Re: [APD] Free speech

[Jerry Baker <jerry at bakerweb_biz>]

Robert H wrote:
>>>It is not rare to see negative comments about vendors on other planted
> aquarium web sites.  Positive comments, too.<<
> 
> Oh really? Common Bill, what sites are you talking about? Sure, you can 
> still read a few comments here and there, and some product reviews, but 
> rarely someone totally berrating a company. If you don't think the lawsuit 
> had a a huge impact in our little world, then you are kidding yourself. All 
> I am saying is the experience was one of lessons learned and not just out of 
> fear of being sued but of taking responsibility. And I have talked to more 
> than one defendant that feels the same way.  Nobody likes or defends the 
> plantiff, but things got way out of hand and kept going and going and going 
> like the everready bunny, and I wish I never got involved. It cost me my job 
> in California, it prevented me from buying a house to take care of my 
> Mother, it prevented me from financing my business, paying certain debts not 
> to mention what it cost me in the end. And for what? Not minding my own 
> business? What good came out of it for anybody? Was anybodys rights 
> protected in the end?  I still support everyone that was involved and I 
> still believe we were right, but so much pain could have been avoided if 
> people saw the big picture and put an end to it before it went out of 
> control.

It's all a matter of perceived cost and perceived reward. For most 
people the pragmatic goal of keeping one's life somewhat normal 
overrides. For some, like myself, it does not matter. I do not view 
cowing to the demands of a crappy business to tone down the opinions I 
express about them, and other similarly crappy businesses, as an option 
no matter the cost. If I did cow to those sorts of demands, I would 
always feel like I compromised myself for money. I would feel no 
different than if I had taken a bribe. It's not worth it for me. Neither 
opinion is wrong, and neither is right. They just are.

-- 
Jerry Baker
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