Freedom of speech issue

[its Leslie]

Hope the thread name attracted attention, yes I actually used it cause it matters to the comment I want to make.

I have recently written and submitted a story that was fairly tame and innocent enough but it flopped on first try out.

I waited a full week to see it accepted and then I found out before it made it through acceptance that a part of the story had caused a problem. Luckily I was able to send a quick email to the web master asking it be pulled without getting accepted (I assume it was my request that got it squashed eh).

I have endeavoured to write a silly notional short story involving actual persons I know on the site. The plan was to use actual nicknames as they are known in the chat environment. All indications were that everyone was anxiously awaiting my silly notional story. Then one person voiced a concern as they had not been made fully aware of my intent. I was in a spot as I had no desire to make a friend uncomfortable. So I ditched the story and I am currently seeking to have it modified and then made available (assuming the web master calls it ok). I have been seeking (and waiting to get as well) "specific" answers to a specific question about each persons desire to be included in my goofy story (or they are not being included).

Freedom is never about total freedom. I am glad I was able to exercise my right to place my friends rights above my own (before the story was released and made worrying pointless). The person I refer to I hope eventually hears of my decision (and knows they are as important to me as my own rights are to me).

Freedom of speech is worth nothing if we place no value on it.

 

[Richard49]

Freedom and.......

As with ALL freedoms,free speech,carries with it responsiblity.....seems from your post you see that...congatualtions !!!!

Richard

 

[MaxSebastian]

Freedom of speech is worth nothing if we place no value on it.

Hence the libel laws - woo-hoo!

Libel laws that affect newspapers and magazines will also affect stories here in certain circumstances. Anything that affects someone's reputation is libel. People here on the boards have reputations - even using pseudonyms: they've worked up reputations and friendships with those nicknames. So if you were to use someone's name in a story that can be shown to be available to that person's peers (thus affecting their reputation), you could be liable. I'm not sure how the law actually works with pseudonyms, but watch out! If I were to say something nasty to damage the reputation of John Le Carre, I might expect him to sue even though his real name is David Cornwell.

So if that person had not wanted to be in your story, and you'd put him or her in your story, affecting his reputation, you might just have been in trouble.

The humorous nature of the piece might have acted as a defence, mind you, but still, remember: lawyers are everywhere.

 

[Axeltheswede]

freedom of speech issue

Seems like you are dealing more with a 'good taste' 'don't shit where you eat' question.
One item of note here. Libel laws in Great Britain are very tough compared to law in the United States. You only have to look as far as the cases brought against the National Enquirer. I think, to this point, they are about 2,000 to one in the number of times they have been successfully sued for libel. Under U.S. law the person suing has to prove malice. That is tough to do.
On the taste issue, remember what your mama told you - if you can't say something nice, don't say anything.

 

[deliciously_naughty]

remember this great quote I once heard/read somewhere

"my freedom to swing my fist ends at your nose"

It's applicable to speech as well..


I think we can all agree on that.

 

[CHEWEY]

Les's Story

I was part of the group that were urging Les to write a story about the S&A room. It was to be done in a spoof manner and alot of us thought it would be hilarious. I still do but he won't send me a copy While it is fully someone's choice to be or not to be in anyone's story. I think it is ridiculous, that someone should be bothered by a spoof. It is a story not a film for pete's sake! I think someone is putting to much importance on themselves! But , I do think Les was great for pulling it, in order to make a friend comfortable. I was in the first and Moreorles46 and I will be in the second. Even tho he will not send me a copy of the first one Anyone that has been in a room with anyone else, knows what that person's like. Either by first hand knowledge or gossip, which runs rampant! Come on people , it's Humor, not a job resume!

 

[MysteryWriter]

huh?

I have been in that room but not as a regular by any means. I don't know all the various personalities, but I think I can distinguish humorous magnification of human traits from reality.

However I would say, if you wanna go back under the same name tread lightly. Hell, I may have to change my name on the boards. I am considering MysteriousWriter what do you think. Surely my personality would not be recognized if I only changed my name.

In Dr. Dementia and the jewel (that is known in Spanish as an el pluggo) I wrote about D/s rooms. The room was on a different site but still I didn't use real nics. I am sure if they look hard enough somewhere in some chatroom someone is using one of if not both of those names. This is not to say I was trying to slander anyone.

I guess the point is somewhere along the line every writer has to decide how close to the line he wants to skate. I expect that it is a personal decision in the end. I could and would go either way on the issue. It all goes back to the burning issue of our times. It all depends on what your definition of is, is.