It seems appropriate that it is the whale hunting season.
However, whales of the blogging variety appear to be even more endangered than cetacean ones.
I don't have sympathy for Cameron Slater, because basically that well is dry, but the reaction in the media and internet to his latest activities is interesting.
I have also written a little about some of those activities, though I have tried to steer clear of any assessment of whether Slater is guilty or innocent. The same cannot be said for a large section of the blogosphere, particularly on the left. Slater's past disregard for nuance and civil discourse makes him a target for many. There is currently a thread up on the Standard on Slater (no, I won't link to it) that would make most people ill, and which is as bad as anything you'll find on Kiwiblog.
Now the story has moved into the mainstream media, and various "experts" are opining as to what can be done to stop Slater. I posted an article last night on the potentially inadequate penalties for breaching name suppression laws, but I am not pre-supposing Slater is guilty and must be stopped. Although I am still happy to state that should Slater be deliberately engaging in breaking the law, he may have a few challenges ahead of him.
But some of these "experts" are pulling out the statute books to find things to pin on Slater, and they seem to have already determined his guilt. Maybe they should leave well alone. I'm by no means an expert on the doctrine of sub judice (it doesn't come up a lot in my commercial IP practice!), but this just feels like we're getting into dangerous territory.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
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Cameron Slater is a sociopath, a cruel and vindictive man. The extent that his nature is informed by an mental affliction is debatable. However, to me it is irrelevant because I suffer from depression and I don't behave in this vicious way.
ReplyDeleteSlater's response to being ignored is to up the ante. His response to being attacked is to up the ante. Better IMHO just to leave him howling in the wilderness than give him the attention he craves.
The post on the standard shows he can get under peoples skin - personally I don't want to visit his site anymore than I would want to visit Bedlam if a suitable time machine was available. The crazy are seldom an eddifying sight, and should never be provoked for amusement.
But having said that, one is reminded that he who lives by the sword will die by it. No personal good will come from this for him. Fundamentally I suspect he is a brittle reed. My prediction is he will break and end up being committed to full time care by his family.