Deb,

I agree with your interpretation of slander/libel, but let's refer back
to the original question:

"So, if you all can help ease my mind and tell me she did actually have
permission to wear the dresses,that would be awesome"

I know there does not now appear to be a problem in this instance, but
imagine, if we may, that a member of this listserv had come back and
stated they DID have reason to believe that the individual had acted
without permission - and this later turned out to be untrue. This could
seriously damage the credibility of the person concerned, and I believe
they would then have just cause to object! Also, what is not intended as
being "harsh" to one person, may seem so to another: this is not a good
place to go!

Of course museum professionals have a legitimate concern about unethical
and potential suspicious activities and I would support any kind of
general discussion on this in open forum, and much of the useful debate
in this thread has been on that basis. What I am not comfortable with is
this kind discussion about named individuals. Let's forget the
slander/liable angle: let's concentrate on the ethical angle. As you
indeed go on to say yourself, "Posting something unwise can be used
against you.... Even if you mean no harm, other people might not see it
that way. It pays to take a little extra
time to think about what you post". I agree with you!

I'll back off this particular aspect of the discussion as I think we
have covered it and members of the listserv can form their own views.

Regards,

Jerry 


    

-----Original Message-----
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of Deb Fuller
Sent: 26 February 2011 13:51
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [MUSEUM-L] Concerning Blog Post

`On Sat, Feb 26, 2011 at 4:35 AM, jerry.symonds
<[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> With regards to "liable; seriously?" : yes, actually!

Libel - not even, really! To be either libel or slander, the first two
criteria that must be met are: untrue statements and defamatory
language. In other words, not only must you say something that isn't
true, you have to be pretty harsh with your statements. Then you also
have to prove that the statements did harm. Calling attention to a
suspicious blog post is neither defamatory nor untrue. Questioning the
legality and the propriety of said blog is also neither defamatory nor
harmful. Museum professionals had a legitimate concern about an
unethical and potentially suspicious activity that was publicly
displayed on a blog. The discussion was civil and professional and out
of concern for the potential artifacts.

The lesson here is that if it's on the Internet, it can be searched
and found. I can find posts of mine from the Usenet over 15 years ago.
Posting something unwise can be used against you. It is not libel but
your own misjudgment coming back to at you. Even if you mean no harm,
other people might not see it that way. It pays to take a little extra
time to think about what you post. I think the blogger learned a harsh
lesson about both museum collections and blogging. I do hope she
continues with her creative writing work and artistic expression in a
lesson contentious manner or at least learns to write large
disclaimers on her posts.

Deb Fuller

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