Friday, December 24, 2010

Libel Laws Stifling Free Speech

IANAL, but accusing a politician of doing things - like writing bills - which he has done does not seem like libel to me. Therefore I don't understand this university's position. NB as this was purely a university matter, Mr Justice Eady was in no way involved, therefore perhaps we won't see Nick Cohen griping about this assault on freedom of (as far as I can tell, well argued) expression.

For everyone who celebrates Festivus, have a good one. May all your grievances be aired!

3 Comments:

Anonymous skidmarx said...

the flyer "contains no linguistic of graphic element liable to harm the minister's dignity."
Meaning they did think of picturing him with a small moustache but thought better of it.
To be fair to the Dean of Students, perhaps HINAL, and is erring on the side of caution. It may be relevant that the debating society he has endorsed has a "tainted" or "damned" Communications Director.

12/30/2010 05:37:00 PM  
Anonymous organic cheeseboard said...

Happy new year everyone!

I've been away but - kind of on tipic - while away I read The Finkler question.

Any interest in a short review, if i have time to cobble one together?

sneak preview:

whatever its politics - and they are weird and not exactly what you'd expect, as this blog in general predicted at the time of the booker win - it is a truly AWFUL novel. All over the place stylistically, totally uninteresting from first to last, pisspoor, wafer-thin characterisation, and never, ever, ever funny, despite trying really hard all the way through.

I really don't understand how it could even have been longlisted for the booker.

1/01/2011 11:30:00 AM  
Blogger Chardonnay Chap said...

OC please do. backword gmail.com (put an ampersat in there).

Skidmarx, he was erring on the side of caution, but being much too cautious, IMO, as I really can't see the libel - if libel involves falsehoods. There are lots of nasty true things one can say about Israeli actions. Israel apologists like to say that it's the only democracy in the ME. It increasingly doesn't act like one.

More Israel fun: Peter Oborne is mildly critical of Israel. The comments - of which there are 1479 so far - are incredible.

1/01/2011 02:20:00 PM  

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