ADMIN: Possible Change to the Main List Settings

[Amy Z]

Talisman wrote:

> Law is a human arena, and in the legal history of any country you 
> can no doubt find examples of questionable reasoning.  However most 
> of the "horror stories" put out by the anti-lawyer side are the 
> stuff of Urban Legend, or at best, missing crucial facts (as well 
as 
> specific citation).

Also, even the true stories are cases of really bad judgment and not 
things one really has to fear, any more than one should fear getting 
struck by lightning.  Bringing a frivolous lawsuit is a gamble, and 
if you (the lawyer bringing the suit) have the misfortune to get a 
good judge it will get you in trouble, not to mention make you look 
like a prizewinning ass.

Still, HPfGU has been threatened with legal action before 
(frivolously), and as anyone knows who has had someone shake a fist 
and say "I'm taking you to court for this!," even an empty threat is 
not fun to receive.  I hope that courts do know that people are human 
and that through the inevitable sloppiness of life, no organization 
will adhere to every jot and tittle at every moment.  Nevertheless, 
the Admins still have to pay attention to the real possibility of 
being sued.

As you say, if bullies don't fear the courtroom then the law has no 
power.  And if people don't care about the way a community perceives 
them, then the rules that truly govern a community--which are 
unwritten and unenforceable--cannot protect it from them.  It really 
is not difficult to stay in a community being obnoxious.  Most people 
just don't do it because who wants to be perceived as obnoxious?  

I guess I'm getting on to my main topic, so I'll post a new thread.

Amy Z