Can anyone tell me why libel and slander are no longer serious crimes?

NoSheep

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Fri Sep-18-09 01:15 AM
Original message

Can anyone tell me why libel and slander are no longer serious crimes?

I just cannot believe what I've been seeing for the past ...shite...since Carter was elected but it has gotten so much worse. Are there no laws to protect people from the misinformation and defamation we are seeing now in such abundance?

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Eric J in MN

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Fri Sep-18-09 01:27 AM
Response to Original message

1. They aren't crimes in the US.

Libel and slander are violations of civil laws which can result in lawsuits and money awarded, not crimes which are prosecuted to put people in prison.

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NoSheep

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Fri Sep-18-09 01:36 AM
Response to Reply #1

3. What you say makes sense. I imagine if you aren't going to prosecute

Edited on Fri Sep-18-09 01:50 AM by NoSheep

the BUSH regime for crimes you certainly aren't going to get uptight about a little "violation" against your person such as libel and slander! Times have certainly changed. There was a time when I think a person's reputation was all they had and to impugn that was practically the worst thing you could do to that person...kind of like identity theft. What an obvious outcome of the misinformation age! Lies, about another person...so long as they are politically connected, are totally irrelevant. CRIMES are totally irrelevant. So long as you are connected.

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Bicoastal

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Fri Sep-18-09 01:28 AM
Original message

Label and Sander?

Lubel and Sandler?

Loading and Pander?

Lemur and Panda?

Lorimer and Punter?

Llama and Panza?

Lily and Penny?

Lilac and Peony?

Luck and Pop?

Lip and Pip?

L and P?

z zzz z

fweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeepop

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NoSheep

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Fri Sep-18-09 01:56 AM
Response to Original message

5. Will you marry me, word freak?

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NoSheep

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Fri Sep-18-09 01:59 AM
Response to Original message

6. I'm series!

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HiFructosePronSyrup

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Fri Sep-18-09 01:28 AM
Response to Original message

2. Uh, because they never were?

:shrug:

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NoSheep

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Fri Sep-18-09 01:37 AM
Response to Original message

4. Apparently, "Crime" is something poor folks do!

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(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Fri Sep-18-09 06:13 AM
Response to Reply #4

10. Or Democrats.

The rabid right can do no wrong. It doesn't matter if it is totally made up or not.

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tsuki

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Fri Sep-18-09 03:37 AM
Response to Original message

7. Because the system is backwards in the US. "Freedom" of speech

has come to mean you can lie, libel and slander in a mean, malicious, spiteful manner without consequence. The object of derision can take you to court, but must prove that you lied, were malicious and he suffered a monetary loss.

In many countries, "freedom" of speech has a "responsibility" of speech attachment. If you lie, libel or slander a person, he can take you to court, and you have to prove that the lie is true. And a judgment can be levied because of the loss of his "good" name.

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slackmaster

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Fri Sep-18-09 04:23 AM
Response to Original message

8. Because they never were crimes

:shrug:

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onenote

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Fri Sep-18-09 05:52 AM
Response to Original message

9. because we have this thing called the first amendment

libel and slander aren't criminal offenses and if you think you remember a time when they were, you are mistaken.
and the reason that its hard to bring a libel/slander case if you're a political figure is that we have first amendment that protects political speech and if everytime someone criticized a political figure they could be sued, it would have an absolutely chilling effect on free speech.

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