Main Entry: 1li·bel
Pronunciation: 'lI-b&l
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, written declaration, from Middle French, from Latin libellus, diminutive of liber book
1 a : a written statement in which a plaintiff in certain courts sets forth the cause of action or the relief sought b archaic : a handbill especially attacking or defaming someone
2 a : a written or oral defamatory statement or representation that conveys an unjustly unfavorable impression b (1) : a statement or representation published without just cause and tending to expose another to public contempt (2) : defamation of a person by written or representational means (3) : the publication of blasphemous, treasonable, seditious, or obscene writings or pictures (4) : the act, tort, or crime of publishing such a libel
Lots of wiggle room on the definition of it there; but that's what Merriam Webster has to say being just a tad more complete on the issue:
if you have the money to smoke and don't care about killing yourself, I say go nuts.
The presumptions made there "might" be viewed as libelous; but I readily admit it's a huge stretch... as it would be for just about any metaphorical references made by anyone. I can't begin to count how many times I've read Madonna described as a (supply your own word)... or a particular public official described as (supply your own word)..with innuendos about stealing this, or robbing that... and yet libel winds up being claimed only in the rarest of instances... and for good reason. It goes MUCH further than a dictionary definition. It requires, as stated earlier true malice aforethought, usually being "published" and in the cases of major public officials is almost never enforced simply because of all the vagaries involved.
While I've seen many passionate things on many threads in my short time on S2K, I don't believe I've seen anything tantamount to adjudicative "libel" as yet--and seriously doubt I will.
A2K
