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Here is a well written article........

March 31 2009 at 8:01 PM
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Wayne Lewis  (Login wayjoy)
 
in todays' kingston Whig Standard. It talks about teh media's and public forum's responsibility to freedom of speech and not crossing over the line;

FAIR COMMENT AND DOUBLE STANDARDS

Posted By THE WHIG-STANDARD
Posted 10 hours ago


Where is the line between freedom of speech and defamation when it comes to people posting comments on website forums?

That question is being dealt with in an Ottawa courtroom as two Kingston owners of an online blogging site are answering to libel charges.

These days, the number of websites that attract anonymous commentary is endless. Whatever your political stripe or special interest, there will be a website for you to post comments with those who share the same views. Bloggers also visit online forums to offer a contrarian's views.

When it comes to political blogs, the views can get extreme. In most cases, these comments come unattributed.

Today, mainstream media offer a variety of ways for the public to post comments. Newspapers publish letters to the editor in print and host forums attached with stories on their respective websites.

Newspapers and magazines reject letters that are libellous. In time, individuals with strong views curb their hateful comments in order to participate in the debate.

Media have a responsibility to provide a forum for fair comment. As public watchdogs, media facilitate the debate that is necessary in a healthy democracy. But any time it crosses the line from fair comment to defamation, that content is omitted from the news or removed from the website.

It's that standard that keeps the public's trust in media and their role in deciphering truth.

Online forums play a different role in hosting public comment, but they must share the responsibility to determine what is fair comment. It's one thing to facilitate a discussion online, but it is another when that online conversation is based on falsehoods.

Individuals and groups deserve protection from potentially hurtful and damaging comments. That is why there are libel and slander laws to provide a permanent layer of legal protection.

Online forums, just like mainstream media, have an obligation to ensure that individuals post comments that are in good taste and stay within the legal guidelines.

There shouldn't be a double standard.

Article ID# 1502618

 
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Tony Hayward
(Login THAYWARD)
Forum Owner

Re: Here is a well written article........

No score for this post		April 2 2009, 6:57 AM 

Thanks for that Wayne great read! I'm not sure whether you've noticed over the past year or not, but there are an increasing number of participants to "The Cage" who have broken their anonymity and are very accessible around the rinks? This is really amazing and forms the foundation of a trustworthy/reliable source for information.

Hell there are "Cage Dwellers" who, through revealing their identity have fostered a healthy/sportsmanlike network of friends through this very forum, and for that I am grateful! The increasing list of valued contributors here "In The Cage" exceeds the undesirables by a very large margin Wayne!

I remember when this thing first started there were then a majority of users who used to trash players, disrespect other forum members and breach the guidelines set out for us by Network54. Over the years however, "WE" have taken back the night so to speak!

"WE", now the majority, refuse to be bullied by the power tripping egomaniacs who have attempted to manipulate young men and their families as well as this magnificent game.

Just take a look for example of the "characters" (PM, RG, VC, FC) who just a few short years ago were the blueprint for the dysfunctionality within this league! Am I crediting "The Cage" for their mass departure? .... Far from it!

What "The Cage" with its passionate, well informed contributors does do is expose such riff raff so that the respectable organizations CHOOSE not to hook their wagon to! Believe me Wayne, there are far more executives out there who read this and many other forums far more than they lead on.

They certainly don't want their organization being exposed on these boards for ANY wrongdoings whatsoever and any association with their franchise. Throughout the years many "shady" characters have had a negative impact on how the club which they represent are being perceived, and they've had enough of it!

These owners have collectively purged out the garbage to allow the respectable coaches to remain. One additional fact to consider as well is that, with an ever increasing list of daddy love me ownerships, more are becoming actively involved in the daily operation of their team. With this truth there is a much closer eye on the organization as many daddy owners now interact with the daily happenings of the team, which enables them to keep informed!

I'm drifting here Wayne, but what Iam trying to say is that because of such informative participants as yourself and a host of others, "WE" have rid ourselves here "In The Cage" of the cancer that has plagued this league for literally decades! The internet is a very powerful tool, though some may choose to believe otherwise .....

 


 
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