Law Student Web Forum: Free Speech Gone too Far?

The Xoxo Reader writes "Today's Washington Post carries a front-page article on the internet message board AutoAdmit (a.k.a. Xoxohth), which proclaims itself the "most prestigious law school discussion board in the world." The message board has recently come under fire for emphasizing a free speech policy that allows its users to discuss, criticize, and attack other law students and lawyers by name. Is this an example of free speech and anonymity gone too far, or is internet trolling just a necessary side effect of a policy that otherwise promotes insightful discussion of the legal community?"

Comments

1997 called...

[REBloomfield]

It wants it's forum software back...

That really is the most god awful website i've seen in years, and putting aside the fact that the presentation is horrendous, I'm concerned that this is what passes for my fellow law students.....

Re:Slander anyone?

[GreyPoopon]

Won't it be ironic if lawyers discussing lawsuits start slandering each other on a lawyer based blog and end up suing each other.

Break out the popcorn and pull up a chair.

-1 Troll

[Bob54321]

is internet trolling just a necessary side effect of a policy that otherwise promotes insightful discussion

No trolling isn't necessary to have insightful discussions.

PS. Macs suck.

Re:As a law student ...

[Anonymous Coward]

Wait until after you graduate, pass the bar exam and have them in the position of being the opposition in court. Then you'll attack them with all the venomous, flaming invective you can muster- only somewhat politely and spelled a lot better.

I mean, it's hard to use, "ZOMG! U R TEH GAY H0M0 L00ZZOR! LAMOR!!!! LOL!!! " as a valid argument.

Re:Yeah

[Anonymous Coward]

what the fuck would you know?

an ironic answer!

[N3wsByt3]

"or is internet trolling just a necessary side effect of a policy that otherwise promotes insightful discussion of the legal community"

Possible answers which suit the FA:

1.Yes! And anyone who thinks differently doesn't understand what the internet is all about!
2.Insightful discussion? We're on slashdot, for gods' sake!
3.What' you mean; legal community? Their are online illegal communities too?
4.Goatse rulez!

Re:When Free Speech goes to far

[ObsessiveMathsFreak]

Problem is, guess how much traction any of these women would get going to the police trying to get them to go after these guys.

A lot I'd imagine. I mean it's not like law school graduates are above the law.... oh wait.

Re:Obvious metaphor?

[Bastard of Subhumani]

I would disagree with that-- if the outcome was purely determined by who yelled louder that would be true, but outcomes are rarely determined by that in any medium, let alone online.
OTHERWISE SINCE YOU DIDN'T BOTHER YELLING THIS WOULD MAKE ME WIN!

THINK AGAIN, YOU BUTTMUNCHING LOSER!!!!!

Re:Obvious metaphor?

[Fordiman]

Well, considering that:
1) Free speech does include the right to insult, berate, and otherwise bitch at or about any person or concept.
2) Lawyers, in general, are competitive and confrontational; ie: assholes.
3) Assholes in large groups contain one or more 'whiny' assholes.

It can be shown that:
There will be at least one 'whiny' asshole who is bitching and whining about how bad things are in assholeland, and who for some reason, can't or won't deal with the competitive/confrontational attitudes he meets on the same professional asshole level as the rest of them.

Re:Penny Arcade

[eno2001]

Screw Penny Arcade. I hate those bastards. Smug, self-assured pricks with attitude have no right to a voice...