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Courts Begin To Frown On Online Badmouthing

Whistler's Mother writes: "Employers are winning key legal victories against former workers who criticize them online. Rulings in the waning days of 2001 could have a chilling effect on workers' use of cyberspace for years to come, civil libertarians say. The battle over Internet free speech also is heating up as more firms crack down on grousing by laid-off staff. Read the whole story here."

13 of 330 comments (clear)

  1. Grousing? by simetra · · Score: 1, Funny

    How about pheasanting?

    --

    "Would it kill you to put down the toilet seat?" -- Maya Angelou
  2. Bummer... by 72beetle · · Score: 2, Funny

    ...for FuckedCompany. That's their bread and butter.

    -72

    --
    -Those who dance are considered insane by those who can't hear the music.
  3. Yeah! by Stone+Rhino · · Score: 2, Funny

    Now not only can we get laid off in massive swarms, we can also be forbidden from expressing our ideas! WOO FRICKIN HOO!

    --


    Remember, there were no nuclear weapons before women were allowed to vote.
  4. I worked for AOL! :-P by EvilStein · · Score: 2, Funny

    So basically, I don't have to worry because everybody else I know badmouths them for me. :P

  5. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 4, Funny

    Comment removed based on user account deletion

  6. What about badmouthing /. by Ydna · · Score: 4, Funny

    So, it's still okay to badmouth how Slashdot editors reject all my stories, right?

    --

    "The great thing about multitasking is that several things can go wrong at once." -me

  7. Indeed... by RareHeintz · · Score: 2, Funny
    Well, if you're going to bitch online that your employer is an asshole, there's nothing to prove you right like having him sue you for it.

    OK,
    - B

  8. Read this one by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    I would like to announce a giant FUCK YOU to the governments of the following states: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

  9. Re:Who's liable for AC? by MindStalker · · Score: 2, Funny
    because no one, not even Intel, says that we was lying.

    HA so it was you! FOOL!

  10. Re:USENET saved and now this? by Glytch · · Score: 3, Funny

    But then what do they end up with? A group of robot employees who don't think for themselves. This can't be good for any company.

    You've never worked in retail, have you?

  11. What have we learned here? by kindbud · · Score: 3, Funny

    The messages accused managers of being homophobic and of discriminating against pregnant women, officials say.

    Lesson One: If you say something libelous, you may be liable to receive notice of a libel suit, mm-kay?

    "Companies have a free hand to tout their organizations," says defendant Michelangelo Delfino. "A little guy like me comes along and says 'I disagree' or 'the CEO is ignorant,' and I'm squished. It's a free-speech issue."

    Lesson Two: Disgruntled former employees seldom have nice things to say about their former employers, mm-kay?

    He had sent e-mails to as many as 35,000 workers airing grievances; Intel officials say they took legal action only after asking him to stop.

    Lesson Three: If you are doing something so obnoxious as spamming your former employer, stop when they ask you to, mm-kay? This is just like the rule not to pee in the pool, mm-kay, and it has nothing to do with you personally, or your grievance against your employer, mm-kay?

    Saying the ruling stifled free speech, some civil libertarians predict the decision will be used by other companies that want to bar former workers from e-mailing staffers.

    Lesson Four: Civil libertarians always say that, but that's a good thing, mm-kay, even when they're wrong, mm-kay? Whatever you think of their views, start worrying when you don't hear from them at all anymore on things like this, mm-kay?

    "It could prevent organizing between former and current employees," says Ann Beeson, an attorney at the American Civil Liberties Union. "They allow hundreds of non-work-related e-mail to reach employees, but they singled out this one guy."

    Lesson Four: If you're a spammer, and you really want to get noticed, include libelous statements about specific individuals or organizations in your spam. Not only will your name get mentioned in the news, but your marketing message might even get shown on TV! MMMMMM-KAY!!

    --
    Edith Keeler Must Die
  12. Oh, great. by CleverNickName · · Score: 4, Funny

    Well, it looks like I'm finished.

  13. US Government Issues Clarification on 1st amendmnt by Dr.+Awktagon · · Score: 4, Funny

    Today the US Supreme Court held an unprecedented press conference, clarifying certain important issues in the Constitution.

    "After completing several years of scholarly research and deliberation, it turns out we were wrong. The First Amendment is actually all about a FREE PEACH." said head Justice William H. Rehnquist.

    "So therefore," continued Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, "we will be issuing no further judgements that allow anyone to say what they want." She paused to take a large noisy bite from a delicious peach and let the juice run down her chin. "Mmm, free peach." Justice Clarence Thomas nodded in agreement as he recalled the beautiful peach groves in his home town of Savannah Georgia.

    "In fact, anyone who wants to say something, will have to pay us first. The highest bidder will win any case that comes before us." O'Connor added between mouthfuls. "It was quite amusing to think that we actually wasted so much time and split so many hairs on this subject before. Now the free market can work its magic."

    The Supreme Court also will soon be issuing notices to all newspapers and web sites, informing them that they are now under control of the government.

    Furthermore, all peach growers will be subsidized by the government, so that all citizens may enjoy their right to free peach.

    Anyone criticizing these changes will be shot.