Singapore student forced to shut down blog
-
who wants to set precedence? i believe the person involved has better things to do than respond everytime someone say something malicious. put yourself in his shoes. what will you do?Originally posted by lwflee:Yes we can. Well, at least I can. I expect the person invovled to state its view openly in a public forum. If the person concerned feels that the blogger is spreading malicious falsehoods, then say why he thinks the allegations are false, and which allegations he thinks are false. He should then give the Blogger a chance to retract his statements.
If you read the blogs, it would appear that The person concerned did not reply to the blogger's request for more information on the allegation of defamation; The blogger doesn't know specifically how he has been defamatory.
And yes, i agree with you that there is nothing wrong with a person taking legal action to seek redress. However, i know that Singapore's defamation laws are cr ap. There is therefore the danger that the blogger would not get what a normal person would call a fair trial. -
The problem is that he is a top civil servant. As such i expect higher standards from him! Also, i personally feel that a citizen should be able to have an open dialogue about the way his country/country's institutions are run. Some would argue that when a person spends all his time defending himself, he has no time to do his job. That is true, but the leaders of the UK certainly do not spend all their time defending themselves. So why can't we have the same level of openess?Originally posted by dragg:who wants to set precedence? i believe the person involved has better things to do than respond everytime someone say something malicious. put yourself in his shoes. what will you do?
I really do not have the answer to that. -
first u must qualify for the scholarship!!Originally posted by LazerLordz:We cannot let these agencies get away with this and to let our f/ucked up lack of freedom of expression poison the world is a sad and evil thing.
Very often, it is the guilty ones who react so vehemently and angrily to criticism, but apparently here, all it takes is some thin-skinnedness to start a fire which might burn down oneself if unchecked.
I'll turn down any Govt scholarship anyday, reason being I'll never be an individual again.No money nor influence is worth selling your soul.
-
without the so-call 'freedom of speech' many bloggers or forumers are already saying irresponsible things about others.
imagine the situation if 'freedom of speech' is really allowed!! -
You don't need to know someone in order to call him an idiot. I called him an idiot because his actions made him looked like one. I suspect he's also one IRL.Originally posted by dragg:why do you call philip yeo an idiot? you know him? -
you are also inviting a lawsuit!!!Originally posted by timothytsgsg:You don't need to know someone in order to call him an idiot. I called him an idiot because his actions made him looked like one. I suspect he's also one IRL. -
What I'm saying is the truth. If someone slaps me with a suit just because I stated the obvious truth, then I feel extremely sorry and sad for him. You know whom I refer to, btw.Originally posted by shade343:Oh my, did you just defame somebody in this post? -
that is exactly what i meant with my earlier post. without freedom of speech you are already saying irresponsible things. if given freedom of speech i really wonder what you will do!!!Originally posted by timothytsgsg:What I'm saying is the truth. If someone slaps me with a suit just because I stated the obvious truth, then I feel extremely sorry and sad for him. You know whom I refer to, btw. -
There is no need to imagine. Freedom of speech is alive and well in the UK. It is not unrestricted of course, but imo it is alive and well.Originally posted by dragg:without the so-call 'freedom of speech' many bloggers or forumers are already saying irresponsible things about others.
imagine the situation if 'freedom of speech' is really allowed!!
I agree with you to a certian extent. But like i said, there has to be a balance. I feel that the UK has got it right. That is not to say that the UK system is perfect. It is not, and anyone who knows about the Mclibel case will surely agree with me. However, imo those flaws are merely procedural; i think the law is sound. -
well, it is a fact that he's behaving like a total asswipe now...
is he going to take me to court over writing down my opinion?
especially when the opinion is clearly self-evident?Originally posted by dragg:you are also inviting a lawsuit!!! -
How is it irresponsible to call someone an idiot? He is merely stating his opinion on someone. Its not like he is saying that Phillip Yeo bribed his way into the position he is in now. THAT would be irresponsible and i habe no sympathy for anyone who is sued for making false allegations of those kind.Originally posted by dragg:that is exactly what i meant with my earlier post. without freedom of speech you are already saying irresponsible things. if given freedom of speech i really wonder what you will do!!!
EDIT: I hope you do not feel that i am picking a fight with you. I am not. I just diasagree with your views on Freedom of speech and defamation laws in general. -
how does it feel to be called an idiot for nothing? moreover he is someone reputable.Originally posted by lwflee:How is it irresponsible to call someone an idiot? He is merely stating his opinion on someone. Its not like he is saying that Phillip Yeo bribed his way into the position he is in now. THAT would be irresponsible and i habe no sympathy for anyone who is sued for making false allegations of those kind. -
i think he wont!!! coz people like you are everywhere!!Originally posted by the Bear:well, it is a fact that he's behaving like a total asswipe now...
is he going to take me to court over writing down my opinion?
especially when the opinion is clearly self-evident? -
likewise!!!Originally posted by lwflee:How is it irresponsible to call someone an idiot? He is merely stating his opinion on someone. Its not like he is saying that Phillip Yeo bribed his way into the position he is in now. THAT would be irresponsible and i habe no sympathy for anyone who is sued for making false allegations of those kind.
EDIT: I hope you do not feel that i am picking a fight with you. I am not. I just diasagree with your views on Freedom of speech and defamation laws in general. -
well, he's threatening to do so to ONE...
that's killing one to warn many...Originally posted by dragg:i think he wont!!! coz people like you are everywhere!! -
Originally posted by dragg:
Idiots could be reputable, too. Dan Quayle was known to be a reputable idiot.
how does it feel to be called an idiot for nothing? moreover he is someone reputable.
Nobody pleases everybody. People who are reputable could never avoid criticisms, especially groundless "damned if you do, damned if you don't" opinions. Some people tend to blame whoever is in charge for all the faults in the system. It takes graciousness and magnanimity to take such criticisms in stride.
Great leaders don't trifle themselves with petty accusations. They are too busy serving the people to get angry. -
it is fair. dont you think so? if you are a public figure do you want people to start writing malicious things about you without proof. wont you want to seek redress?Originally posted by the Bear:well, he's threatening to do so to ONE...
that's killing one to warn many... -
question: what was said?
that Philip Yeo is an idiot?
thing is this: if you are a public figure, you will invite the nutters.. and people who criticise you...
do you go threatening everyone who does?
frankly, this whole thing stinks like week-old fish left in the closet...
the initial thing may be that someone said Philip Yeo is an asswipe... but when Philip Yeo turned around and started behaving like one, no matter what the other guy did, Philip Yeo proved beyond a shadow of a doubt what kind of petty, vicious and insecure asswipe he is...
btw, just because you are rich, famous, and "reputable", does not mean you suddenly are beyond criticism... if you think so, you'll make a great minion of despots..Originally posted by dragg:it is fair. dont you think so? if you are a public figure do you want people to start writing malicious things about you without proof. wont you want to seek redress? -
i dont know what was said. but i do know that had he chosen to let it go many others will follow suit and start writing as well. why? coz they think it is a free-for-all and they wont be held accountable for anything!!Originally posted by the Bear:question: what was said?
that Philip Yeo is an idiot?
thing is this: if you are a public figure, you will invite the nutters.. and people who criticise you...
do you go threatening everyone who does?
frankly, this whole thing stinks like week-old fish left in the closet...
the initial thing may be that someone said Philip Yeo is an asswipe... but when Philip Yeo turned around and started behaving like one, no matter what the other guy did, Philip Yeo proved beyond a shadow of a doubt what kind of petty, vicious and insecure asswipe he is...
btw, just because you are rich, famous, and "reputable", does not mean you suddenly are beyond criticism... if you think so, you'll make a great minion of despots.. -
those would be trolls...
you know what kills trolls really quickly?
total and utter lack of attention..
this dude with the blog does not sound like a troll...
frankly, a blog is an opinion... it is NOT fact, it is NOT a news article...
blogs are blogs... if someone writes "last night, Clinton came to my place and we played 'hide the cigar' into the wee hours".. no one would care... because it is a blog!Originally posted by dragg:i dont know what was said. but i do know that had he chosen to let it go many others will follow suit and start writing as well. why? coz they think it is a free-for-all and they wont be held accountable for anything!! -
We are talking about an individual's response to another individual's opinion, which is why I cannot see the link towards a general environment of Freedom of Speech.Originally posted by lwflee:Yes we can. Well, at least I can. I expect the person invovled to state its view openly in a public forum. If the person concerned feels that the blogger is spreading malicious falsehoods, then say why he thinks the allegations are false, and which allegations he thinks are false. He should then give the Blogger a chance to retract his statements.
If you read the blogs, it would appear that The person concerned did not reply to the blogger's request for more information on the allegation of defamation; The blogger doesn't know specifically how he has been defamatory.
And yes, i agree with you that there is nothing wrong with a person taking legal action to seek redress. However, i know that Singapore's defamation laws are cr ap. There is therefore the danger that the blogger would not get what a normal person would call a fair trial.
It is no different from one forumite calling another forumite names and the latter gets p-issed. This has been happening on a regular basis here too.
I am not trying to defend Philip Yeo, I don't really like him either. But while his reaction lacks grace, it is a NATURAL reaction and it has nothing to do with freedom of speech. It's personal....
-
does that mean it is ok to say anything in a blog?Originally posted by the Bear:those would be trolls...
you know what kills trolls really quickly?
total and utter lack of attention..
this dude with the blog does not sound like a troll...
frankly, a blog is an opinion... it is NOT fact, it is NOT a news article...
blogs are blogs... if someone writes "last night, Clinton came to my place and we played 'hide the cigar' into the wee hours".. no one would care... because it is a blog!
the PSC scholar who passed those racists remark is therefore not wrong based on your reasoning? -
Thing is has he broken any laws?Racism is different.It goes against the spirit of our constitution.Originally posted by dragg:does that mean it is ok to say anything in a blog?
the PSC scholar who passed those racists remark is therefore not wrong based on your reasoning?
Chen has merely spoken his opinion on a matter that does not contravene the spirit of the law. -
if you say something about someone without proof it is defamation. defamation is against the law!!!Originally posted by LazerLordz:Thing is has he broken any laws?Racism is different.It goes against the spirit of our constitution.
Chen has merely spoken his opinion on a matter that does not contravene the spirit of the law. -
it is my opinion that a few cabinet ministers are total an utter running dogs...
that is NOT defamation...Originally posted by dragg:if you say something about someone without proof it is defamation. defamation is against the law!!!