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A WKNC podcast that focuses on having introspective and thought-provoking discussions with guests from across NC State. Hosted by Lucas Marsh.
(Host) Lucas 00:13
Good Times, everybody, and welcome back to WKNC braintrust. I'm your host Lucas and today we're doing something a little different. For episode nine of my show. I've got a another repeat guest guest please introduce yourself real quick.
(Guest) Joey 00:27
Hey everybody, I'm Joey Perkins.
(Host) Lucas 00:30
So Joey is back. You might have heard him from Episode Five. We're talking about regional differences. But today on episode nine, we'll be doing something a little differently. So I don't know if you're listening here and you've heard of something called shack Athan, Joey, would you mind telling everybody what Shakha phone is?
(Guest) Joey 00:48
Okay. So Shaka THON is a fundraiser for Habitat for Humanity. It's, you know, Habitat for Humanity helps homeless and people who have been affected by like natural disasters. It's basically a charity that just helps out people in need. So check. Athan is an NC State fundraiser where we build shacks on the brickyard campus. And then we sell things out of our shacks to try to raise money. So you're in, you're hearing this this week. Come by brownie from us.
(Host) Lucas 01:15
I don't think Bill here at this week is probably going to come out next week. But that's okay. Still good promo content. So we're doing something a little today a little different. Today. We're recording. Currently we are inside of the Benjamin Franklin scholars shack built by our own Joey Perkins, and known guest, Louis Pope. So they built this amazing shack. Currently we are inside of the shack recording our intro. In a minute or two, we're going to go around, and we're going to be gathering people's opinions on freedom of speech. Yes, that's right. Ladies and gentlemen, we are taking WKNC brain trust on the go. Alright, so we have found our first guests, the people from TP USA representing here on campus. So sir, what is your name?
(Guest) Coleman 02:05
Coleman Theodore
(Host) Lucas 02:06
Coleman Theodore, would you like to say something on my podcast?
(Guest) Coleman 02:10
Sure. Why not? At least where to come for? Let's go state baseball.
(Host) Lucas 02:15
Let's go state baseball. Of course. Gotta love state baseball. So the topic for today's episode is freedom of speech. Do you have anything, anything at all you want to say about that?
(Guest) Coleman 02:22
At least when it comes to freedom of speech, I think it's pretty clear. We're in college, we're here to debate and discuss and everybody's opinions and values should be expressed. And they should always have the opportunity to do so.
(Host) Lucas 02:33
Amazing, couldn't agree more freedom of speech definitely should be free. Which is hilarious, because we're collecting donations for Habitat for Humanity. However, that's what we're here to do today. So thank you very much for your time. I appreciate it. Thank you,
(Guest) Coleman 02:47
of course, got out here like
(Host) Lucas 02:49
so we have another yet another guest from TP USA. What is your name?
(Guest) Bailey 02:53
My name is Bailey Fry.
(Host) Lucas 02:54
Bailey, we are talking about freedom of speech today. What do you have to say about freedom of speech?
(Guest) Bailey 02:59
Well, I always think of when I think of college, I like to think of it sort of in the way Aristotle had in mind for his academic studies. Even though his students may have disagreed with him on several occasions, he still welcomed them with open arms, and they had free discussion about different things, including mathematics or social issues. And seeing how free speech is a major part of science, the whole idea of science is based on the idea of peer review. If you silence free speech, then you're completely disregarding the most crucial part of science, which is that peer review, criticizing people's views and people studies.
(Host) Lucas 03:42
Wonderful. Thank you very much for sharing. And thank you for your donation for Habitat for Humanity. So Joey, the area we're in right now is the the Ben Franklin, check that you and Louis and a few of your friends built for the Ben Franklin, Ben Franklin Scholars Program. Could you describe what the Ben Franklin Scholars Program is?
(Guest) Joey 04:01
Okay, so the Ben Franklin Scholars Program is a introduction, interdisciplinary Scholars program that focuses on double majors specifically in engineering and the humanities. Along with economics is a double major. So that's what I'm doing. I'm an industrial engineering and double MIT. And then excuse me, I'm an industrial engineering and economics double major. So it aims to like bridge the gap and like fill in like, the holes of like filling the educational holes that engineering like doesn't have with you know, stuff and engineering and economics aspects.
(Host) Lucas 04:38
Oh, thank you. So we're talking about a freedom of speech today. Specifically with you and your your shack with the Ben Franklin Scholars Program. Because you guys tell me all the time in your in your classes, that in your SDS class you what you do in that class, you sit down and you have free discussions about whatever it is Like, you know, Dr. Basketball go and how does that normally work like in your STS class,
(Guest) Joey 05:05
basically in our like, first semester STS class, you know, we would read things and then we would talk about the things they'd be ranging on a variety of topics, but mainly focusing around engineering and science and issues that like design issues or like things that are not considered that should be considered within engineering.
(Host) Lucas 05:28
I, these are these debates in class.
(Guest) Joey 05:31
Sometimes they do devolve into debates, they don't like get really bad, but you know, it's sometimes interesting, sometimes gets a little dicey.
(Host) Lucas 05:40
Okay. So when you say devolve into a debate, I think I think that's a really good use of the word devolve. Because a freedom of speech, the whole point of free discussion, it's more of a, you know, a want to have a discussion, not a debate debates, a very negative thing, you don't really want to argue, you want to have a discussion and open and free discussion. So when you say devolve into a debate, I really, that was a very good use of the word, I really appreciate it. Now, I mean, I'm sure if freedom of speech is, it's pretty clear, I'm sure a lot of people would agree, but to you, what does that mean to you? Freedom of speech.
(Guest) Joey 06:24
I know the difference between freedom of like, when freedom of speech gets like not freedom of speech, you know, I don't really know if you can put a quantifiable like, definition on it. It's just expression, like, you know, like, there is a line dial agree like that when it becomes not free expression, like when there's a line that sometimes gets crossed when free expression does not become free expression anymore. And I feel like that needs to be like, known and like, you know, like, just, everyone needs to be probably aware of that a little bit more that there's a line and that it can get cropped. And it can get crossed.
(Host) Lucas 07:07
So you keep kind of swapping back between freedom of speech and freedom of expression, would you say those are the same thing?
(Guest) Joey 07:15
I would say that in terms of like, maybe speech can be an expression and expression can't just include speech. Because, you know, there's other ways of expressing yourself that are not like using speech and audible, but all all speeches is a form of expression. Right? So I feel like they go rather hand in hand if but that I don't know if they're exactly the same.
(Host) Lucas 07:41
So you know, like the thing I get in math, it's like, I think it's squares, like all squares or rectangles, or like all rectangles or squares, but not all squares or rectangles, like is something like that. It goes back and forth. So can we have attracted our third guest? I think third guest so here it take that microphone right there. What is your name? Sir?
(Guest) Pari 08:03
Perry
(Host) Lucas 08:04
What is it?
(Guest) Pari 08:05
Pari
(Host) Lucas 08:05
Pari Well, it's nice to meet you. My name is Lucas. Next to me here I have Joey. So today's topic is for my podcast called WKNC. Brain Trust. Today's topic, we're talking about freedom of speech. What do you think that means? What are you What does it mean to you freedom of speech?
(Guest) Pari 08:24
I can talk,
(Host) Lucas 08:25
you can talk.
(Guest) Pari 08:28
Okay, so things, right, I believe or feel?
(Host) Lucas 08:33
Do you can you think of any any time when you think you're when you felt that your your freedom of speech was being violated? Or maybe somebody else's? was being violated?
(Guest) Pari 08:44
I probably violate my own freedom?
(Host) Lucas 08:47
What do you mean by that?
(Guest) Pari 08:48
Like, if I'm anxious, like all these thoughts, make me feel like I can't say stuff. Make me feel like maybe it's the wrong thing to say.
(Host) Lucas 08:57
That's actually really interesting. When I so when I when I wrote the question, what I was imagining was, you know, the heated heated room and in a debate, you know, somebody's saying something and they like, somebody did get cut off that. Gail, the, your take on that was actually really interesting. Would you be able to elaborate on that a little bit more?
(Guest) Pari 09:17
I think a lot of the heated debates happen in our heads, maybe, you know, I used to think that like maybe the same stuff was going on in all of our heads and like what's going on in my head is like everyone else is thinking this right? But that's not what it is. I think, I think that everyone has their own story has been made. I don't know when I have a story that makes me feel like a certain thing will lead to a certain outcome. You know, if I say how I feel in this moment, it'll cause someone to whatever, then I might not say it might hold myself back, or I might edit it.
(Host) Lucas 09:50
So you're kind of hold your your you yourself are kind of like censoring your own freedom of speech in your own head. That's actually, really interesting, I'm glad you brought that up. I hope I hope people share your point of view, because that's a very interesting way to think about freedom of speech. I'm really glad you brought that up.
(Guest) Pari 10:08
That's pretty cool, man.
(Host) Lucas 10:09
Right? Do you have anything else you wish to say?
(Guest) Pari 10:12
No. I love love.
(Host) Lucas 10:15
Love, love. Absolutely. All right. Well, Pari, thank you for being on my show. That was that was actually really interesting that that invoke any any thoughts? And you, Joey, I
(Guest) Joey 10:29
thought it was very interesting, kind of introspective, little freedom of speech moment for them was not what I would expect out of a out of a response.
(Host) Lucas 10:39
Like, I'm not gonna lie, what I was, like I said, what I was expecting was, when they say freedom of speech, they mean, you know, not being interrupted, not being yelled at argued, you know, like, physically censored. But his his take on that was actually very introspective, um, that was actually really, really thought provoking, which is the point of my show. So I'm actually really glad that he said that, because that's the whole point of why I'm doing this. Alright, so we have found our next guest. What's your name, sir?
(Guest) Oscar 11:09
I'm Oscar,
(Host) Lucas 11:09
Oscar. And it was Lucas, producing my podcasts right now is WKNC. His brain trusts, walking around finding people. Today we're talking about freedom of speech. So what do you what does that mean to you freedom of speech,
(Guest) Oscar 11:21
is just the ability to say, Whatever comes, whatever comes to mind, like having the ability to say, anything that comes to mind without fear of legal persecution, individual persecution, so one thing I mean, mess around, find out, but it stops you from getting legally prosecuted for saying what's on your mind.
(Host) Lucas 11:40
Right? So we would, could you think of an example, when or a situation when you thought you or somebody you know, maybe it was having their freedom of speech violated?
(Guest) Oscar 11:52
Um, freedom of speech violated? I can't think of anything off the top my head, I'm pretty sure there's some more recent examples. But as of right now, nothing comes to mind.
(Host) Lucas 12:03
Well, I mean, if you think about it, that's kind of a kind of a good thing. If you really can't think about anything, and I mean, yeah, I guess it could be thought about as a good thing. If you can't think about a time when you're doing surgery violated. Do you think there is a limit to how much you can say under the under the guise of freedom of speech? Because of the legally, technically, yes, there is.
(Guest) Oscar 12:22
Yeah. Legally, technically. Yes. I mean, again, at that point, it just really depends on the context, people you're right. Again, if you say something incredibly out of pocket, you should be getting backlash for that not like an illegal like legal sense. But like on a societal individuals and say, you make a joke, it's like, really a lot of context. You somebody shouldn't I mean, you should, if it's really bad, you should be pulled aside for stuff like that, right? Kind of being told not to do that, again, know that. But if anything, it's not as long as it's not like a legal persecution, as long as it's individual. It's FAFO. Screw around, find out.
(Host) Lucas 12:59
So would you agree that freedom of speech goes pretty much for anything, but you have to be willing to accept the consequences of what you say,
(Guest) Oscar 13:07
oh, no, yeah. If anything, I feel like we as a society don't, with like social media, we don't accept, we're not really able to, like have. So I think it was Albert Einstein who said that every action has an equal but opposite reaction. And I think it comes to like, freedom with freedom of speech, and being able to say whatever you want, your stuff like that should be happening more often. I feel like with social media, it doesn't really happen very often, where we just it we're really desensitized to reading something and saying, It's not cool, when in reality, if someone said that thing to your face, you'd probably feel you probably wouldn't feel the same way as you do in tech. So I feel like we have a bit of a problem society with something like that.
(Host) Lucas 13:45
Agreed. Well, thank you very much for your time, Oscar,
(Guest) Oscar 13:47
happy to be part of the podcast.
(Host) Lucas 13:50
Alright, so we are back at the shack. Back at. But, Joey, would you say I mean, you know, freedom of speech is very, can be considered very vague. Would you say that there are limits to what people can say? I would
(Guest) Joey 14:07
say in certain circumstances, yes. If it's overtly threatening super offensive. Okay. Certain there is a line, right?
(Host) Lucas 14:25
I don't know. I would personally, I mean, like I had never heard of. You can't yell fire in a movie theater. Yeah, anything like that. That kind of failure.
(Guest) Joey 14:34
That's a line.
(Host) Lucas 14:35
That's definitely a line. You can't cross. You can't like, I don't know. I don't know how to how to say it. But like, you can't really invoke fear in people just for fun. You know what I mean? You can't really just do that. But I shouldn't preach. It's a law. You can't yell fire in a crowded movie theater.
(Guest) Joey 14:54
Is it a law?
(Host) Lucas 14:55
It might be? I don't know. Somebody has brought somebody brought that up to me. A few days ago, when I was telling him about what I'm doing today. I don't know I thought that was interesting. I know somebody somebody was saying something interesting earlier. You freedom of speech goes as far as like, like society will allow it. You know what I mean? Like, you can basically say what you want, but you have been prepared to accept the consequences.
(Guest) Joey 15:22
That's interesting, right? I hadn't thought about it like that, I guess.
(Host) Lucas 15:26
So we've gathered another guest here. What is your name?
(Guest) Lilly 15:29
Lily sunshine.
(Host) Lucas 15:30
Lilly Sunshine, my name is lucas this is for my podcast, WKNCs Brain Trust. Today we're talking about freedom of speech, In the middle of the brick yard.
(Guest) Lilly 15:41
near where the speaker preacher normally is what a great place. I actually
(Host) Lucas 15:44
found him earlier. But he was busy talking to somebody else. Oh, I hope I'm hoping to get him on this episode. So we're talking about freedom of speech? What would you say that means for you?
(Guest) Lilly 15:57
I think that it means the ability to speak your mind and say your opinions. without it getting you any into any sort of like, legal trouble. People are allowed to have different tune opinions. And you're allowed to converse about that. But I don't think that it should have any repercussions.
(Host) Lucas 16:19
Okay. What if you were in a, like a crowded theater or something like yeah, in the middle of play, and somebody got up and yelled, fire, maybe as a fire?
(Guest) Lilly 16:30
Well, I mean, there's a difference between freedom of speech, speech and saying your opinions and then causing, like, mass hysteria or causing commotion within a public place. Like, there, there's, there's not even that fine of a line between, hey, this is how I feel, and hey, I'm gonna be problematic or malicious, and do something that's going to harm a lot of other people. Like you still have to be a good person, right? So,
(Host) Lucas 16:56
so I have to have good intentions, a lot of people will take freedom of speech, and they go a little too far. And they're like, what, it's my freedom of speech. But at the end of the day, if it's invoking, you know, violence, if it's invoking, you know, it's making people fear for their lives for no real reason. Then
Unknown Speaker 17:10
you have, I'm looking at the Hillel's shack right now. And as like a Jewish woman myself, like, if somebody comes around to me, and it's like, Oh, I hate Jews, I wish you would all die. Like, I'm going to purposefully do something to harm you. Like, that's, there's how I feel. And then there's threat.
(Host) Lucas 17:27
Right? Open threats? Yes, not exactly. Freedom of speech there.
(Guest) Lilly 17:30
No, again, there's intent to cause harm or even the threat of harm, which is illegal. And I don't know, you just have to be really cautious about what you're saying and how that can be interpreted towards other people.
(Host) Lucas 17:44
Right. All right. Well, thank you very much for sharing. I appreciate you sitting down with me.
(Guest) Lilly 17:48
Thank you so much for having me.
(Host) Lucas 17:49
No problem. All right, so after a productive day outside in the Brickyard, we are back in the studio, finishing things up. And before we close this out, I'd like to say thank you to JT SATAC for providing excellent intro and outro music. If you want to check them out. You can find them at moving boxes band that's all lowercase all one word moving boxes band on Instagram. If you liked what you heard today, it was a little bit of a shorter episode. But if you still enjoyed the content, check us out. Check out our other episodes for WKNC Brain Trust. Check us out@wknc.org forward slash podcasts. That's wknc.org forward slash podcasts with the NES. You can subscribe there to keep up with future WKNC Is brain trust content. And with that, good day
Transcribed by https://otter.ai