Free Speech?

I know supporters of Ms. Harrington are using the Right To Free Speech as their defense in this case wherein Ms. Harrington and other bloggers are charged with defamation against the mother of Anna Nicole Smith.

I probably don’t have to go into any detail here for you to figure out that many bloggers have engaged in vitriolic attacks against family members in the aftermath of Anna Nicole Smith’s death. Who’s right and who’s wrong? I don’t know.

What I do know is that what I was taught in social studies when I was a kid is still relevant. Free speech does not extend to yelling “Fire” in a public auditorium nor does it extend to making caustic accusations against someone unless you have evidence to back it up.

Stolen Computer

In Ms. Harrington’s case, she was ordered to produce the computer which she had used to write her blogs so that the hard drive could be examined for the evidence of defamatory activity. She told the judge that she no longer had that computer. That it had been stolen. How propitious, one might say. That’s when the judge fined her for contempt.

Some Can’t Play Nice

I’m often appalled by the excesses which range from vulgarity and crudeness to nasty personal attacks that some bloggers use in their writing. I’ve often wondered how they can say what they say without their conscience bothering them. Apparently some don’t have a conscience as highly developed as mine.

Holding Bloggers Accountable

Still, I was not fully cognizant of the watchdog effort being made to make Internet writers accountable for their actions. Increasingly, as reported by those who analyze Internet law, bloggers are being sued for defamation, copyright infringement (YIPPEE! About time.), and invasion of privacy.

I’ve always believed that just because you can instantly shout something to the masses doesn’t mean you should. Back in the day, newspaper writers were held to high standards of honesty and accountability. When they strayed, they lost credibility and usually their jobs. Bloggers and other Internet writers should be similarly held accountable for what they say.

Takeaway Truth

I’ve always thought the best policy was never to write anything, anywhere, on the Internet that you wouldn’t want to see on a billboard on the freeway.