“Free speech doesn’t mean speech free from consequences” the slogan goes. But what is free speech if not speech free from consequences? Free speech probably should not be construed as speech free from all possible consequences, that is neither possible nor desirable, but it must be construed as speech free from at least some sorts of consequences. Perhaps free speech is speech free from coercive or abusive consequences. The clear cut case of the applicability of free speech is governmental restriction on speech; but governmental restriction on free speech is nothing more than a set of consequences for a speech act. So it is clear that free speech has something to do with speech being free from consequences. The question that remains is just what sort of consequences for speech violate freedom of speech, and which sorts comport with it.