"The Stupid Man's Press"
(It's an old one but I thought I would re-post)
Response to an article written by Ms. Patrice Manuel, printed in the July 14, 1999
edition of the "Jennings Daily News". This article is a critique of the
newspaper article entitled Don't think you're anonymous on the Internet, which appeared in
the OP/ED page.
(This is the article from which the phrase "The Stupid Man's Press" was co-opted
into the Mouthing Off name. The name had a nice ring to it. Blue italics are quotes from
the article with my follow up in green. This was e-mailed to the author and posted on the
web in 1999.)
"Many people enjoy freedom of speech. It is a wonderous, powerful thing that our ancestors gave to us so that we as a people would always be able to speak our minds."
Many people?... Don't you mean all people? Who are you excluding and why are you excluding them?
Our Ancestors did not give us freedom of speech. Our ancestors earned it and each generation has had to fight to keep it. My ancestors did not give me freedom of Speech. They gave their lives, shed their blood and fought on a battlefields to defend and preserve it. They didn't give it to me...they made sacrafices to earn it for me!
"However, as with all things, there are limits to just what is covered under freedom of speech. Basically, you have freedoms until your freedoms begin to infringe upon someone elses.
Nobody on God's green
earth has infringed on the rights of others under the guise of freedom of press and
freedom of speech more than the news media and the press. The group to which you belong.
Just ask Richard Jewels (accused of the Olympic Bombings in Atlanta only to find out it
wasn't him)
"People have a tendency to take advantage of what free speech is all about and they use that misconcept to gaurd the poorest of intentions. They also use it to hide behind like a shield."
In a feeding frenzy to get the story first the news media has destroyed the jobs, marriages, and the entire lives of many people. They have destroyed peoples life's work. Accurate information only comes second. What group of people shouts the loudest "Freedom of Press!", "Freedom of Speech!" ? The news media does. Does the average citizen stand behind it like a shield more or does the newsmedia?
"This covers any type of slanderous remark that you might hear or read about on the internet. That's right boys and girls. Class is now in session and I think it's time you recieve a little information about your favorite pet - the Web."
Is it preferred to hear or read slanderous remarks in the newspaper? Is this the preferred source of slander? Incidentally slander is a spoken defamation. Libel is a written defamation! The next sentence could not have been more condesending for the readers. Fact of the matter is, class started a long time ago, the second bell has already rang...and your late! There are people in this area that can tell you a thing or 2 about the web.
While I cringe at the thought of giving any credence to particular web sites from the nether regions, I feel that as a representative of basically what free speech stands for, I feel it is my position to speak out.
The discussion group you
were referring to is not a web site in the nether region. It is a leading site in your
community and has been so for quite some time.
You are not a representative of what free speech stands for, nor are you a
representative of free speech for anyone but yourself and perhaps the newpaper you work
for. It is an insult to the intelligence of the community to nominate yourself as their
spokesperson for free speech and what it stands for. You are in no position to give
credence to any website whether in the nether region or anywhere else.
"I once professed an opinion to a professor of mine that I still stand by -"the internet is the stupid man's press". Particularly if they have point and click access which almost all computers do now."
I am glad you stand behind that statement so strongly. The internet is a vehicle for speech, no different than a newspaper, a magazine, a billboard, a printed flyer or a message in a bottle. It is a passive conduit where people...ordinary people can express themselves. If the internet is "a stupid man's press", then why is the press using it? It is getting harder to find the free expressions of ordinary people, because the web is being over run by traditional press agencies. The Stupid Man's Press?..You better tell all the major news organizations. Perhaps that statement explains why the Jennings Daily News does not have a presence on the web!
"Please do not be confused with a computer user and someone who is knowledgeable about computers being one and the same. Just because you are capable of using a computer does not confer intelligence of the subject.
I'm not sure what this means but I can only respond by saying that I was working on computers and formulating opinions and gaining experience and knowledge from living day to day long before female members of generation X saw their first period!
----next paragraph skipped
As an on-line administrator in my spare time, I feel it is my
duty to recommend to people that they be careful. Yes, you can be traced and yes, charges
can be filed against you for slanderous activity.
Restraining orders can be filed and loss of telephone priviledges can occur. I am not sure
if the monitor of any particular board has made that clear to all users, but the internet
is not a safe haven for abuse. Free Speech, yes - abuse, no.
The internet is a haven for free speech but not abuse? That is what you inferred in your last sentence. Which one is it going to be...A stupid man's press or a haven for free speech.? Was this your contribution to contradicting yourself as do many reporters? Although your information provided about privacy was accurate and common knowledge, you should not feel as though you have a duty that you must fulfill.
Although you did not name me or my site, obviously, because you did not want to give "credence", way over here in the nether regions, it was obvious to all who you were talking about.
Finally, I recieved a phone call from the Jennings Daily News. I would presume they were calling me for a statement about the outgoing article. The calls went to my home where I wasn't. If someone would have shouted aloud in the Daily News Office, "Where can I find Joe?", any number of them could have told you. With 2 minutes of investigative work, you could have had me on the phone. But then again, it would have required 2 minutes of investigative work, something that has been gone since Sarah left!
From Where I Stand...The power to wreck and destroy peoples lives have always laid in the hands of the print and electronic media. They have done an admirable job if you view it in terms of destruction. Ask Richard Jewels. When a news agency is sued for libel, slander or other defamation, what defense do they use? What Constitutional Amendment do they hide behind?...To them, their freedom has no limits. Only when someone else stands behind these principals do they want to impose limits.
Yes, you were right that individuals were abusing not their freedom of speech but they were abusing the vehicle that was delivering the message. .
Joe
from the "Stupid Man's Press" located somewhere in the nether regions
This is just my opinion yours may vary...!