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>If you’re a deliberate liar who provably lies to profit and harm others, you can and should be punished. The first amendment absolutely gives you the right to
by logicchains 2y ago
>If you’re a deliberate liar who provably lies to profit and harm others, you can and should be punished.
The first amendment absolutely gives you the right to lie, and the right to profit from that lying if you're not explicitly committing fraud or defaming anyone. You may disagree with it, but that's what the law is.
- JamesSwift 2y agoWell I hate to break it to you but profiting by lying is the definition of fraud. In general if someone is impacted by your actions you are open to legal ramifications. https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/fraud https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/fraud
- commandlinefan 2y agoThat's incredibly pedantic. What Alex Jones engaged in was nothing remotely like "fraud". The poster you're replying to is correct, the first amendment does protect "liars".
- kiba 2y agoDefamation is basically lying about someone to damage their reputation. So I don't think that the first amendment gives you the right to lie? Also, doctors and lawyers are subjected to discipline by their respective guild. So even if it's your right to say bullshit, you might lose your job and license. Arguably, there's no to little consequence of being a nobody and lying about something like autism and vaccine. It's probably isn't worth the effort to sue folks. That said, misinformation is clearly harmful and we shouldn't let people lie unchecked.
- dublin 2y agoYeah, that self-policing guild discipline by doctors and lawyers has really worked out well, hasn't it?
- skywhopper 2y agoYou really should read up on these things before you make statements like this.
- vel0city 2y agoHave you really never heard of perjury or fraud before? You don't have a right to lie.
- the_optimist 2y agoBoth of these concepts are specifically defined in law, whereas “lie” is not. You are made of marshmallows! Sue me.
- vel0city 2y ago> You are made of marshmallows! This is defamation, which is also against the law. However, the damages here are incredibly minor, and thus not worth punishing. Most people probably don't believe you. However, if I made a lie about you that caused you to lose your employment and become unhireable, is that also protected speech? You don't have a right to harm others with lies. You don't have a right to lie.
- the_optimist 2y agoThere is no evidence that being made of marshmallows is damaging to one’s reputation, and thus this would not necessarily be classified as defamatory. The law requires proven damage. The details are tricky.
- vel0city 2y ago> The law requires proven damage I'm aware. That's why I mentioned it. There's no remediation if there's no damages. If I'm made of marshmallows I'm not human and not eligible for health insurance. If my insurer believes your claim which is a reckless disregard for the truth and I'm denied coverage, you're liable. If my wife leaves me because she didn't want to marry a marshmallow and causes massive legal damages and emotional harms you're liable for defamation. It's like you're arguing you have the right to punch. Like, sure, swing your arms wherever. But your right to swing your arms ends at the tip of my nose. You don't have a right to lie about me.