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Perhaps Mike and the moderators could cover themselves legally by requiring posters to agree to various terms and conditions before proceeding to the forum pages.
Another forum I am involved with requires the user to click on a button labelled: "I agree with the terms and conditions".
Here are some extracts from that forum's list of terms and conditions:
"If you intend to include a reference to a brand name or a company please ensure that you confine your comments such that they are based on your own personal experience, made in neutral language for the purpose of discussion, are as objective as possible and are not submitted to the website for a Commercial Purpose ... "
"In entering a submission to this website forum the writer declares and agrees:
That the content is limited to an opinion based on the personal experience of the writer and does not contain hearsay.
That it is solely responsible for the contents of any submission, that such submission is their own personal opinion, and that the submission is not supported or endorsed by (name of forum).
By proceeding to the forum you agree to be bound by these terms and conditions."
"... forum reserves all rights to seek all available legal action against any writer who uses the forum to publish defamatory material of any kind or content that is false, misleading or deceptive, or likely to mislead or deceive."
Anyone have an opinion on whether this is a legally effective means for preserving 'free speech' whilst protecting IIS's 'owner' and moderators?
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In general terms, surely there's no basis for litigation if if one says "It is my opinion that xxx scope is rubbish" rather than just "xxx scope is rubbish".
It seems to be traditional in amateur astronomy to always compare equipment and its performance in pursuit of the best result for the dollar. Is this now going to be a problem here?
HOWEVER, all said and done, if Mike and the moderators really feel that they need to introduce the proposed new rules, and do not wish to get into the business of analysing every post for possible trouble, then so be it. IIS will still be a great forum.
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