Do bloggers deserve first amendment protection?

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   hawkdad73posted 13 years ago

   A judge in the Obsidian Finance Group v. Cox case found that Cox was not a journalist and "therefore not entitled to the protections that media defendants enjoy in libel cases" (First amendment.org). Journalists say bloggers aren't journalists; even though that is true (and it is most likely relative to particular states), don't we have/deserve First Amendment rights?

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      MelissaBarrettposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      First amendment rights don't apply to libel in the first place.

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         hawkdad73posted 13 years agoin reply to this

         It still begs the question because it had become a freedom of speech issue; if people do not see any boundaries to what can be written or said, then they will say anything no matter how outlandish.

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   geordmcposted 13 years ago

   I have always thought that the right of free speech applied to everybody, individuals included. If that right is taken from us we need to assault washington en masse and demand our rights be restored. ASAP!!!

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      hawkdad73posted 13 years agoin reply to this

      geordmc
         
      
      It does apply to everybody.  That's why I was confused. Even though Cox was libelous, you still have to wonder about the judge's ruling in the case. 
      
      
      Thanks

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         sunforgedposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         No, Dont wonder.
         
         COvergae of the cox case was poor.
         
         here: see the real Cox, her name is fitting
         
         http://saltydroid.info/crystal-cox-is-not-a-blogger/
         
         the legal issues are covered in a little more depth, beware, the blogger is a bit salty

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            hawkdad73posted 13 years agoin reply to this

            Will read, thank you.

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   maxoxam41posted 13 years ago

   The constitution, the Bill of rights were written, addressed to the American people. Whatever bill or amendment concerns all the Americans, now to discriminate one versus the another is "unamerican", unconstitutional.

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      hawkdad73posted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I agree maxoxam41.

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   innersmiffposted 13 years ago

   Moral principles, like the First Amendment, need to apply to all citizens otherwise it is essentially meaningless.

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      hawkdad73posted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I agree innersmiff. Even though the case I mentioned had to do with a writer who is considered libelous, the fact that the bloggers are not afforded the same protection under the Constitution.
      
      Thankyou.

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   Druid Dudeposted 13 years ago

   People on the net should be not accorded any particular rights...as soon as someone shows me  where the border crossing over to totalitarianism exists in cyberspace. Silence or censor me, and I will find a way to speak and be heard. Reminds me of a dream I had when I was young...damned if it hasn't come true. The sad thing is, is the more we speak the more we will be silenced. Check out the One World Government forum.  I've seen this coming for a very long time.

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      hawkdad73posted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Thank you Druid Dude.

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   sunforgedposted 13 years ago

   Cox was a digital blackmailer, not a journalist.
   
   She wrote false and unproven things about an individual, then heavily promoted those easy terms and offered to provide "reputation management" to her victim.
   
   The media just did a crap job at covering that story
   
   Otherwise, yes a blogger should have first amendment rights. Libel is not protected by the First Amendment as MB stated
   
   In my opinion and based on investigative journalism performed by the Salty Droid, including personal communication allegedly posted by Cox

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      hawkdad73posted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Libel is not protected, obviously, because you can't protect someone if it what they write or say is not true. If people's voices are totally unfettered, they will talk or write themselves into hot water.
      
      Thanks.

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         Druid Dudeposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Wouldn't have put a target on if I wasn't prepared to wear one.

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   GmaGoldieposted 13 years ago

   Wise words...
   
   "I mean, in some cases with libel laws, you know, they can write things about people who have no course of action, because they can't afford to take legal action against them."
   Elton John

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