🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <2rij1u$3e5@elroy.jpl.nasa.gov>
alan@elroy.jpl.nasa.gov (Alan S. Mazer) writes:
 
>
>In article <2rh14j$t79@kaiwan.kaiwan.com>,
>Jeffrey A Harper <jharper@kaiwan.com> wrote:
>>All I have to say, is
>>Big Brother is watching.  This is supposed to be an open exchange of ideas,
>>not another medium to sue people on thier free beliefs.
>>;-)
>
>I'm not sure what the smiley means, but I also don't see what the problem is
>here.  Already we've learned that the facts are not as simple as originally
>posted, but even if they were, does being on the Internet give people rights
>that they would not have writing a book or giving an interview?  Libel is
>libel, and the fact that it may have occurred using the Internet or USENET
>isn't at all relevant.  Libel is no more a free speech/thought issue on
>Internet than it is anywhere else.
 
If this suit is upheld in court, then we need to see pharmaceutical makers and
health care providers sue Hillary for the pummelling their stocks took after
she ripped them.  (In fact, didn't she hold a short position in some of them?)
 
Seriously, though, doesn't malicious intent need to be proven?  If this man
stated opinions and rumors as facts, then yes, maybe he should be liable.  If
it can be shown that he has a vendetta against the company, or if it can be
shown that he profitted from the stock's decline, then again, they *may* have
a case.
 
Just the same, the net is one of the few ways an insignificant individual can
state their opinions to the world and have them heard...it would be a shame
if the deep pockets of the corporate world made people clam up completely...
'tis quite sad that the net effect will be to intimidate people into keeping
quiet and keeping their opinions to themselves...
 
 
Tim Irvin, Programmer/Analyst/Dinosaur Jockey
Lockheed Missiles and Space Co., Inc., Sunnyvale, California
Proud Warrior of the GenX Army--13th Brigade, Division #100865
***** all standard disclaimers apply *****
SOFTBALL '94--Games:  3  Team Record: 1-2   Tim's Batting Avg: .571