The Court of Public Opinion

These days it is easy to wander onto Facebook and read about the day’s drama, rants, complaints, narcissism or just the good clean fun. It is as easy to read as it is to post. I’m sure we can agree that it is easy to vent a little when we have had a bad day but how far is too far?

There have been court rulings that have protected Facebook as a forum of free speech. That’s great. The first amendment is my favorite. But just as we relish in that small victory, let us remember that the first amendment comes with responsibilities. I have always told my students that your rights end where the next man’s nose begins. In other words, you can do what you want so long as you do not hurt others. That being said, I think there are some folks out there that need a lesson in libel and slander.

Libel and Slander occur when a person communicates false information that damages the reputation of another person. Now in some cases this is not done intentionally. People just don’t know all the facts and they misspeak about a situation or a person. There are some people though, sadly, do this intentionally for whatever reason. Some might need the support of others when they want to be right. They may do this at the expense of a good person and cause them many headaches with family, friends or even their jobs. The bottom line is that you can be sued for this. As the courts continue to sort out the online world, I would treat Facebook as if you are literally standing in front of your 457 friends (most of them you didn’t even talk to in high school) and realize that somebody will hear you. Facebook has actually made the world a smaller place, not a bigger one.

Exercise caution my friends!

http://www.enotes.com/first-amendment-law-reference/libel-and-slander