Letter from the editor

[omikkron]

Here's a little I told ya so.

Remember how people were saying that Norm would trash this site in the NGN, and I said "The best you can hope for is some vague editorial about it all"

Well, the camping editorial was it. "Idiots.com" and the "printed diahrrea" is as close as he will get, because he certainly wouldn't want to name the site and have more people see that video mocking him.

The "Top Dawg" photographer article was even more pitiful this week though. Dooley was signing whatever people asked him to. He signed my brother's book, "To a true Dawg," because he asked him to.

Lots of people ask for those types of autographs, but only the "workdog" would beg Dooley to sign his photo that way and then try to brag about it. Pathetic.

Omikkron

[shortcircuit]

And I'm sure the slander from him will continue but so what? It just means that people are noticing this website and that's a good thing. Norm, I'm sure you'll read this post so will you plllllllleeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaseeeeeeee mention shortcircuit in your column? I wanna be famous!

[shortcircuit]

The writer from the sentinel was attacking freedom of speech in his column last week but I don't know if he was referring to this site or one of the others where people were talking about the issue with the towns county sheriff. I guess most newspaper editors will try their best to discredit internet sites where everyone can post their opinion. I think most of them want their opinion to be the only one known. I am disappointed with rainer arnold, he seemed to be a good writer until now.

RAINER'S RAMBLINGS
Old fashioned is good
By RAINER ARNOLD Union Sentinel Publisher





The rumors that are flying about our neighboring county, Towns, are unbelievable. And what is interesting, they get worse by the day. Now granted some not too nice things happened in that county and even the AJC has gotten in on the act claiming that Towns County is no longer a Mayberry like in Andy Griffth's TV show. Well, first of all, it never was a Mayberry and once the lake came and tourists it never had the opportunity to become a Mayberry.

The reason I mention this whole thing is because all these people say things about others, but they will not be quoted. "I heard this" and I heard that" is all over town as well as "Don't tell anyone I told you this." Personally, I think these rumor mongers ought to have to be quoted and their comments and their names ought to be in the paper. I guarantee, the rumors would stop.

But Towns County does not have a monopoly on rumors and innuendo. A friend recently showed me some exerpts from a website.

On this site people are hiding behind names that are not their own. They say things that are not true as if they were proven fact. They accuse people, public and private, of things they ought to go to jail for. What is the recourse for these people who are the victims of rumors on the Internet?

To be honest, I have no clue what to do about these people who live by the production and dissemination of rumors. I just wish someone would have the nerve to publish their names on the same site and I bet the rumors would stop, at least to some degree. Why are these people so cowardly as to attack others without standing in front of them and telling them what they are saying?

Now, I am not saying that these things only happen in Union or Towns County. Rumors are rampant in most places in our country and at almost every level. High schools have them, colleges have them and even local, state and national government officials have to deal with rumors.

I realize rumors are entertaining and take up time. So, maybe all these people who create these rumors ought to get jobs and or get a life and they might not have so much spare time in which they can create these rumors that actually have the ability to harm others.

I am not sure how to end this rumor mongering, but I feel certain that if some of the creators of these rumors were the subject of rumors themselves, it might create less rumors. I guess it might be like fighting fire with fire.

[summerose]

I have to agree with him though, rumors/gossip does get out of hand and can harm someone's character/life!

As an example look what happened to Jess Gibson.

[crazywild]

Exactly!

[shortcircuit]

Oh don't get me wrong summerose, I agree with you there. Spreading gossip is wrong, however stating your opinion and discussing issues on the internet isn't. Maybe I'm wrong in criticizing him, I just think that people like him and Norman shouldn't use their position as writers to discredit people they don't agree with.

[crazywild]

Shorty, if you ever go out amungst a crowd in our local towns... UC and TC.. ask around what people think of the "websites"... Its not the fact that people work hard to get them here for those to create the atmosphere.. its those who create the atmosphere..

I urge everyone who loves the forums to go out and ask OPEN MINDEDLY opinions on what others read..

Youre gonna get .. some responses other than.. that man who does his homework and brings FACT to those who misrepresent.. see.. its the post and replies that people find rediculous.. that turns them away before they even get to see that mans post that was LOGICAL..

I agree completely with Ranier.. He was NOT tromping on ALL.. unless you gossip.. or whatever... but Shorty.. from what I read of your post.. I would say that he was NOT TALKING ABOUT YOU!! I wouldnt relate you to what he is refering to. for what that is worth..

There is ALOT of misinformation.. rumors, greed, false claims.. out there.. whoever the crowd is that is being FED into this.. is the ones who want it exactly like that..

Hey, I LOVE our COUNTY! I LOVE THE HISTORY! I absolutely love reading some of the forums.. but I think when it gets personal.. that that person will know better than ANYONE else.. so if ya like DRAMA.. If you have a personal problem with another.. Yeah, I am like the editor to of that article.. BRING IT HOME BABY... COME FACE TO FACE... the reason folks hide behind rumors and gossip, is most likely so they dont have to deal with their own vicious truths in their own lives.. God help them is all I can say.. because if they dealt with their own demons, they would be so much more happier!

[shortcircuit]

There are LOTS of people who read this board, my job requires alot of interaction with people, especially newcomers. I mention this board occasionally and you'd be surprised at how many have browsed this site. I've got a few negative comments but it's mostly positive believe it or not. Like I said, there are people out there who feel extremely threatened by some of the topics here so they want to try their best to try and discredit the site and the people who post here.

[realitycheck101]

shortcircuit said:

There are LOTS of people who read this board, my job requires alot of interaction with people, especially newcomers. I mention this board occasionally and you'd be surprised at how many have browsed this site. I've got a few negative comments but it's mostly positive believe it or not. Like I said, there are people out there who feel extremely threatened by some of the topics here so they want to try their best to try and discredit the site and the people who post here.

JOB..You have an actual JOB..as in work...Does someone actually pay you a check each week for working...get outta here..I don't believe it!!

[shortcircuit]

Yeah it's true, believe it or not. You oughta try it, it would do you good. I don't know if I make as much as newspaper editors or not but it's a decent living.

[manape]

Short, you are entitled to your opinion, but...

People (private people) can get their pants sued off for defamation, which is not protected by the constitution.

"The writer from the sentinel was attacking freedom of speech in his column last week but I don't know if he was referring to this site or one of the others where people were talking about the issue with the towns county sheriff. I guess most newspaper editors will try their best to discredit Internet sites where everyone can post their opinion. I think most of them want their opinion to be the only one known. I am disappointed with Rainer Arnold, he seemed to be a good writer until now."
(Shortcircuit)

Short, I don't think Arnold is attacking free speech at all...he is defining defamation which is not protected by the First Amendment. The right to freedom of expression is restricted when the expressions, whether spoken of written, are untrue and cause harm to another person. (ma nape)

What he said is the same thing I have said since day one, when I joined blairsvillecity.com. Read again what Arnold said:

"They say things that are not true as if they were proven fact. They accuse people, public and private, of things they ought to go to jail for. What is the recourse for these people who are the victims of rumors on the Internet?"
(Arnold)

The Supreme Court has held that the following types of speech are not protected by the First Amendment and may be forbidden by the government: obscene speech, defamation, incitement of panic, incitement to crime, "fighting words," and sedition (incitement of discontent or rebellion against a government).
(source: Ethics in Information Technology, George Reynolds)

Example: I don't know if it was really incitement to crime, but remember spoiled ribs trying to get someone on the forum to pistol whip Lamar. I think the post was deleted later. The great newspaper man from Miami should have more sense than that. Perhaps, he hadn't taken his lithium when he wrote that and in reality he may not have really been that person. Even if some one covers their tracks pretty well, they can still be found. The Internet is not as private as most think.

"What is the recourse for these people who are the victims of rumors on the Internet?" (Arnold) Can you say lawsuit?

I don't want the censorship that exists on blairsville.com, but there has to be a moderator to control forums. I'm glad we have a Marshall, but I don't believe he is here to guard against defamation. The rules say the creators of the forum site are not responsible for the content.

[manape]

Before someone gets on their high horse and tries to accuse me of being someone I'm not, I am just trying to warn you as a friend. Don't be stupid and say stupid stuff! Good night.

[realitycheck101]

Ever since the first consideration of the idea of 'free speech' it has been recognised that the right to free speech is subject to restrictions and exceptions. The best-known is typified by the statement that free speech does not allow falsely "shouting fire in a crowded theatre" (Schenck v. United States). Other limiting doctrines, including those of libel and obscenity, can also restrict freedom of speech. The case Brandenburg v. Ohio found that the US government could restrict free speech only if it was "likely to incite imminent lawless action". To the extent speech may be regulated, it ordinarily must be regulated in a viewpoint-neutral manner. In the United States, when a government proscribes certain speech based on the content, the regulation is presumptively unconstitutional.

[wranger]

Rainer's column really didn't say anything. It was more coherent than most of his. Short, you thought he was a good writer? All he does is talk about his news high priced gadget and uses very poor sentence structure.

[wranger]

Your sins are forgiven. It was supposed to say New high priced gadget. That's what I get for making fun of Rainer's grammar.