: I don't need to be lectured by you about corporate greed, animal rights, or any of the other issues which McSpotlight supports, and with which I wholeheartedly agree. Get off your high horse.Not on one, and nor was I lecturing. I was just stating my opinion, I didn't expect you to take it so personally. I would add that I don't know how I am expected to know all your views without you having mentioned them in your post.
Incidentally couldn't I assume that you're lecturing us by advising us we shouldn't post up messages advocating or describing illegal actions? Did you consider we might have thought this through already, with or without the advice of a lawyer?
: : My personal belief is that whether something is legal or illegal is largely irrelevant, what's far more important is whether its morally right or justifiable. At the end of the day the only time oppressive laws get removed is when people start defying them in large numbers.
: Oh really? And if somebody were to take the advice on this board, shut off a gas spigot, and cause an explosion or gas leak which killed people, would you still feel righteous because the ends justify the means?
I didn't say I was a subscriber to 'the ends justifying the means' viewpoint. I said the most important question was whether something was morally right or justifiable or not. I've already said in my added post that I don't consider harming members of the public to be morally justifiable. And I think I probably ought to add that neither did the original poster appear to think so.
: Well, let's say you agree with this Shining Path mentality.
see above
: Or let's just say, as I assume the case to be, that you really don't want anyone to get hurt, but you'd still like to strike a blow for our side. If I as a lawyer tell you that your anticipated strategy could result in jail time, huge fines, or a prolonged trial which you might win in the end, but be bankrupted in during the process, would you walk away in a huff because I told you some unpleasant facts? Maybe you would, but I'd be doing you a disservice if I didn't point out the ugly truth to you.
Firstly, why do you think I was in a huff with you when I wrote the earlier reply - I wasn't. Secondly, why do you assume that I hadn't thought of these things for myself? Or as I said, that McSpotlight hadn't? What kind of a response were you wanting from McSpotlight to your advice? For us to take it without question? Am I/are we not allowed to disagree with your advice? Obviously when McSpotlight was set up people considered that legal action might be taken to close down the site, and that people involved might get embroiled in a long and costly legal battle. But a decision was taken to go ahead nonetheless, because you can't have freedom of speech unless you excercise it.
: Now, I'm obviously not McSpotlight's laywer, but as I said, I support McSpotlight and wish to see it thrive and prosper. ....etc.....
: Win or lose, it could destroy this bulletin board, and that, volunteer Jill, is why I counsel against hosting such messages.
Thank you for your kind words, but what worth is this site if people are restrained from expressing their views because of a fear of the law? Your advice would apply equally to messages ranging from reporting actions where the gas supply was turned off, to graffiti, to many types of union activity (secondary picketing for example), to sitting in the road as a protest, and indeed in some countries in which McSpotlight is accessible, to even handing out leaflets. All of these activities are illegal to varying degrees in various different countries around the world. Apart from anything else, which country's laws would we operate by? I believe that we have to operate according to our consciences rather than the law if we want to see any real kind of change.
: Shooting the messenger may be satisying, but it achieves nothing.
Mike I have no desire to shoot you, I was interested to read your advice, I just don't agree with it. But that doesn't mean I despise you or hold you in contempt. I expect I might even like you if we ever met up - now for a lawyer that's saying something!
Jill
