Comments on: How to avoid being sued

How to avoid being sued

Chocolate Pickle — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 17:34:48 -0800

Guide for Bloggers and Non-Profit Organizations About Writing With Libel in Mind

A layman's guide to the current state of libel law, presented by Public Citizen.

By: double block and bleed

double block and bleed — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 18:13:23 -0800

I want to make a joke here, but I don't want to increase my exposure to litigation. nice post

By: Chocolate Pickle

Chocolate Pickle — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 18:58:05 -0800

You better not! I know a lawyer!

By: Maias

Maias — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 20:03:12 -0800

One principle: tell the truth and back it up.

By: Chocolate Pickle

Chocolate Pickle — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 20:35:36 -0800

Actually, two. The second principle is that under the First Amendment, opinions are protected speech. But only if it's clear to the reader that it is an opinion. "I think you're an SOB" is protected speech. "You are an SOB" may not be; it depends on the context.

By: XMLicious

XMLicious — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 22:39:22 -0800

"Writing With Libel in Mind" but it's not a guide to committing libel? That's no fun.

By: girlgenius

girlgenius — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 03:49:00 -0800

Australian bloggers might want to check out Skeptic Lawyer's guide to defamation law for bloggers

By: applemeat

applemeat — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 12:20:32 -0800

Chocolate Pickle: "I think you're an SOB" is protected speech. "You are an SOB" may not be; it depends on the context." Well, because no dog has ever actually given birth to a human, calling somebody an "SOB" has always constituted opinion, i.e. protected speech. But perhaps it is more important to remember that libel is a tort of public perception*--it constitutes vandalism to a person's reputation. The term "SOB" connotes (in our culture, and at this time) a negative, but imprecise, insult that cannot be proven "true" or "false." Exchange "SOB" for thief (or prostitute, counterfeiter, child molester, drug addict, etc.) and Chocolate Pickle's statement becomes more accurate. [*For example, the homophobic epithet "fairy"--which, like "SOB," is not taken literally by the public to mean "a benevolent winged spirit"--has, in previous decades, constituted libel when used to define a heterosexual man.]