General Discussion

hedgehog

(36,286 posts) Wed Jun 5, 2013, 01:11 PM Jun 2013

Is heckling say, Martin Luther King, the same as heckling the Phelps family?

For all those who are saying " it's hypocritical to oppose heckling Michelle Obama but support heckling (fill in the blank)", I think it's proper to consider the person being heckled, the reason for the interruption and the occasion.

12 replies

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Is heckling say, Martin Luther King, the same as heckling the Phelps family? (Original Post) hedgehog Jun 2013 OP

To be effective I think heckling sharp_stick Jun 2013 #1

Exactly. JaneyVee Jun 2013 #2

It is a form of free speech that can be effective without being thrown into jail. Lint Head Jun 2013 #3

It's poor form to heckle someone who is basically on your side (n/m) ProudToBeBlueInRhody Jun 2013 #4

"them" heckling "us" is the same as "us" heckling "them". Myrina Jun 2013 #5

What I am saying is that this is not a zero sum situation - hedgehog Jun 2013 #10

heckling at open public events vs. private paid for events Sheepshank Jun 2013 #6

Political Free Speech - Hell Hath No Fury Jun 2013 #7

The first lady doesn't hold a political office. File that under: Being childish. JaneyVee Jun 2013 #8

"The first lady doesn't hold a political office." Hell Hath No Fury Jun 2013 #11

I'm not saying it isn't protected, I'm saying it's rude & childish. JaneyVee Jun 2013 #12

Just riffing here, but Phelps staged over 10,000 attacks on LGBT people in public Bluenorthwest Jun 2013 #9

sharp_stick

(14,400 posts)

1. To be effective I think heckling

Reply to hedgehog (Original post)

Wed Jun 5, 2013, 01:14 PM

Jun 2013

has to be aimed at someone that can actually carry out the action that you want.

To heckle someone just because you know it will make the news carries the very real risk that you'll be labeled nuts.

on edit: I have no problem with heckling but if you do it you better be ready for some blow-back.

JaneyVee

(19,877 posts)

2. Exactly.

Reply to hedgehog (Original post)

Wed Jun 5, 2013, 01:14 PM

Jun 2013

Lint Head

(15,064 posts)

3. It is a form of free speech that can be effective without being thrown into jail.

Reply to hedgehog (Original post)

Wed Jun 5, 2013, 01:22 PM

Jun 2013

ProudToBeBlueInRhody

(16,399 posts)

4. It's poor form to heckle someone who is basically on your side (n/m)

Reply to hedgehog (Original post)

Wed Jun 5, 2013, 01:26 PM

Jun 2013

Myrina

(12,296 posts)

5. "them" heckling "us" is the same as "us" heckling "them".

Reply to hedgehog (Original post)

Wed Jun 5, 2013, 01:38 PM

Jun 2013

Either one supports the notion of heckling, or one does not.

Those that support 'one sided heckling' can be seen on Faux Snooze, insulting all manner of minority & liberal groups but crying foul when a minority or liberal heckles them. I thought our side was better & more grown up than that. But apparently we want to be able to heckle those we dislike but not allow our 'heroes' to get heckled in return, just like them.

hedgehog

(36,286 posts)

10. What I am saying is that this is not a zero sum situation -

Reply to Myrina (Reply #5)

Wed Jun 5, 2013, 02:01 PM

Jun 2013

we are not the same as "them". We stand for one set of values, they stand for another. Standing up for the right is not the same as standing up for the wrong. Now, both sides assume that they have the proper answers, but only one side can be correct.

Sheepshank

(12,504 posts)

6. heckling at open public events vs. private paid for events

Reply to hedgehog (Original post)

Wed Jun 5, 2013, 01:41 PM

Jun 2013

...not the same.

I would hate to have paid $500 expecting to listen to Michelle, only to get a personal with an unrelated personal agenda hijack the private affair.

bad comparison imho

MLK and Phelps being heckled are similar...but not similar to what happened to Michelle

Hell Hath No Fury

(16,327 posts)

7. Political Free Speech -

Reply to hedgehog (Original post)

Wed Jun 5, 2013, 01:49 PM

Jun 2013

is either a right as outlined by the Constitution and the Supreme Court or not, period.

JaneyVee

(19,877 posts)

8. The first lady doesn't hold a political office. File that under: Being childish.

Reply to Hell Hath No Fury (Reply #7)

Wed Jun 5, 2013, 01:52 PM

Jun 2013

Hell Hath No Fury

(16,327 posts)

11. "The first lady doesn't hold a political office."

Reply to JaneyVee (Reply #8)

Wed Jun 5, 2013, 05:34 PM

Jun 2013

That is completely irrelevant to Constitutionally protected political speech.

JaneyVee

(19,877 posts)

12. I'm not saying it isn't protected, I'm saying it's rude & childish.

Reply to Hell Hath No Fury (Reply #11)

Wed Jun 5, 2013, 05:42 PM

Jun 2013

Bluenorthwest

(45,319 posts)

9. Just riffing here, but Phelps staged over 10,000 attacks on LGBT people in public

Reply to hedgehog (Original post)

Wed Jun 5, 2013, 01:55 PM

Jun 2013

in all 50 States over a period of many years before any non gay organization stood to oppose them in anyway. They watched us be attacked for years and did nothing.
Also, heckling is a word that does not mean 'to interrupt a speaker' it means to do so with derision and disagreement, to interrupt a political speech to ask political questions is not heckling. When Wilson shouted 'You lie' that is Heckle Classic, as is 'You Suck'.
So heckling the Phelps family, no one did that but gay folks until they went after Vets. That is a fact to ponder when asking why others are being rude to the straight folks. When Phelps heckled us at every event, where was FLOTUS, were were the defenders of good taste? The 'interruption is never right' crowd did not show up to keep Phelps from interrupting so many funerals I can't count them.
So, perspective and all.

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