"Friends were asking me if I'd seen what was
being said about me in the newsgroups. About the
only thing I wasn't accused of (it can be only a
matter of time before I am!) was pedophilia.
My professional achievements evaporated. My
intelligence was independently assessed at
around the level of one of the higher primates,
and my knowledge, competence and judgment were
all described in terms that, if any of my
clients took them seriously, would have ended my
income.
For someone who actually inhabits the
flame-basted wastes of Usenet, however, such
libels can be very serious.
As a result, despite years of traditional
restraint, the Usenetizens are starting to
abandon their quaint old-fashioned beliefs in
ultimate freedom of speech, and are taking their
antagonists to Court." . . .
Cases will increase. You can be sued in
Canada for a libel you posted when you lived in
Hong Kong or Venezuela. The libelous reach of
the internet means you could find yourself
arraigned under the repressive laws of a country
you have never heard of, for saying something
you thought was "fair comment" in the UK, or
covered by the free speech amendment in the US.
