THE WIDE-SPREAD HURT OF ONLINE CHARACTER ASSASINATI0NS AIMED AT OUR PUBLIC FIGURES

Freedom of speech is one of our core liberties. This freedom has traditionally included expression through print, speech and even conduct. However, technological advancements, coupled with a substantial increase in access to the Internet, have created an unprecedented medium of expression with virtually no limits on the dissemination of ideas.

I have had difficulty in expressing my opposition to online satire, critiques and other devised attacks (manipulated news) that demean the character of public figures. There seems to be something destructive in the North American nature these days...Downright do not like an individual, their personality, their qualifications, their politics, their record of action, so I will verbally disrespect them in the public domain, sort of thing.

There are a lot of inferiority complexes out there today just waiting to attack anything representing authority or establishment, under the guise of free speech. Politics have become a minefield in this regard with hatred for the opposition increasingly prevalent. It is a desease that is catching and harmful to the health of all of us.

In its early stages, the Internet provided users with limited functions like access to email, messaging with friends and chat room dialogues, but this landscape has changed dramatically with the introduction of thread messaging, blogging and social networking sites. Virtually every person with a computer has the opportunity to engage in some form of online discourse -- whether it be reconnecting with friends, making social commentary or engaging in politically volatile debates.

The Internet gives citizens inexpensive access to a medium of mass communication and therefore transforms every citizen into a potential ‘publisher’ of information for any number of purposes -- some quite entertaining, fun and informative. It is the hurtful, satiracle, unfair, venomous (dare I say unChristianlike) information, out-of-context presentations and scathing opinion pieces that are the bone of contention for me.

Worst of all, when originality fails and there is a lack of something bad enough to say, the readily available ability to regurgitate (share/cut and paste) and give legs to the warped and biased creations of special interest individuals, is all too common. It's called 'letting someone chop our wood for us' in an innocent, non-ownership sort of way.

While the option of online anonymity encourages the speaker or organized groups to distribute ideas and agendas freely, it is also dangerous as it widens the potential for cognizable legal harm to individuals in the form of online defamation. We all have our shortcomings (mentally, physically, even morally). We live in glass houses. We should be careful when throwing stones.

Personal web sites, blog sites, Facebook timelines and Twitter accounts are all excellent platforms on which to vent our spleens but for the life of me I cannot understand the overwhelming tendancy to hurt, defame and destroy the lives of individuals duly appointed to represent our best interests.

The worst part of taking sides is the depth to which we stoop when we become losers.

Heaven help us...We are becoming a spiteful, distrusting nation!

And there are those who would drag me and my penchant for reasoning and pontification along with them.