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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Lemonaide on August 12, 2008, at 1:01:25
Are you protected by the Freedom of Speech when you write things on your blog like Google's, even if it names a certain person, the items are not obscene, and are true? Are poems any different?
Posted by Dinah on August 12, 2008, at 1:28:05
In reply to Freedom of Speech and blogs, posted by Lemonaide on August 12, 2008, at 1:01:25
I thought you were planning to remove his name?
I don't really know the answer to your legal question.
Posted by llurpsienoodle on August 12, 2008, at 8:07:08
In reply to Re: Freedom of Speech and blogs » Lemonaide, posted by Dinah on August 12, 2008, at 1:28:05
defamation of character
slandersome limitations to free speech that may apply?
-Ll
Posted by Phillipa on August 12, 2008, at 12:08:04
In reply to Re: Freedom of Speech and blogs, posted by llurpsienoodle on August 12, 2008, at 8:07:08
I guess as it's on the internet for all to read that writing it private would be in your best interests? Maybe? Phillipa
Posted by Nadezda on August 12, 2008, at 12:32:24
In reply to Freedom of Speech and blogs, posted by Lemonaide on August 12, 2008, at 1:01:25
You're not protected from slander-- legally.
Practically speaking, you're protected, because of the costs to the person of suing you. First, he has to hire a lawyer; second, he has to be willing to go through a trial at which things he might not like to have revealed would be revealed. Third he might lose. Fourth, if he won, he'd have to prove damages-- ie money he lost or reputation he lost --that could be translated into money damages--because of your blog (not the trial)-- which, in this case, would be negligible. For that reason, no lawyer would take the case (back to the first condition). But even if someone did, mostly there would be lots of negative publicity (within the community) and other negative emotional fallout.
But that would also be terrible for you-- for very much the same reasons.
There are other reasons not to use peoples' names, but the fear of being sued, unless the other person has a lot to lose financially or some other way, is not one of them.
Nadezda
Posted by AbbieNormal on August 12, 2008, at 12:41:11
In reply to Freedom of Speech and blogs, posted by Lemonaide on August 12, 2008, at 1:01:25
It must take a lot of anger to want to put his name out there like that. I can see how that would feel empowering.
But on the other hand, I'm not so sure it's a healthy way to deal with the anger. Just not so sure. I think of his wife, and her feelings, and whether she did anything to deserve this. I put myself in her shoes. I'd rather imagine that this whole thing could be a wake up call for him, and that he has learned a lesson on boundary management. At least I hope so!
All of the above is said with the BEST of intentions and wishing you a resolution. I'm so sorry all this happened to you. No one should be hurt like this ever, let alone by a person you went to for help.
Abbie
Posted by fayeroe on August 13, 2008, at 16:00:36
In reply to Re: Freedom of Speech and blogs, posted by AbbieNormal on August 12, 2008, at 12:41:11
I suggest that you dig deep enough into your soul (not your head) and do the right thing.
The avenue of the internet is not the place to express your anger about someone by using his name to embarrass and humiliate the person.
In fact, I can't think of a reasonable place to take revenge upon someone else. Better detach and move forward.
Good luck.
Posted by Lemonaide on August 14, 2008, at 6:52:25
In reply to Re: Freedom of Speech and blogs, posted by fayeroe on August 13, 2008, at 16:00:36
Where do you get the "he" and revenge part of this? I was thinking of my mom and what she has done, I am now in physical pain because of the abuse she did to me, I can't move my head because of injuries done to my neck in childhood. And now I might need spinal surgury? I am writing a poem about it and want to name my mom as the cause.
Posted by Lemonaide on August 14, 2008, at 7:16:18
In reply to Re: Freedom of Speech and blogs, posted by fayeroe on August 13, 2008, at 16:00:36
As far as my T is concerned, he is the one who did what he did, and if he is embarrassed because I write a poem about non- ethical things he did, maybe he should stop doing these things.
I am a writer and I can write about my life if I choose to, readers can choose whether to read my blog or not.
Posted by Lemonaide on August 14, 2008, at 18:32:33
In reply to Re: Freedom of Speech and blogs, posted by AbbieNormal on August 12, 2008, at 12:41:11
As for my T's wife, I believe he is the one who is responsible for what he has done. He is the one who is hurting his wife, not me.
I think it is better to not blame the victim in all of this. He choose to be unethical and he is responsible for this behavior, not the client. If a victim puts a light on what happened under his care, it isn't the victim's fault he acted irresponsible, or if the people in his life find out what he does.
Look how his unethical behavior effected my family. It caused me to go into deep depression, so my kids didn't have the mom they always had, my husband has had to pay thousands of dollars of therapy for me now to overcome the abuse he caused, plus all the time it took away from my family for being so depressed because of what he did.
I feel bad for his wife, she is married to a big jerk, but the pain she feels if she even happens to read my poem, which is very unlikely, is nothing like the pain I have suffered being treated unethically as a client and then having my family deal with the fall out of this.
If I was being vindictive, I could have sued him, sent my poem to his wife, and done a number of other horrible things, all I did was write a poem on my personal blog. I didn't contact his wife to read it, or do anything else. My poem was for me, and me alone, not to do anything negative to anyone.
All I did was write a poem which helped me deal with the pain I suffered, and putting his name of it makes it feel real in my mind, like a tombstone.
Too many victims are told to not tell, sweep the abuse under the rug, or not believed even. Nothing in my poem is not true, if he doesn't like reading what he does during therapy, maybe he should stop doing it. I think it is time we place the blame on who caused this, which isn't the victim.
This is the end of the thread.
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