Trampling Freedom of Speech: State Tries Censoring Online Advice Column

The New American ^ | 31 May 2012 | Selwyn Duke

[Paladins Prayer]

As far as diet goes, I believe you should adhere to the old adage “everything in moderation” and avoid extreme regimens of all kinds. I don’t know what you think of this counsel, but North Carolina’s position seems to be the following: I just broke the law.

Blogger Steven Cooksey found this out the hard way — when the North Carolina Board of Dietetics/Nutrition ordered him to take down part of his diet-advice website.

The 51-year-old resident of Stanley, North Carolina, became passionate about nutrition after a 2009 hospitalization during which he learned he had Type II diabetes and was told he’d probably be insulin-dependent for life. Inspired to finally get serious about his health, Cooksey became a student of nutrition and, after considering many opinions, settled on a high fat/low carbohydrate “caveman” diet, which involves limiting oneself to only unprocessed or minimally processed foods. He also chronicled his personal health evolution on a blog he created in early 2010.

And what an evolution it was. Cooksey’s weight dropped from 240 lbs to 163, and his blood sugar normalized. And, as his waistline contracted, his website expanded: He was inspired to help others.

After initially mentoring friends, Cooksey started offering life-coaching services and then, in December 2010, instituted a Dear Abby-type column in which he answered readers’ questions. This was when he found that he had traded health problems for legal ones.

[Paladins Prayer]

It's unbelievable how brazen bureaucrats can be. It's time to start hanging a few.

[PapaBear3625]

There was a prior thread on this. He can give out all the free advice he wants. His troubles came from when he offered paid dietary consulting. To accept money for your diet advice, you must be a licensed dietician.

He could have gotten around it by writing a book, and offering the book for sale on his site, and included an offer for free diet consulting if you bought the book.

[Paladins Prayer]

If you read the article though, you’ll see that the state didn’t limit itself to that. It actually said that he shouldn’t give advice to even family and friends.