# Bill O'Reilly calls internet posters "the criminals at the computer" **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 17, 2003, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-oreilly-calls-internet-posters-the-criminals-at-the-computer/182457 "2003-06-17T13:53:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![december](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/838e76/32.png) [@december](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/december)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2003, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-oreilly-calls-internet-posters-the-criminals-at-the-computer/182457/1 "2003-06-17T13:53:28Z")
In a recent [“The Talking Points Memo”](http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,89499,00.html) O’Reilly got just about everyting wrong. He said the internet had put nearly every famous person in the country under siege. He is irate. Celebrities get criticized by posters! :mad: And, the posters don’t work for big corporations! :mad: They post what they like! :mad: They can’t be sued. :mad: And, some of the criticism is inaccurate! :mad: O’Reilly calls posters, “criminals at the computer.” In his view, freedom of speech extends only to a point. And, the point where freedom of speech ends is where the mighty Bill O’Reilly is getting criticized. Awwww. Poor baby! :wally ---
**Author:** ![Trion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ccd318/32.png) [@Trion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trion)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2003, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-oreilly-calls-internet-posters-the-criminals-at-the-computer/182457/2 "2003-06-17T14:30:56Z")
Hot damn! I’m a _rebel_! ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Cheatem\_Undhow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/13edae/32.png) [@Dewey\_Cheatem\_Undhow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Cheatem_Undhow)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2003, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-oreilly-calls-internet-posters-the-criminals-at-the-computer/182457/3 "2003-06-17T14:35:44Z")
Actually, people who post libelous things _can_ be sued, just as they can if they had libeled someone in another medium. It’s a bit more challenging to identify the perpetrators when the Internet is the chosen medium, I suppose, but it isn’t like libel law ends at the DSL line. Agree that the TPM is mind-bogglingly stupid, even by O’Reilly standards. He’s basically just saying “Internet BAD!,” because his examples are so damned inconsistent. He complains about libel and slander and then brings up NAMBLA’s website encouraging child molestation as an example. Huh? What does one have to do with the other? But here’s my favorite stupidity: > [@](#): > > Today’s example comes from Web sites that picked up a false report from The San Francisco Chronicle that said a San Francisco radio station dropped The Radio Factor. If anyone had bothered to make even one phone call, they would have learned that Westwood One made a deal with another San Francisco radio station, weeks ago to move The Radio Factor. Thus the word “dropped” is obviously inaccurate and dishonest. We’ll see if The Chronicle runs a correction, but you can bet you won’t be seeing many corrections on the net. Hey Bill: you’re criticizing webloggers for picking up an allegedly flawed news story _from a traditional media outlet_. Y’know, an outlet of the type that supposedly operates with those “restraints” which you love so dearly and which ostensibly prevents inaccurate reporting. ---
**Author:** ![elf6c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c57346/32.png) [@elf6c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elf6c)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2003, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-oreilly-calls-internet-posters-the-criminals-at-the-computer/182457/4 "2003-06-17T14:44:57Z")
Hey **december** we are criminals now! Should we go into hiding yet? 😉 Damn the Pit! Start a couple threads on the missing WMD and now I am a criminal. Just when you thought O"Reilly could get any more stupid or self-centered he digs deep and sets a new low. When **december** and I agree on an OP, you know somebody screwed up! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2003, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-oreilly-calls-internet-posters-the-criminals-at-the-computer/182457/5 "2003-06-17T14:50:55Z")
I’m flattered that he pays attention to me. I may have allegedly read a post on the internet that allegedly insinuated that Bill O’Reilly may have been implicated by another internet poster in what may have been an alleged preschool prostitute ring. This same fantastic and incredibly credible source may have allegedly posted that when asked for comment O’reilly may have allegedly implied that there’s no better sex than sodomizing a tot. Or may be not We _are_ in The Pit aren’t we? ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2003, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-oreilly-calls-internet-posters-the-criminals-at-the-computer/182457/6 "2003-06-17T14:51:41Z")
Yeah, you gotta hate that pesky First Amendment. After all, little people like thee and me shouldn’t be allowed to have opinions or anything. :rolleyes: Robin ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2003, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-oreilly-calls-internet-posters-the-criminals-at-the-computer/182457/7 "2003-06-17T14:54:02Z")
Aww, take it easy on him. Bill’s really upset that he can’t hang up on the posters. That and that they can point out his never-retracted lies. ---
**Author:** ![sperfur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9adbd/32.png) [@sperfur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sperfur)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2003, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-oreilly-calls-internet-posters-the-criminals-at-the-computer/182457/8 "2003-06-17T15:22:39Z")
> [@](#): > > The reason these net people get away with all kinds of stuff is that they work for no one. They put stuff up with no restraints. This, of course, is **dangerous** , but it symbolizes what the Internet is becoming. (Bolding mine) I _love_ danger! I’m walking on the edge! I’m crazy! No one can stop me! ---
**Author:** ![JeffB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeffb/32/188_2.png) [@JeffB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JeffB)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2003, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-oreilly-calls-internet-posters-the-criminals-at-the-computer/182457/9 "2003-06-17T15:28:53Z")
When they outlaw the Internet, only outlaws will have Internet access. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2003, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-oreilly-calls-internet-posters-the-criminals-at-the-computer/182457/10 "2003-06-17T15:40:53Z")
Huh? They can get away with it because they work for no one? And that’s dangerous? WTF??? ---
**Author:** ![elf6c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c57346/32.png) [@elf6c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elf6c)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2003, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-oreilly-calls-internet-posters-the-criminals-at-the-computer/182457/11 "2003-06-17T15:44:56Z")
Maybe Billy should move his sorry ass to Europe. [http://rss.com.com/2010-1071\_3-1017333.html?type=pt&part=rss&tag=feed&subj=news](http://rss.com.com/2010-1071_3-1017333.html?type=pt&part=rss&tag=feed&subj=news) > [@](#): > > Unfortunately, Europeans still haven’t quite figured that out. The Council of Europe–an influential quasi-governmental body that drafts conventions and treaties–is meeting on Monday to finalize a proposal that veers in exactly the opposite direction. (It boasts 45 member states in Europe, with the United States, Canada, Japan and Mexico participating as non-voting members. Its budget is about $200 million a year, paid for by member governments.) > > The all-but-final proposal draft says that Internet news organizations, individual Web sites, moderated mailing lists and even Web logs (or “blogs”), must offer a “right of reply” to those who have been criticized by a person or organization. > > . . . . > It’s pretty zany to imagine that just about every form of online publishing, from full-time news organizations to occasional bloggers to moderated chat rooms, would be covered. But it’s no accident. A January 2003 draft envisioned regulating only “professional on-line media.” Two months later, a March 2003 draft dropped the word “professional” and intentionally covered all “online media” of any type. Scary. Euro-Dopers what the fuck is up with this? :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2003, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-oreilly-calls-internet-posters-the-criminals-at-the-computer/182457/12 "2003-06-17T16:18:53Z")
Having the greater burden of judging accuracy is the price we pay for free speech. He seems to think that it’s good that everybody have corporate sponsors stifling them; I think that’s one of the biggest reasons we have such a dearth of viewpoints being represented in the media. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2003, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-oreilly-calls-internet-posters-the-criminals-at-the-computer/182457/13 "2003-06-17T16:38:58Z")
Welcome to the Dark Side, **december**. As an inveterate poster on Internet message boards, you are now among the Forces of Evil. Glad to have you aboard! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Azael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a8b319/32.png) [@Azael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Azael)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2003, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-oreilly-calls-internet-posters-the-criminals-at-the-computer/182457/14 "2003-06-17T16:58:43Z")
Bill O’Reilly strikes me as the kind of guy who reads **1984** and comes out of it with the the impression that the thought police were merely misunderstood. ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2003, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-oreilly-calls-internet-posters-the-criminals-at-the-computer/182457/15 "2003-06-17T17:02:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by JeffB \* > \*\*When they outlaw the Internet, only outlaws will have Internet access. \*\* And then they can only have my internet when they pry it from my _ **cold, dead hands** _. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2003, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-oreilly-calls-internet-posters-the-criminals-at-the-computer/182457/16 "2003-06-17T17:03:29Z")
**Polycarp** and **Palpatine** both begin with P and have two p’s, like tow ‘peas in a pod’. The plot unfolds, **Polycarp** is the evil Emperor and the Dark Sith. That is why he is running for the presidency, that would of course mean that **Esprix** running for Vice Presidency is Darth Vader. Urrghhh, why can’t I breath, blacking out, must hit submit … ---
**Author:** ![Tars\_Tarkas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Tars\_Tarkas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tars_Tarkas)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2003, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-oreilly-calls-internet-posters-the-criminals-at-the-computer/182457/17 "2003-06-17T17:07:54Z")
Wha-?! O’Reilly sounds still ticked off he got upstaged by Franken ---
**Author:** ![buttonjockey308](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bcef8e/32.png) [@buttonjockey308](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buttonjockey308)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2003, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-oreilly-calls-internet-posters-the-criminals-at-the-computer/182457/18 "2003-06-17T17:09:48Z")
Daft Bastard. HEY! You there! Yeah, You, with the opinions! knock it off! ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2003, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-oreilly-calls-internet-posters-the-criminals-at-the-computer/182457/19 "2003-06-17T17:10:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by hopefool \* > \*\*And then they can only have my internet when they pry it from my _ **cold, dead hands** _. 😉 \*\* Damn you, **hopefool**! You beat me to it! ---
**Author:** ![NutWrench](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nutwrench/32/20193_2.png) [@NutWrench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NutWrench)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2003, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-oreilly-calls-internet-posters-the-criminals-at-the-computer/182457/20 "2003-06-17T17:17:56Z")
Bill O’Reilly can bite my ass and choke on it. Rate THAT, censor boy! 😃 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-oreilly-calls-internet-posters-the-criminals-at-the-computer/182457.md?page=2)