Freedom of Speech on the Internet

[Alibaldi]

Amnesty International takes up the cause started by others
Story on the BBC

I agree that MN does appear to have double standards.

And meanwhile, back to Amnesty's campaign on behalf of people who are imprisoned due to content of e mails and blogs?
"People have been locked up just for expressing their views in an email or a website,"

Donnie, Of course I didn't threaten legal action. I think Mumsnet were really good to me.

Blu, I don't know who the other lawyers were - all I got was an inquisition from someone who bizarrely didn't know any of the topical corporate tax issues - came over all reticent and finally said she was an accountant and it wasn't her field.

I will reiterate the descriptions of that thread as being "horrible, vindictive and entirely pointless", composed of "mindlessly gleeful baying rabble of teenage bullies" and people indulging a "cruel sense of humour" with the "urge to pick on someone".

That's why the thread was deleted. And if you have had difficulty getting other threads pulled, then imagine how horrible they all were. Anyhow, this is just another pack forming. I'm off this strand.

But thanks lots Mumsnet, for protecting newcomers.

actually the only person who questioned your gender was me.

there is a long and glorious history of people being accused of being hairy handed truckers and 12 year old boys called Neil and suchlike - it is shorthand for saying "you may not be what you seem". And it appears that you aren't what you seemed... you had no experience of child protection law although you set yourself up as some sort of expert - which you eventually admitted. You also seem to be a little loose on some basic concepts of a tax law for someone who claims to be a tax lawyer - but I'll let Dino, who is a partner of a big 4 firm, to deal with that point much better than I can.

These accusations of bullying are nonsense. yuo are actually objecting to people disagreeing with you and saying "hang on, on what basis are you setting yourself up as some sort of expert on this deeply distasteful mccann thread"? Any bullying has been entirely in one direction - from you.

You'll notice that I have never posted a single word on any mccann thread... and I never will, not being some sort of voyeuristic/hubristic wierdo.

As I understand it there is a big difference between freedom of speech and personal attacks on someone. For example I could say that I think Dr Sears methods of childraising are sheer lunacy which is fine, but if I say Dr Sears is a lunatic then it is a personal attack and is not fine at all (BTW, Dr Sears, if you're reading this I actually love you and think you are wonderful).

As for the Amnesty campaign, more power to them. I find the repression of information in places like Iran and China very disturbing. I also think that it is ultimately doomed - you can't stop the internet.

I think if I were running MN I would draw a distinction between debate/argument/disagreement on a thread and a negative thread set up specifically about a poster.

Hi Dinosaur,
We've responded to your mail in person so have a look at that - we do see your point - I do hope you can see where we are coming from too.

And hi again, FakeID. I see you suggest Mumsnet is interested in updating the libel the laws merely for our own sakes and (even more charmingly) because I'm after a bit of personal publicity.

Maybe, in the interests of fair play, it's time you revealed your hand now. I could equally suggest, given who you are business advisor to, and our particular recent history that you have an interest in enusuring the libel laws remain as stringent as possible? Somehow, I'm not surprised that you remain unconvinced by our (and many other people's) arguments for a change in the libel law but we'll continue to profer our suggestions nevertheless.

aaaah

oh sorry dino I'm going MAD of course I meant the dogsbollox.

you, of course, are a 55 year old cigar smoking 28 stone corporate lawyer called Keith

You couldn't make that penny drop a bit further could you, Aitch?

careful justine

although I completely understand the temptation

perhaps delete your own post justine (just a suggestion)

How interesting Justine. A little bit of foul play on fakeid's part I'd suggest.

I think you need to send me your birth certificate and gender reassignment certificate to confirm that, Kevin

LOL

But FakeID was SO supportive of QC...it would be a shame.....

It must be so cool to know who everyone really is. And should I be very relieved that I used Dr Sears as my example?

[mind boggles, brain melts etc etc]

but never me dino!

next time I'm in the City we should meet up.

If you are still there in 2012

My remark was about Justine, Dino.