Date:         Thu, 16 Jan 2003 19:59:18 -0600
Reply-To:     Owen Brand <olists@THEBRANDS.ORG>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Owen Brand <olists@THEBRANDS.ORG>
Subject:      Re: Liability, was: good shop / bad shop website?
Comments: To: "G.M.Bulley" <gmbulley@BULLEY-HEWLETT.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Way to go! I can't bear the idea of standing mute for fear of litigation.
Glad to see a sensible alternative.

----- Original Message -----
From: "G.M.Bulley" <gmbulley@BULLEY-HEWLETT.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Thursday, January 16, 2003 6:37 PM
Subject: Liability, was: good shop / bad shop website?


> Howdy--
>
> I make my living with words, many of which are published, spoken, or
> distributed globally. Liability on the internet is a no-brainer.
>
> You can say anything you want on an on-line list without fear of
> liability action if you take one simple action: rebase EVERY comment
> into the realm of opinion, or personal experience, rather than fact.
> (All of the following is falsehood for example)
>
> If I say in this forum: "George W. Bush is a homosexual pedophile, with
> a serious drug problem and a penchant for late-night escapades dressed
> as a circus clown with a bull whip." I can get in serious trouble.
>
> If I say in this forum "based on my experience, George W. Bush must be a
> homosexual pedophile, with a serious drug problem and a penchant for
> late-night escapades dressed as a circus clown with a bull whip;" I'm
> okay.
>
> Or you can say, "In my opinion, Mark Stephens High Performance of
> Petaluma, CA is a bunch of pot-smoking losers who don't keep even the
> basest of promises to their customers and deserve to be out of
> business;"  and you'd be okay.
>
> Or "I think XYZ-VanWorx can't fulfill an order on time if their life
> depends on it"
>
> Or "I wouldn't have ABC VW touch my van if they were the last repair
> shop on earth. In my opinion, they put bananas in the transmission,
> pepper in the radiator, and they dress poorly."
>
> Let her rip...
>
> Bringing ideas to life,
> G. Matthew Bulley
> Bulley-Hewlett
> www.bulley-hewlett.com
> AIM = IExplain4u
> +1.919.658.1278
> "Fax mentis incendium gloria culpum"
>