The OC Sheriff’s department staked out an FFFF outpost last week to deliver a subpoena demanding that fullertonsfuture.org produce information identifying one of our anonymous commenters.
Cheryl Sanders, currently a “Real Property Specialist” for the City of Anaheim, is suing (see complaint) one or more John Does who allegedly defamed her in anonymous comments on FFFF and a few other sites. The blog comments claim that the Anaheim planning department is taking bribes under the table, call for an investigation and state that Cheryl Sanders should be “brought to justice.”
Faceless Internet meanies strike again
Of course, Sanders’ suit against the commenter claims that all of these statements are false and were made with the intent to emotionally harm her.
Read the rest of “FFFF Gets A Subpoena from an Anaheim Employee”
I have a real problem with anonymous posters – If you want to say it, you should be willing to back it up. I never post anonymously. I would like to see policies that prevent anonymous posts. On the other hand,I would also like to see more accountability for public officials in carrying out their jobs and I am very respectfull of the First Amendment protections for political speech.
Having read the complaint, I will note that Ms. Saunders did not hire an attorney and is bringing the suit on her own. Without knowing any of the background facts and without commenting on the accuracy of the accusations, I will also note that in my opinion, many of the posts are not legally problematic.
“If you want to say it, you should be willing to back it up.”
Why? What does my name have to do with my comments? It certainly does not lend them any authority. Truth stands on its own, no matter who says it.
It’s a whistle-blower thing, Geoff. For every ten idiots we might get who will talk out of their ass anonymously, there will be one person telling us something important that could be risking their career if their identities were blown. That one is worth those ten.
I guess I am just a child of the 60’s that believes you should stand up and be heard about what you care about. If its the truth and you believe it, that should be more important than any career. I am probably too optimistic and naive, but it seems to have served me pretty well so far.
Now you’re being silly. I think my last comment was clear enough about why it is important to keep a safe space for anonymous commenters, even if it may be abused often. You’re a lawyer, I don’t think anything I write is too complicated for you.
“For every ten idiots we might get who will talk out of their ass anonymously, ..”
Damn you Vern Nelson – everyone knows that you are talking about me with this coment. I am going to sue your ass off!!
Happy New Year!
This is double edge sword, the beauty and the beast of this great internet.
Let us not forget, that the OC’s own Matt Cunningham ran undercover as “JUBAL” for years, before being outed. This perhaps a great case against anonimity online. It can be abused for ones selfishness. Although, using his real name has’nt seemed to make a difference!
The point is, it is the internet. It may suck, you may have to sift through bullshit, but just like those idiots who said the Iraq war was a joke, that the City of Bell was hosing it’s imigrant population or even those who warned that Schwartzneegger was going to sell us down the river, the blogs offer a fourm to voice these thought without retribution.
This is double edge sword, the beauty and the beast of this great internet.
And that sounds like the beginning of a 21st-century prayer. A prayer to be developed here on the Orange Juice.