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by Delusion

Last Post 14 hours Ago


Sticks And Stones
Aug 7, 2008 | 6:22 AM
Category: News
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Two females from Yale are suing to find out who posted some malicious words about them on an internet site. The posting was done annonymously, of course (as we all do here for the most part), and yet the two women want retribution (as in payment).

Wow.

So now there is a push by some to get all annonymous posters on the web 'outed' just in case a posting is done with malice, or in case the posting is untrue or slanderous.

Talk about a slippery slope. Aside from the fact any 'law' will not be enforceable, how about news organizations and the like. Some are too quick with judgement and too quick to get that big headline that, were this a perfect world, they would be sent off the web entirely.

This is not a perfect world, however. The two students (and all of us) have to realize words are only weapons if they allow them to be. Are they (and perhaps we as a country) so sensitive they need protection from an annonymous post on the internet? Has it truly come to that?

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Member Comments Total Comments: 3
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CRYSTALCHRIS read my blog
Aug 8, 2008 | 5:24 AM

Sorry but this isn't news its kids in a world they helped create. If they can't stand the heat in the kitchen let them stay off the net. chris
CRYSTALCHRIS read my blog
Aug 8, 2008 | 5:27 AM

By the Way Delusion thumbs up on your whole take on the situation I aggree totally .I accidently hit done before I was .Keep it up chris
mathman read my blog view my photos
Aug 9, 2008 | 9:14 PM

Judging by recent court decisions regarding "freedom of expression," (something I'm still searching for in the constitution) there is very little that will be considered slander in the future and I would think the case would be thrown out of court on those grounds.
Now for the sticks and stones: The basic attitude on the street today ("who you lookin' at") propogates the supposition that "words do, indeed, hurt you." In addition, we need to examine the entire culture around our language (it is ok for a black to use the 'N' word, but anyone else is racist who uses it?) to find that our use of language is evolving into something we never expected. The entire genre of hip-hop is predicated on the use of language as an "in your face" form of expression. These are all interesting facets of that slippery slope of "freedom of speech" which, by the way, IS in the founding papers.
The hard question is whether or not we are going to "right" our way into oblivion. I still contend that your rights end when you infringe on mine, as do mine when I infringe on yours...and the fact that you are "upset" by my expression is NOT an infringement.
Perhaps we should require every school to recite "sticks and stones" every morning following the pledges. What the heck...it couldn't hurt. :)
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Delusion

I have lived in Austin for 24 years and refuse to be a mindless follower of anything. Just let me have the facts and I will be objective.

Member Since: 8/9/2007


 

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