Just how free is freedom of speech?

Having said it before, freedom of speech does not justify unfair, untrue or slanderous comments and remarks about a person. When you wish to comment on a post on Facebook, consider this: Have you familiarized yourself with the correctness of the allegations that your opinion is based on? If not, keep your comments for yourself or do so at your own peril. I am gobsmacked by the number of cases that our firm deals with arising from comments posted on Facebook by ill-informed and unsubstantiated information.

Imagine standing on trial in a court of law, and the presiding officer calls in so-called witnesses to testify on their opinions of you instead of the facts? If you are one of those persons acting on ill-fated information and indicting a person based on gossip or sensation, your real character unfolds, and not that of your "subject". That renders you ignorant and prejudiced, and says much about your character. Regretfully, many Facebook users are equally prejudiced and biased as seen from comments on a post about the recent conviction of Jason Rhode.

Moral of the story: Every person has a fair chance to be heard, and unless you have familiarized yourself with the truth, not according to sensation, but after having considered the relevant facts, abstain from commentary or conviction, and consider yourself lucky that you are tried by a system of law where you are innocent until proven guilty. Guilt cannot be established until you have heard and considered all the evidence, including the flaws and contradictions. Evidence cannot be accepted unless it has been verified as the truth.

Now read on and educate yourself about the audi alteram partem rule before you embark on another sensation of untruths.

Zoom