Posted by clarification - J on March 25, 1999 at 13:42:03 {MWrEF4/YdaJ9k}:
In Reply to: ***Post Deletion posted by J on March 25, 1999 at 13:29:19:
The truthfulness of the conversation is irrelevant to the right to speak freely.
The above statement might be confusing as posted. Therefore...
Since no slander took place the truthfulness aspect becomes moot. I could claim that I was talking to a couple who lived in a town of 3,000 people for the past 4 years who expressed their opinion to me that things will get better when Clinton is no longer President.
Whether or not this unknown couple said exactly that is not an issue because one of the parties involved in the discussion was simply explaining their perspective of the conversation.
No slanderous or libelous comments were made. Thus freedom of speech is paramount. One other comment I was going to post was that a lawsuit could be commenced for violating the freedom of speech of a participant of a public forum (outside the reasonable application of the rules)
J