Libel

I don't understand why slander would be a big deal. Whatever happened to free speech?

I guess we have free speech but to an extent. That's what I will assume. You can say something, but if it offends someone then you get in trouble. Whatever happened to opinions? I guess you can't have those anymore because it may be offensive to someone. I feel like the law has taken libel and slander a bit overboard. Instead of being free to say anything you want, the way this country was brought up to believe, you have to walk on egg shells and hope that no one is offended by what you say.

So what happens to those people who say something inappropriate? Their names go on record of saying the phrase that made someone upset and they have to go to court to settle something that may have been just a momentary thought written down on paper or spoken. Because they were able to say what they felt, they are now being slandered their reputation is in jeopardy. They will always be known as an offensive rude person. Is that fair?