[Poohbah]

I haven't heard any general announcements that this person is a public figure, so go ahead America and think about, talk about and write about this person. Okay America this person is not a public person, so you can not talk about them or write about them.

No such announcement is made.

It only comes into play when the issue of libel is at hand. Then there are legal arguments as to while the plaintiff is or is not a public person.

Bottom line: if you exercise a minimal amount of self-control, you can avoid the issue and still get your point across. But it means that you'll have to grow up.

The New York Times is not Freerepublic and posters here are not journalists.

Sullivan vs. New York Times is case law concerning libel, and it affects anyone who publishes, not just journalists.

[Jrabbit]

Michael is going to be on LKL on Monday. Is he a public person now?

[FITZ]

But it means that you'll have to grow up.

Is there a minimum age you have to be to post on here?

[Texasforever]

I would suspect the definition would apply only to an individual that made himself a "public" persona. I don't think it would apply to someone dragged into the spotlight by circumstances.

[Diva Betsy Ross]

You give me one example of how I have to grow up. I have not done one thing that would cause me to be involved in a libel or slander suit. Again, I say give me examples, give me proof, not generalizations. For example, I have not called you names.. well you on other had have called na and many other names.

You want me to grow up? I want you and your friends to stop trying to distract people from getting something done. Fair enough, we both have a right to our opnions.

The difference here is I do not go around telling people what they should and should not say and do. I do not go around making general threats to the entire forum if people here are not doing waht I want them to do.

We've got your point Poohbah, you don't want us to get involved in this case and you think everything we do and say in that regard is wrong, you ahve been saying so for well over a week now. My point to you is , this case, and how we feel about it ,is not about you and what you think. We do not care that you disagree with us. You have made your point, had your say posted your opnions...no one has banned you from this site, or threathened to sue you, you are free to disagree with us. But know that is not going to change anything at all. This is bigger than you.

Accept it and move on.