[Munky-Necan]

Freedom of speech does not equal to freedom of consequence. What I've listened to people lately say is that when they engage in personal attacks they should be allowed to because "Freedom of Speech". Yet, the type of speech that is protected is speech that is against the government.

Being mean, hurtful, and disrespectful against an individual is not protected speech, it's called being a jerk.

[mythrwy]

Being a jerk _is_ protected though, as is making jerk speech (at least in the US).

It just makes one a jerk to engage in it. Not a crime.

[commandlinefan]

> Freedom of speech does not equal to freedom of consequence

Yes, it literally does. That is, in fact, the definition.