The First Amendment has long been the standard by which the U.S. government has measured the freedom of individuals to speak or write their opinions without fear of reprisals. That freedom is not absolute; one of the most commonly cited examples warns that people do not have the right to walk into a crowded theater and shout, “Fire!” thus causing people to panic and trample over each other. Through the decaded the government has attempted to determine legitimate curbs to this freedom as opposed to arbitrary or discriminatory prohibitions.