Posted by Nadezda on August 12, 2008, at 12:32:24
In reply to Freedom of Speech and blogs, posted by Lemonaide on August 12, 2008, at 1:01:25
You're not protected from slander-- legally.
Practically speaking, you're protected, because of the costs to the person of suing you. First, he has to hire a lawyer; second, he has to be willing to go through a trial at which things he might not like to have revealed would be revealed. Third he might lose. Fourth, if he won, he'd have to prove damages-- ie money he lost or reputation he lost --that could be translated into money damages--because of your blog (not the trial)-- which, in this case, would be negligible. For that reason, no lawyer would take the case (back to the first condition). But even if someone did, mostly there would be lots of negative publicity (within the community) and other negative emotional fallout.
But that would also be terrible for you-- for very much the same reasons.
There are other reasons not to use peoples' names, but the fear of being sued, unless the other person has a lot to lose financially or some other way, is not one of them.
Nadezda
poster:Nadezda
thread:845653
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20080721/msgs/845692.html