We don't disagree that people should have a right to shout out their negative opinions wherever they want to, whether they paid to get into the forum or not. (If I pay to get into Town Hall and during an audience participation period slander someone, the fact that I bought a ticket is no defense, or if I pay to publish a newsletter, or to hire a pilot to fly a banner over a crowded beach, if my newsletter or banner slanders someone, my check stub is no defense.) The question is whether there is a difference between a chat group and the Liars Club, when the lies are slanderous and harmful. There really is a difference between "negative opinions" and libel or slander. We all know it and take it for granted and feel essentially no inhibition in expressing ourselves, because we know the difference.
Father, would you, or anyone you know quite well, know how many statements of the thousands and thousands posted here since the thread was begun are considered hurtful defamatory lies by Presstek; and what specifically those statements were? I am a deep fan of the First Amendment, and could be persuaded to your position if you, or anyone, posts the statements and they appear to be simple expressions of negative opinion as distinguished from slanderous lies told here because it was thought that all was fair in love, war and Presstek.
P.S. I forget, who was it who claimed he wasn't Kumacap? Can you remind me? |
