The usual argument, is that one has free speech, but one has to be aware and accept the consequences of speaking one's mind.
As long as what a person says/writes does not cause physical injury or death, then a person should have the freedom to express whatever they wish. The idea today seems to be that a person has free speech, but, if they DARE to exercise that free speech then that person will most likely lose their job, their friends, their future income (because everything is recorded now), perhaps their family, then THAT IS NOT FREE SPEECH.
We have a prackie in the staffroom at the moment, and the discussion was on what was deemed politically incorrect in today's society (the conversations teachers have during a lunch break can be interesting). I stated that because they are all lefties/socialists, they can say whatever they want, but because I am a conservative, if I said what I thought, then I would lose my job. He stared at me, and being a prackie he had the common sense to keep his opinion to himself, but I have an idea of what he now thinks of me.
Free speech means free speech and it doesn't matter if it offends someone's fragile little ego. We do not have free speech in either Australia or America, no matter how people argue that we do.