Quote:
Originally Posted by blueangel
Right or wrong, like it or not.. free speech does not apply to internet message boards. The owner of the board makes the rules and enforces them or appoints deputies who are charged with enforcing them. Think of it as being a guest in John's living room. If he doesn't like your behavior, he can ask you to stop, and he can make you leave his house.
Even if an internet chat board was a democracy, in the U.S, at least, there are still rules governing "libel." Infact, people have successfully sued for libel on the internet.
http://www.wave.net/immigration/lawyer/libel.html
Here are more recent cases:
http://www.phillipsnizer.com/library...mation_cda.cfm |
Actually, free speech does apply to internet message boards. Obviously you haven't checked the Bill of Rights lately. Yes, TOS does prohibit racist, obscene etc. messages, but nothing you're complaining about can be considered a violation of TOS. Plus those sorts of posts are not protected by the first amendment.
Here, let me help you out with a handy dandy link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_A...s_Constitution
As for libel-libel is a civil suit, extremely difficult to prove and many cases are usually dismissed. Anything said here is opinion, and for that reason alone you cannot take anyone down for libel. It's been done, but it's so hard to do it's basically impossible unless you have an extremely strong case.
Sorry to burst your bubble.