tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37148773.post8487061177621854779..comments2024-03-27T14:50:47.345-04:00Comments on <center>Sandwalk</center>: Stephen Fry and the Two Cultures Problem (Brits vs Americans)Larry Moranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05756598746605455848noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37148773.post-16945101895611744832015-01-11T20:16:02.574-05:002015-01-11T20:16:02.574-05:00It's so odd that you know that Americans are l...It's so odd that you know that Americans are like this without know the historical and socio-cultural reasons for it. Irene C.https://www.blogger.com/profile/09000968524312501709noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37148773.post-39148588636939795572012-08-02T22:41:32.799-04:002012-08-02T22:41:32.799-04:00"Take gun control as just one example. Which ..."Take gun control as just one example. Which country is more likely to have a free and open debate about gun control?"<br /><br />Was this meant to be ironical? I hope so, because there is no gun control debate in the UK. At all.<br /><br />But yes, even allowing that Britain puts on a slightly louder useless show in its legislature than the US Congress, Britain has some of the strictest and harshest libel and defamation laws around. These laws and legal precedents have had a real and restricting effect on criticism of people with crazy views (as one example of the externalities produced). One has to be careful in criticizing or exposing even the most idiotic and/or intentionally immoral spouter of vile and untrue propoganda (whatever the bias). <br /><br />Not to mention the official net of nearly ubiquitous sophisticated camera and video surveillance in most British urban public areas.<br /><br />It's become so bad that recent efforts (Clegg, I think is keen on this issue) have tried to substantially reform Britain's libel/defamation program. I have no idea how those recent efforts are progressing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37148773.post-69122954831465634222012-08-02T10:46:19.385-04:002012-08-02T10:46:19.385-04:00Britain's sensitive and dangerous libel laws a...<i>Britain's sensitive and dangerous libel laws and its public culture stifle public debate and restrict free speech far more than its American cousins.</i><br /><br />I think you forgot the smiley. Either that, or you've never watched the BBC or a debate in the House of Commons.<br /><br />Do you seriously maintain that the public culture in Great Britain restricts freedom of expression more than the culture in the USA? Take gun control as just one example. Which country is more likely to have a free and open debate about gun control?Larry Moranhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05756598746605455848noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37148773.post-47899790381716514072012-08-01T07:56:59.922-04:002012-08-01T07:56:59.922-04:00In private dinner conversations this may very well...In private dinner conversations this may very well be the case. But the reverse is true in the public square and in the media. Britain's sensitive and dangerous libel laws and its public culture stifle public debate and restrict free speech far more than its American cousins.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37148773.post-36953528495427029832012-08-01T07:07:21.397-04:002012-08-01T07:07:21.397-04:00The Canadians would like to apologize on behalf of...The Canadians would like to apologize on behalf of the others for any misunderstandings.Epiphenomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05420404206189437710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37148773.post-89059905672170048572012-08-01T05:02:30.481-04:002012-08-01T05:02:30.481-04:00And what about Canadians?And what about Canadians?Troy Britainhttp://pigeonchess.com/noreply@blogger.com