Re: Charlie Brown

[Bob Hoffmann <escape@alt-escape.com>]

At 10:42 AM 12/15/1999 -0500, Charle5170@aol.com wrote:
>Once again I am amazed at the ignorance of posting these most recent
>allegations about an individual's character on this listserver.  I'm not an
>attorney, but I know enough to realize one cannot make statements of this
>nature in a public forum without a strong, factual basis.

I'm not an attorney either, but my impression is that you are wrong.  I, 
too, was somewhat disappointed by the hostile comments, but this forum is a 
place where people can say controversial things without fear of reprisal.

In a strictly legal sense (and lawyers out there can confirm or dispute, 
please), the legal charge of libel requires that the plaintiff prove 
material/financial damages.  It will be hard for a dead man to do so.  I 
suspect it would be hard for Charlie to do so were he still alive.

>While I enjoy the V2020 service, I think it needs a bit more editing/policing
>on matters like this or it may disappear in a cloud of litigation.

Service providers to Vision 2020 should be no more responsible for the 
content of the conversation than GTE should be responsible for the content 
of our telephone calls.  Indeed, this forum is prone to sudden outbursts 
and inflammatory comments, but such comments also can be quickly rebutted.


Bob Hoffmann
229 East C St., Suite B
Moscow, ID  83843  USA
Phone: (208) 883-0642
Fax: 1-800-683-3799
http://www.alt-escape.com