mothra wrote on Nov 30
th, 2017 at 9:55am:
freediver wrote on Nov 30
th, 2017 at 8:15am:
I try to make the rules somewhat reflective of the law when it comes to slander, libel etc. There is a general principle that people who put themselves in the public eye need to expect more and broader criticism than those who do not. Politicians are at the top of the list. You can get away with just about anything in criticising them, partly because the law supports it, and partly because they just don't bother suing people. They are too clever to waste their money, and it is bad politically. Accusing them of pedophilia etc is probably stretching it, and we have a rule here that you cannot do this unless the accusation is in the mainstream media.
Likewise you can normally get away with broad accusations against religious leaders and celebrities. Probably not to the same extent as politicians, as the Rebel Wilson case demonstrates.
This site often tops google search results for a variety of topics, so we are not flying under the radar any more.
You have to be especially careful with businesses and product reviews, as these people have a motivation to sue. You need to be honest, fair, reasonable and motivated by the public interest rather than spite. For the most part they are reluctant to sue, even for an unfair and untrue criticism, because it brings them bad press, especially if they are a business people tend to dislike for political reasons (eg Maccas).
The rules on this are very grey and largely determined by what a judge considers reasonable or normal. Case law (eg Rebel Wilson, and the consumer opinion website example Mozz gave) are probably the best thing to go by.
Please report via PM anything you think puts me at risk of getting sued.
FD, you are prosecutable daily. As much as it may titlate you to have threads about how all Muslims are terrorists; squat down to pee; have an IQ of 85; rape their children; beat their wives, it is not the done thing ...
... and that Aboriginals are alcoholic dole bludgers who are genetically beneath us ...
And all of the other racist filth you allow on here and do not instruct your moderartors (who seem confused about thier rights and reponsibilities) or put forward any impartial moderators who will actually watch your back ...
... and while your refuse to protect members of your forum themselves ..
And you want us to watch your back? Are you serious?
You're up for the high jump old boy. If, as you say, we are coming up on google searches, you're screwed. The horse has bolted.
Pray. That's the best chance you've got.
Indeed. News Ltd was found guilty for publishing the racial vilification of Andrew Bolt.
2UE has been found liable for broadcasting the inflammatory comments of Alan Jones.
Let's face it, FD's never going to cop a subpoena, but he has actively supported the views of posters who personally vilified Yassmin Abdel-Magied, Gillian Triggs, and various other tabloid enemies. FD has studiously evaded the question of whether issuing death or rape threats constitutes freedom of speech, but he has actively drummed up hostility towards Yassmin for being a Muslim - and
tinted.
Yes, FD sees himself as a victim of Yassmin's criticism of Australian racism. In return, he accepts death and rape threats, including an avalanche of menacing phone messages and social media posts, not to mention a tabloid storm. FD is able to block out all the
reasons someone might say Australians are racist - such as calling to ban people based on their religion and their level of
tintedness.
Not racist, according to FD, and all above board. I doubt he's going to get himself into hot water over it. It is, however, a dangerous social turn. If all Australians expressed such views, we'd have an extremely hostile, mean and elitist society. FD, of course, is advocating for all Australians to express such views, and he's using an electronic communications medium to do it.
He's not going to face a law suit over it, but on the face of it, FD has supported libel and racial vilification in a number of threads, not to mention the entire board.
Forum
Pages: 
