tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8304928500646903522.post2773609203489680165..comments2024-03-18T15:45:32.866-04:00Comments on bensozia: Defamation Suits and Fake NewsJohnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01037215533094998996noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8304928500646903522.post-65004520043410687032018-03-19T08:53:54.039-04:002018-03-19T08:53:54.039-04:00I meant to write, "I have no faith in the leg...I meant to write, "I have no faith in the legal system to fix complex social problems." It is true that our courts often render impressive verdicts, especially on factual matters; the Amistad case comes to mind. I just wonder what the actual impact of a verdict against Jones would be. We have all seen that campus speech codes passed to protect minorities end up being enforced mainly against minorities. So would a revised legal understanding of libel end up being enforced mainly against muckraking journalists who try to expose corruption?Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01037215533094998996noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8304928500646903522.post-4615763432440827622018-03-19T08:16:33.510-04:002018-03-19T08:16:33.510-04:00Perhaps the best way to counteract the conspiratar...Perhaps the best way to counteract the conspiratariat is on the level of culture. Perhaps it is time for the pendulum to swing somewhat away from cultural egalitarianism and somewhat toward the rule of respectability, educated taste, and polite society. Jones et al. are, after all, basically lowlifes who shouldn't have the opportunity to distract serious people.<br /><br />On the other hand, technology and egalitarianism may have simply surpassed the possibility of control on this level.<br /><br />On the third hand, "NO faith in our legal system" seems pretty extreme. I've been impressed at how often in history bad evidence or obvious bias can get a case thrown out, sooner or later (which is not to say it's more than 50% of the time, but that seems good enough that "NO faith" seems unfair). As for the "it favors the rich who can afford lawyers" argument, sometimes even the rich have legitimate claims--like when they've been slandered by Alex Jones.Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08993570411881726772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8304928500646903522.post-55745274473306644952018-03-18T06:56:00.943-04:002018-03-18T06:56:00.943-04:00This is why freedom of expression is under attack ...This is why freedom of expression is under attack like never before. It's technology that makes it different. Sling a vicious, unfounded accusation at someone in a tweet, and if it touches the right buttons it makes it to millions within hours, while the target's response may never has legs. <br /><br />Imagine being bullied in school. It goes up on facebook; it's texted to your friends; it's texted to your phone. YOUR PHONE. And it can be 24X7. There was a time when you could get a fresh start by switching schools. Now you can't escape it by moving across country (and maybe out of country). If one student at the new school googles your name, it can start again. You have to move and change your name. You're in hiding.<br /><br />This can't continue. Shadowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05353532874773316117noreply@blogger.com