches them, Yahoo could kick them out?
34992
I could see if you were being vulger or using a lot of profanity, just for the fact that there are some very young people who use this site, however, the question that you had on here that was censored was not of any distaste. It was certainly retarded, and it had no relevence to anything, but it was not something that needed to be censored. We live in a country that was at one time "Free". It has now become so politically correct you cant say or do anything without offending someone.
331019
hmmm.....don't see many of the regulars answering this question/statement do you.\n\nanother aspect of this immigration topic we have yet to pick the scab off.\n\nI love it.\n\nOh but I have to add....they are all going to post quickly with "illegal".....though that had nothing to do with the question.....that is going to be your basic answer.\n\nLMAO\n\ngood post!
123924
Well it is related to the topic I guess and unless someone turns her in how is yahoo ever going to know? Think their is someone reading every single Q&A on here? If you don't like it and think she is wrong to doit, report her.
600429
I wouldn't pay too much attention to those answers. Some people seem to have that "You can't understand" mentality. I think it is because they are SO set in their views, they don't think anyone else has a ability or the intelligence to converse about them. Sometimes it is like the first amendment went away with the rest of what this country was founded on. Dialog is a great thing and I hope you don't loose the inspiration to participate in it.
377107
I also get violations for answering these types of questions ... they put a "freedom of speech" forum then they decide who or what questions can be asked .... as long as you have a serious question it deserves an answer .... \nThere are some that are just stupid ... so maybe they're having trouble differenciating between serious and lame??
506350
I haven't see the users question .the fact that so many of you is offended means the question must be pretty bad..i don't think reporting him is the answer .it'll be far better to do as you are doing now and voice your displeasure.to their questions .when they see that they are not getting the response they want .in time they will stop and move on .thank you for apology.i'm black and i'm not a spokesman for the whole race .i can only speak for myself .and my view is this .someone saying hateful things on a computer site can't hurt me .if you read my name backwards that's what i think of people like that ...once again thanks for the apology but  there's no need .you can't be held accountable for the whole white race anymore than i can for the black race
599993
You have clearly misunderstood the purpose of the Yahoo! Answers forum. The purpose is to pose questions and answers. \n\nDiatribes are a violation of the Terms Of Service. \n\nMy strong recommendation to you is that you post this sort of content on a political action forum, such as you'd find at http://www.craigslist.org - this is not the appropriate place. \n\nFinally, you say "Needles to say, I will not identify this Federal employee since they stuck their neck out when they told me all this, they obviously felt these laws were ludicrous just as I and most other Americans feel they are..."  - I fail to see why your posting an unattributed content of information (which you CLAIM you go from a federal official) is 'needles' to attribution.
580374
People like answers, not questions.  Answers make sense of something unstable and bring order to that instability.  If you question something, you are doing so for your own sake, but at the same time you are necessarily (though probably not intentionally) challenging someone else's sense of stability/security (since that other person would see no reason for his/her belief system to be questioned).  You're not meaning to hurt anybody else, but it's just that too many people cannot easily face a disturbance to their beliefs; they view the one who asks the question as the problem.
103481
I am way ahead of you! I have reported him each time I see a post by him.  It's unfortuneate we can't enjoy ourselves anywhere!\n\nYes, everyone has a right to their opinion, and a right to express themselves how they choose, however, it is clear that this individual in particular has passed the "right of opinion" point!  There are numerous people who are opposing/offended by all his statements, and he is in violation of his user account, and it needs to be terminated.  We don't have to put up with it, we don't have to read it, we don't have to respond, but this person is posting back to back, it's hard to avoid it!
138192
Why dont we all get together and report this guy for abuse. These questions are not a search for knowledge they are statements posing as questions that are only written to disturb and hurt others.
588604
When I come across some of those type questions I always go to the persons Q & A page to sus out their other questons. You can usually tell if they are a genuine kid who needs advice or some jerk getting cheep thrills. I feel sorry for those kids. Clearly they are asking on this site because it ensures their anonimity and they feel safe in doing so. Some of them are so very confused and we do live in a very explicit confusing world. \n\nI don't know how you could police the site and there is no way of controlling what others ask or answer. You can only report what you think to be inappropreate and hope that creeps don't get at these kids.