[Note from Distind:
For those who have missed it here:
http://www.fstdt.com/fundies/comments.aspx?q=52760
This individual seems to have taken great exception to having been posted here and doesn't seem to understand the definition of defamation or fair use. As such, he's decided to put us on notice with the following having been posted over the original quote's site after removing it.]
Legal notice to all the Fundies
Important LEGAL NOTICE: Attention www.FSTDT.com
In your venture to speak against SpeakGodSpeak and the Stephen Choate name continues, you will find yourself faced with legal liabilities that could damage your website, website name or community as a whole. Please take action now as to remove all articles and information that pertains to Stephen Choate and SpeakGodSpeak off your server. Failure to do so will result in civil liabilities and a hearing within the State of Massachusetts against your website.
[big smiley face]
Defamation of Character is a crime that www.FSTDT.com has committed against us
Defamation of character can include slander (spoken derogatory statements), libel (written derogatory statements) or both. To constitute actionable defamation, the statements must be false and expose a person to hatred, ridicule or contempt. You also can sue if the defamation harms you in your occupation.
84 comments
Pardon me, but you really should look up the legal definitions of slander and libel. Check out some books on the subject of defamation of character at your local library.
I am sure you will find this study enlightening.
Don't just Google it. If you wish to take recourse in the law, you must do some serious info gathering first before issuing threats on the internet. That, too, is actionable.
Have a nice day.
Allow me to defame your character further: fuck off you self-important, small-minded prick.
Even an English libel court would chuck your claim out.
Your grasp of the american justice system is just as solid as your grasp on reality.
We merely QUOTED the crazy shit you said, moron. If you are so ashamed of what comes out from your mouth, then you probably should not put it online amiridonite?
I really hope he keeps this shit going, I love legal drama...
Oh don't worry guys, he want's to sue over what you guys said in the comments.
I wonder what would happen if 4chan where to get ahold of his page.
It's like watching a train wreck in slow motion...
To Mr. Choate: Good luck with that. You'll need it.
Hmm...
I wonder if anyone's bold enough to actually contact him about this ?
He's still going on with this? Why doesn't this pussy do something already? Or does he know just what a douche he really is, and that his "case" would be laughed at by any respectable lawyers and judges? He should just realize that whatever he posts on the ebil interwebz, especially being a fundamentalist christian, is open to scrutiny and mockery by rational, logical, intelligent people who's lives are based in reality. Get over it, Stephen, you're a moron. Either deal with it, or get of the web.
Boo hoo, cry me a river, build me a bridge, and get the fuck over it. You clearly have zero idea as to how the legal system works.
image
@Bad Influence
Actually, I'd rather just let Stephen Choate keep thinking like this
as he doesn't seem to know the problems with filing a false DMCA, and since you can access the DMCA with a few mouse clicks you can't blame Choate if he refuses to read it.
So the chances are Choate knows (or thinks he knows) how DMCA works, but he's just looking for another excuse to take an evil, atheist website down and somehow thinks that the DMCA is on his side.
Edit: The whole DMCA thing is probably more of an empty threat anyway and is just being used as more of a scare tactic than anything else.
For goodness sake, it is not illegal to post a direct quote of someone just because it makes them look bad. In fact the law specificly protects this kind of quoting in the right to critique and/or parody. If you're embarassed to be called out on the things you say, then don't say them.
"Defamation of Character is a crime that www.FSTDT.com has committed against us"
I thought libel and slander were civil rather than criminal offences? Might be different leftpond, of course.
"Defamation of Character is a crime"
No, it's a civil matter, not a criminal matter. Fail.
"the statements must be false and expose a person to hatred, ridicule or contempt."
you have good grounds for sueing yourself.
1) Defamation of character is a civil matter, not a criminal one.
2) Defamation of character, libel, and slander all have one thing in common: what is said about another person must both be false and injurious to the offended person's livelihood. Neither one of these qualifiers are true in your case.
3) Frivolous lawsuits are , however, a criminal offense. But don't let me dissuade you. [big smiley face] Feel free to exercise your legal right to shoot your own foot off, buddy.
It's not slander or libel if the quotations are true. Which they are; that's why they're here.
I'd laugh uproariously if this guy really thinks he's going to have any semblance of a case against the website.
Sounds like someone else trying the same old shit. It didn't work fro Randy Bro from Teens 4 Christ and it won't work for you. We won't be intimidated.
What next, Stephen? Gonna tell us you've calledthe FBI?
Dear Stephen Choate:
Kwitcherbitchin
Keep digging Choate! You are making this worse for yourself.
You will now be quoted more on this site, because of your threats and mocked for being a compulsive liar.
Heh heh heh...buddy, it's on the internet, it's public access...the best you could hope for is plagiarism, and since we cite authors, and links for citation, you don't even have that. Tough breaks, boo...
Em... You want to sue us, because we comment on things you say? Well ok that would work if we didn't provide a source, but we do.
We take information post and reference it. You know while you are at it you might want to try going after Wikipedia or most undergraduate students, the reference systems might be different but they are all valid and do the same thing. We have broken no laws so you don't have a leg to stand on.
Take my advice and drop this, we will come out better then you if you continue on this course.
Stephen Choate is a pedophile.
Oh no, I committed libel ON THE INTERNET!1!! It is only a matter of time before the lawyers come.
I suspect he's whining about the comments made about his posting, that he was a liar and an idiot, rather than the site posting the quote itself, but the threatening to sue is priceless.
I'll bet he was one of those kids who went crying to his mommy every time someone said anything nasty about him.
Cry me a river, Stephen. As ye sow, so shall ye reap. You sowed a load of bollocks and reaped a good bollocking.
You know, it really says something about you when you consider direct quotes of yours "slander" against you.
I mean, not that I disagree: the quote in question really does make him look stupid. But whose fault is that?
Considering that you don't even know the difference between a civil and criminal case, I somewhat doubt that FSTDT has anything to worry about. Besides, you have no case. Exactly where has FSTDT committed libel in your case? By quoting your nonsense accurately?
Defamation of character can include...
Typical fundie, can't spell. Holding Choate up for public ridicule is not 'defAMAtion' of character, but defINItion of character.
You want us to stop?
Short answer: No.
Long answer: No, and go fuck yourself, you ignorant, scaremongering cockbag.
@John the Fisherman
Quoting Yahtzee eh?
Rat of Steel posted this quotation:
"People who don't like their beliefs being laughed at shouldn't have such funny beliefs."
-- unknown
Not unknown, actually. I came up with that one years ago while posting on the old Atheist Network forum. It pleases me that it has become somewhat popular.
My name is Brad Reddekopp and I post as "NoDeity" at www.graveyardofthegods.com/forum/
(I'm also a fan of the Stainless Steel Rat series of novels.)
this guy...is "prophet" his website describes what he does. its exactly psychic does. but doesnt the church say psychics dont exist? oh wait. hes full of shit.
so a psychic or a liar. either way, enjoy the lake of fire!
Hey moron, I'm a lawyer, and I would be happy to take this pro bono for fstdt. Please, make my fucking day. (Did I mention your a fraud and a moron Stephen?)
Does "SpeakGodSpeak" mean:
(a) George Orwell got it wrong and the future belongs to the Fundamentalists who will have all books and newspapers translated to GodSpeak?
(b) God, while powerful enough to create the entire universe through sheer will, can be ordered around by some schmuck with a website?
(c) Mr. Choate actually named his puppy "God"?
@ Rusty_Professor
Don't discourage the man! Remember what happened to Venomfangx on Youtube when he sent Thunderf00t those bogus DMCA violation notices.
If these little twerps want to risk committing perjury, defamation and worse with their bogus legal posturing we should back them to the hilt.
After all, the results can be really funny.
See: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_MYyc-PtH4&feature=channel_page
Imbeciles, we are not divulging your identities and definitively, to be slander or libel, it has to be FALSE about you. We're taking your direct quotes. And if you are stupid enough to use your actual name as a username, you are just asking for it.
So a man who sells "prophecies" to dupes is lecturing us? This guy is nothing but a carnival fortune teller with a fancy website. And no Stephen, telling us that your useless "prophecies" come from god doesn't make that any less true!
How's that for derogatory?
State v. Zenger
You lose.
What kind of legal notice includes "[big smiley face]"?
Is this from the Law Firm of Montana, Cyrus and Spears?
I still say you're a con-man Stephen, but I'm willing to hear you out. Previously, I challenged you to prove your, uhm, abilities by posting a prediction here on FSTDT. I even offered to apologize if it came true. All I asked was that it not be vague and that it be verifiable.
And before you start crying that your god "doesn't do parlor tricks," I call your attention to the Book of Exodus and the Gospel of John. In both of those books, your god does miracles ("signs" in John) specifically to prove his/her/it's power. And do you recall the story of Elijah? Biblically speaking you have no excuse if your god leaves you high and dry.
Extraordinary claims require extraordinary proof Stephen. Your claim that your god gives you knowledge of the future is quite extraordinary (indeed, you rely on that fact to get the rubes to throw money at you). Now, pony up with the proof or deal with the fact that some people see you as a fraud.
"To constitute actionable defamation, the statements must be false and expose a person to hatred, ridicule or contempt."
It looks to me like the only false statements there were yours. If you were to present a printout of that quote and comments to a judge, your ass would be laughed out of court.
----
@nancychoate: "Good work stepnen keep helping every one who loves you"
Based on your name, I'm guessing you're related to Stephen. However, you failed to spell his name correctly, and you forgot to use punctuation. Illiteracy must run in your family.
Confused?
So were we! You can find all of this, and more, on Fundies Say the Darndest Things!
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