Yeah, free speech doesn't actually mean anything as an argument. It comes across as "You can't make me stop saying words! Haha, you lose!" But the thing is, free speech doesn't mean you're not an asshole. Saying those words even when asked not to does imply assholishness. It's just such a weird excuse for being a jerk. People can't stop me from doing of plenty of inappropriate things in public. It doesn't mean I'm going to do it.

(And yes on your below comment. While LJ is based in the US, it's not the US government, which is all the amendment applies to. Private companies can do whatever the hell they want. Example: I work for a newspaper, so I'm not supposed to have political endorsement stickers or signs on my car. If I do, I just have to park my car in a different lot so it's not associated with the paper. That's not against the first amendment. It is in fact perfectly within the law.)