Muppetman99

Yes...but the point is that it's an opinionated article and should be out there just like any other, regardless if it's biased towards any side.. It's an opinion, not fact, and it's the readers choice as to how they will injest its meaning. The writer stated their opinion as they felt not to please anyone, not to gain a mob against a certian "tyrannic" company, but soley as the expression of what they felt wholeheartedly. The power of persuasion only exists it you take someones opinion to heart.

As we all know, the Runescape community is comprised of people from all walks of life, including child and adults alike, all creeds, ethnicities, occupations, socialties, religion and gender. This unique diversity also stands for the Tip.it community, as a small part of the vast collective of the Internet. I myself, am a 34 year old male American. My occupation is as an attorney and legal advisor specializing in multimedia law, working for the firm Donnelley, Donnelley, & Rosenberg based outside Los Angeles, California. I am one of many addicts to Runescape, striving to play whenever possible. I have read the article which was posted on March 10th. As with any editorial published, whether in a newspaper, book, broadcasted, or posted on an Internet sight, controversy is the main attraction. In any public clashing of opinions, there will always be a far right view as well as a balance to the left. However, it is up to the reader to decide for themselves the view of which they choose. Whether it may be in agreeance or disapproval, an idea not expressed within an article or even the option to read it at all, they have a right to choose and form their own opinions freely without legal ramifications. This idea rings true for participators throughout the media field. reporters, writers, etc. have the duty to report with integrity, honesty, and virtue when reporting factual information. Any stray from this without the luxury of evidence, can be misconstrued as defamation and slander in a court of law. However, any articles, editorials, public speeches, revisions and Internet publications all fall under the protection of Freedom of Speech & Press as public opinion and legally carry an "assumed disclaimer," basically stating that the expressed views are merely opinion and should not be taken as truth or fact. Tip.It had every legal right to post AND MAINTAIN this editorial on their page. Under international free speech laws over the Internet, Tip.It is free to express their opinions and the opinions of users throughout the Internet community, using their website as the medium. This also falls under the Universal Declaration Of Human Rights laws, these of which are extraordinarily close to the 1st amendment rights in the U.S. Constitution and carry the same rights for everyone. Tip.It is protected and free to express any opinions they feel fit to publish, just as any website is free to speak out against anyone they choose, including but not limited to, political leaders, corporations, public figureheads, etc.. the list goes on. This only becomes compromised when the expressed opinion is maliciously intended to be passed of as factual and truth, meaning the writer deliberately went out of their way to create fake documents, quotes, sources etc, for the mere purpose to slander, which even in itself is incredibly hard to prove. I feel that Tip.It was duped and scared off by the threat suit. I say "duped" only because the "offended parties" used an empty threat against this website due to an opinion the "parties" felt played against them. It is impossible for the "offended parties" to pursue any legal action against Tip.It because they CAN'T! It is a public opinion article, therefore your rights are protected, as I mentioned earlier. This is why George Bush is unable to sue the media on their comments about him. This is why Michael Jackson cannot sue late night talk show hosts for wise cracks and publicly stating their opinion through humor. This is why Oprah Winfrey can't sue MAD Magazine because it says she was mistaken as a grazing cow. The list goes on and on. I deal with this stuff not nearly everyday, but pretty often! We as people are free to our opinions any day of the week, including Internet opinion poles, so I laughed a little bit when the retraction article was sent out stating that Andrew of Jagex was going to pursue legal actions, when the fact of the matter is, his hands are tied and he can legally do NOTHING. Just as Andrew and Jagex have the legal right to ban anyone they want, control and edit the Runescape forums as they see fit, create characters as they see fit. If they wanted to create an article on their website that they would like to see Tip.It shutdown because they feel that they are damaging to the integrity of Runescape, then they can print it. It's their opinion and there would be nothing that Tip. It could do about it to overturn it. My point of this lengthy comment was to assure everyone that we all have a right to our opinions and no one can take that away from you. Tip.It has the right and obligation, I feel, to express itself, and by no means, was anything "illegally" posted. Tip.It cannot be sued for anything! Yes, someone got very upset about the statements, and in the heat of anger, probably said "I'll sue you if it's not taken down" but that person, nor any establishment, no matter how big or small, has the legal right to sue. If the "offended parties" can't deal with public opinion, then that's their problem. They have to learn to move on and disregard certain things. Along the way, someone is always going to be upset or disapprove of any article posted that does not agree with their own opinions. Of course! You can't please everyone. This strikes up the opportunity of debates. Without debate, where would we be??? Thank you all for listening.!