Under the FIDO categories, which statement about fighting words is true?

Under the FIDO categories, which statement about fighting words is true?

• A. Fighting words may be delivered by email
• B. Obscenity is protected
• C. Fighting words must be face-to-face
• D. Defamation is always protected

Answer: (C)

Fighting words are unprotected only when they are spoken directly to a specific person in a face-to-face encounter and are likely to provoke an immediate breach of the peace. That direct, in-person delivery is what makes the statement true: fighting words must be face-to-face. Communications delivered through other means, like email, do not meet this direct, personal-address requirement, so they aren’t treated as fighting words under this category. Obscenity is not protected, defamation is not always protected, and those categories have their own tests and limits, whereas fighting words hinge on that immediate, personal, in-person address.

Fighting words are unprotected only when they are spoken directly to a specific person in a face-to-face encounter and are likely to provoke an immediate breach of the peace. That direct, in-person delivery is what makes the statement true: fighting words must be face-to-face. Communications delivered through other means, like email, do not meet this direct, personal-address requirement, so they aren’t treated as fighting words under this category. Obscenity is not protected, defamation is not always protected, and those categories have their own tests and limits, whereas fighting words hinge on that immediate, personal, in-person address.