October-November 2001 Edition

Limits of Free Speech   A court case in Emerson (a few miles northeast of Fair Lawn) is generating national attention on the limits of free speech.  The popularity of Fair Lawn’s Discussion Space has made this a very relevant issue for Fair Lawn residents.   In the United States, freedom of speech and freedom of the press have their limits.  You can not yell fire in a crowded movie theater, if there is no fire.  You can not tell people that your neighbor cheats on his taxes (unless you have damn good evidence to prove it).     In Emerson, two Council members recently filed a defamation lawsuit against both the operator of Emerson’s bulletin board and dozens of people who anonymously posted on the board.  The Emerson Council members claimed that the postings were false and reprehensible.   The bulletin board operator subsequently countersued the Council members.    Phil Plotch, the Editor of Fair Lawn News, spoke with the Emerson Council about how they could make their discussion board a valuable asset for their community.  He told the Council members that “people who use the Fair Lawn Discussion Space do complain and they do criticize.  But, I want you to know what they also do. They help to identify problems and they help to identify potential solutions.  Fair Lawn’s Discussion Space is a great way to learn about what is going on in town and to understand why officials do what they do”   Earlier this year, after Fair Lawn News had several questionable postings, Plotch started searching for some help.  First, former Deputy Mayor and local attorney, Matt Ahearn, read about Fair Lawn News’ plight and volunteered his services.  Ahearn has had extensive experience dealing with cyberspace issues, and he drafted language to help protect Fair Lawn News, the editor and its contributors.  Second, Brian Fowler, a Radburn resident, volunteered to become the moderator for the Discussion Space.  He now checks the Discussion Space several times a day, always ready to delete offensive postings that do not meet the guidelines for the Discussion Space.    However, someone posting a message on the Discussion Space can still be sued for libel or written falsehoods.  Participants may not make a statement of fact that is not true.  Thus, if you falsely accuse  someone of a crime or a serious moral transgression, you could be held liable and forced to make monetary damages.    Discussion Space Guidelines   Over time, Fair Lawn News has developed some basic rules for people who post on the Discussion Space, including:   1. Treat Each Other With Respect: Criticism of opinions and ideas is fine, mean spirited personal criticism is not.   2. Don't Rush: Before posting a message, re-read your message. Make sure your posting is accurate and appropriate.   3. Ask A Question First: There are a lot of well informed people participating in this forum. Try finding out more about a topic before jumping to conclusions.   4. Don'ts:  Postings can not be vulgar, profane, defamatory, threatening, misleading, deceptive or fraudulent.   5. Terms of Service:  All participants must agree to the Terms of Service at: http://fairlawnnews.com/Terms-of-Service.htm             What Do You Think?: Send an e- mail to editor@fairlawnnews.com or post a message on the Fair Lawn News Discussion Forum.