Any chance litigation could kill internet forums?

[rbattelle]

I've been reading a book that discusses the horrors of rampant litigation in America. Suddenly it dawned on me: will anyone ever be sued for giving bad advice on an internet forum?



Imagine someone posts a thread saying "I've got 200 gallons of waste diesel fuel I need to get rid of - anyone have any suggestions?" And then you reply "take a match to it!" and the guy does it and burns down his house.



Then he sues the pants off you for giving bad advice.



Of course, I suppose the same thing could happen in a real-life conversation. Has anyone ever been sued for giving bad advice? Or did I just give a suggestion to some lawyer out there looking for a way to make some money. [Good thing I posted this in a "members only" area!]



Ryan

 

[Sled Puller]

If the courts use ANY common sense at all, they would be thrown out.



Thats a stretch, aint it?

 

[daytripper63]

I've been reading a book that discusses the horrors of rampant litigation in America. Suddenly it dawned on me: will anyone ever be sued for giving bad advice on an internet forum?



Imagine someone posts a thread saying "I've got 200 gallons of waste diesel fuel I need to get rid of - anyone have any suggestions?" And then you reply "take a match to it!" and the guy does it and burns down his house.



Then he sues the pants off you for giving bad advice.



Of course, I suppose the same thing could happen in a real-life conversation. Has anyone ever been sued for giving bad advice? Or did I just give a suggestion to some lawyer out there looking for a way to make some money. [Good thing I posted this in a "members only" area!]



Ryan

Out here in California bad advice is like... Well you know

And I am sure some Lawyer will eventually try, or maybe they already have

Between lawyers and stupid people we are losing our rights and individual freedoms, we have already lost common sense

 

[tugboatphil]

If the courts use ANY common sense at all, they would be thrown out.



Thats a stretch, aint it?

Sled,



I think your first sentence answers your question. I'm no longer shocked at what a court might rule on anything. What still shocks me is how many people think that judges are supposed to set law.

 

[fest3er]

Sled,



I think your first sentence answers your question. I'm no longer shocked at what a court might rule on anything. What still shocks me is how many people think that judges are supposed to set law.

What shocks *me* is how many *judges* think they are supposed to make law.