Legal Responsibility and the Internet

[MissTaken]

Open discussion.

Who is legally responsible for some of the real life acts that may appear to occur as a result of internet involvement?


For example: If someone reads a series of non consent stories and then rapes his neighbor, should or could the author or literotica be held accountable?

Another example: If a pedophile uses literotica discussion boards and stories as fodder for his pattern of behavior leading to abusing a child, who should and would be held accountable?

Another example: If an individual finds his Dominance as a result of interaction here on the forum and then proceeds to beat the shit out of his partner and justify it under the guise of Dominance?

What if by way of rumor mill, the fact that these specific posters are outted to others on the forums?

The answers may seem easy, but to take it a step further, what if it were YOUR story or posts that led a crime beign committed, even indirectly? How would you feel? Would it impact your writing or where you share it?

Lastly, if you were going through a divorce, do you feel your internet activities might come into play in a divorce proceeding? Would you do anything about it?

(Just throwing in a bit of everything for everyone. )

 

[Impish]

Open discussion.

Who is legally responsible for some of the real life acts that may appear to occur as a result of internet involvement?


For example: If someone reads a series of non consent stories and then rapes his neighbor, should or could the author or literotica be held accountable?

Another example: If a pedophile uses literotica discussion boards and stories as fodder for his pattern of behavior leading to abusing a child, who should and would be held accountable?

Another example: If an individual finds his Dominance as a result of interaction here on the forum and then proceeds to beat the shit out of his partner and justify it under the guise of Dominance?

What if by way of rumor mill, the fact that these specific posters are outted to others on the forums?

The answers may seem easy, but to take it a step further, what if it were YOUR story or posts that led a crime beign committed, even indirectly? How would you feel? Would it impact your writing or where you share it?

Lastly, if you were going through a divorce, do you feel your internet activities might come into play in a divorce proceeding? Would you do anything about it?

(Just throwing in a bit of everything for everyone. )

ah maybe I am making this too simple... but I can answer almost every question (at least this early in the morning *chuckle*) with one example.

Driving my car. I am responsible for driving my car legally.

If I hit someone because of not caring for others or being safe, it is my responsiblility. e.g. If I drink and drive, it's not the car, it is MY use of the car.
If I hit someone because of a strange accident, I will feel terrible but ultimatly will be able to deal with it in so long as my actions were "legal" or morally acceptable to me. Yes I would drive more defensively afterward.
If I watch racing at speeds of 200 plus miles an hour, I know that I can not then go drive my car at 200 miles an hour.
In regard to legality, unfortunately fair or not (even if I'm an excellent driver now), my past driving history and record may be used against me.

 

[alltherage]

In my opinion free speech law protects the writer from liability unless the speach directly led to harm. Crying fire in a theater when there is no fire is not protected.

Today, as we read about the attempts of some to hold food sellers responsible for obiesity, it becomes obvious that tort law can open just about any door. Take a lawsuit against a pedophile whose computer contained stories about pedophilia downloaded from the net. Find the right jury in the right part of the country and they could find the auther liable.

 

[Etoile]

Another example: If a pedophile uses literotica discussion boards and stories as fodder for his pattern of behavior leading to abusing a child, who should and would be held accountable?

As you and I both know, anything involving child sexuality gets immediately removed. I'd hope a pedophile wouldn't find enough material to support such interests.

 

[MissTaken]

Re: Re: Legal Responsibility and the Internet

As you and I both know, anything involving child sexuality gets immediately removed. I'd hope a pedophile wouldn't find enough material to support such interests.

In theory, it makes sense.

Many peds will use any porn as a precursor to an offense.

It doesn't have to be kiddie porn.

 

[catalina_francisco]

Open discussion.

Who is legally responsible for some of the real life acts that may appear to occur as a result of internet involvement?


For example: If someone reads a series of non consent stories and then rapes his neighbor, should or could the author or literotica be held accountable?

Another example: If a pedophile uses literotica discussion boards and stories as fodder for his pattern of behavior leading to abusing a child, who should and would be held accountable?

Another example: If an individual finds his Dominance as a result of interaction here on the forum and then proceeds to beat the shit out of his partner and justify it under the guise of Dominance?

What if by way of rumor mill, the fact that these specific posters are outted to others on the forums?

The answers may seem easy, but to take it a step further, what if it were YOUR story or posts that led a crime beign committed, even indirectly? How would you feel? Would it impact your writing or where you share it?

Lastly, if you were going through a divorce, do you feel your internet activities might come into play in a divorce proceeding? Would you do anything about it?

(Just throwing in a bit of everything for everyone. )

Is an unfortunate sign of our times, and those passed, which fuel the censorship argument to no end. Though something may trigger someone who is mentally unbalanced, immature, or looking for a scapegoat as many do, I do not hold too much with the level of censorship we have to endure. If we listen to all the arguments for each facet of censorship, we would all be living inside our houses reluctant to go out incase something we did, said, or even just appreared to be to another set off the inappropriate actions of another, or disturbed them in some way.

It is impossible for us to all live in a manner which will prevent another from acting the way they will. For instance, if we live in a western nation but in a neighbourhood predominantly Moslem, we no doubt offend many in that community each day by not covering ourselves, but it is who we are and not meant to harm others. If I don't have children and my neighbour does, why is it censorship supporters feel those who do not have children have to live their lives according to the responsibilities and concerns of those who do. I may want to watch porn, not let children view it, and may even have children of my own, so why should it be we are more and more censored each year in accordance with this school of thought. To me it is about tolerance, freedom of choice, acting responsibly, and reality, but unfortunately the society we live in supports more the notion we must always look for someone else to blame our actions on thus negating us of any responsibility for ourselves, or our actions.

Catalina

 

[Netzach]

More murderous nutjobs have been set in motion by the Bible than porn, it's a pretty well established fact. I'm not just talking wars, I'm talking people who kill wives and children and random people because "God told" them or visions of prophets or whatever.

So, let's censor that baby, clean it up, get the filth and violence curbed, quick.

 

[catalina_francisco]

More murderous nutjobs have been set in motion by the Bible than porn, it's a pretty well established fact. I'm not just talking wars, I'm talking people who kill wives and children and random people because "God told" them or visions of prophets or whatever.

So, let's censor that baby, clean it up, get the filth and violence curbed, quick.

I actually bought an Oxford University Press published Bible last year that is rewritten to be inclusive of all, race, culture, gender, physically challenged etc., in an non-oppressive language. Haven't had time to read it as yet but will get there.

Catalina

 

[Ebonyfire]

I personally have contempt for anyone who does not take responsibility for their own actions.

A Pedophile is a pedophile whether he reads a porn story or not. Sociopathic behaviour should not be blamed on stories. It is a mental illness that is very hard to cure.

Blaming others for your own bullshit is just stupid.

 

[MissTaken]

I am completely for taking responsibility for one's actions.

Yes.

There are those, however, who would blame the media and film industry for teen age violence

When, generally, offenders do know right from wrong and need to execute and acknowledge the use of their own judgement.

Then, there are those who would condemn a place such as this for encouraging sexual violence etc. Yes, ignorant people, people who don't understand what BDSM is all about...but, these are the people who encourage and fuel the fires of censorship.

No, I wouldn't blame Hugh Heffner for any rape or sexual misconduct wherein the perp was reading one of his mags before acting out.

Nor would I feel responsible for someone's actions as a result of reading one of my stories.

 

[ammre]

This reminds me of 2 cases:

Marlyn manson and how his music "influenced" the killers to do such. (i won't explain it because i'm sure we all know the BS behind that one.)

The other one i heard ont he radio recently... AN outback steakhouse was celebrating it's opening and certan guests were getting cheep drinks (like 25 cent cheep...). One man got blasted but kept drinking. He than left the resturant drove home and hit a motercycle with 2 people on it causeing terminal injuries (luckley their both alive). The outback steakhouse was brought to trial and the couple formt he motercycle won something arround 28 million dollars from them, stating that they should have realized this person was drunk and not permitted him anymore drinks. Yet again this is the perffect way to blame other people. The onel person who was truely at fault was the drunken driver, but due to the fact that he had "impaired judgement" the outback was suppossed to have stopped him.

There were comments about how bartenders should cap off people who they can tell are drunk. But in my opinion if a person who's drunk gets told they can't have another drink they tend to become agressive or annoied thus making them leave (in their drunken state) or cause a fight, besides the bartendersget their money from tips... they won't get tips if they refuse drinks.

anyway... there's a bunch more arguemnts about that... i think people should take responsibility for their own actions and not blame others... I think i may give a very slim line towards people who were driven legally insane by their parents though, but i don't say they should go free i jsut don't think they should be thrown in jail or something, put em in a mental institute.

 

[Lancecastor]

Mickey Spillane and Elmore Leonard, Mario Puzo and many other writers are in big trouble if your innane question is answered with a "yes".

 

[Chicklet]

Re: Re: Legal Responsibility and the Internet

ah maybe I am making this too simple... but I can answer almost every question (at least this early in the morning *chuckle*) with one example.

Driving my car. I am responsible for driving my car legally.

If I hit someone because of not caring for others or being safe, it is my responsiblility. e.g. If I drink and drive, it's not the car, it is MY use of the car.
If I hit someone because of a strange accident, I will feel terrible but ultimatly will be able to deal with it in so long as my actions were "legal" or morally acceptable to me. Yes I would drive more defensively afterward.
If I watch racing at speeds of 200 plus miles an hour, I know that I can not then go drive my car at 200 miles an hour.
In regard to legality, unfortunately fair or not (even if I'm an excellent driver now), my past driving history and record may be used against me.

I like this example. It's like, I can't go to an action movie and watch a chase scene where a man drives a car like mad through traffic, come out of the movie and attempt to do the same through the city, and blame the movie if I get a ticket. If I did so, people would laugh at me. But if I raped someone and said that I read it in a book, people would nod their heads and ban the book.