# Do not pressure posters into ingoring professional reporting requirements **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [February 7, 2010, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-not-pressure-posters-into-ingoring-professional-reporting-requirements/527979 "2010-02-07T01:29:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2010, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-not-pressure-posters-into-ingoring-professional-reporting-requirements/527979/1 "2010-02-07T01:29:59Z")
Putting this in ATMB rather than the pit, where it was originally posted: > [@Cesario: shut the fuck up, you gross fucking asshole](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cesario-shut-the-fuck-up-you-gross-fucking-asshole/527954/40): > > Marley23, you should not pressure posters into ignoring whatever reporting requirements they are professionaly bound by. > > If you think that the SDMB is doing nothing that is reportable, then there is and will be no legal problem, so your note is moot. > > If the SDMB is doing something that is reportable, then I suggest that you correct your ways, rather than try to squelch people pointing it out. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2010, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-not-pressure-posters-into-ingoring-professional-reporting-requirements/527979/2 "2010-02-07T01:35:17Z")
I did no such thing and I question your interpretation of my post. Here is what I said: > [@Cesario: shut the fuck up, you gross fucking asshole](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cesario-shut-the-fuck-up-you-gross-fucking-asshole/527954/35): > > From the registration agreement: > > > [@](#): > > > > Do not post spam, including but not limited to advertisements, chain letters, pyramid schemes, solicitations, offers to trade or barter, charitable appeals, or other messages primarily intended to promote a cause, venture, organization, event (except Straight Dope-related events), website, or other entity or activity, whether or not money is involved. > > No warning issued, but please don’t do this. I’ll note in passing that while I disagree with your legal interpretation, you know what the staff thinks of posts that could bring legal difficulties for the board. Please be more careful in the future. > > Also I’ll point out that you’re giving **Cesario** more attention. If I wasn’t a moderator here I’d be ignoring the shit out of this guy. The intended emphasis was on the ‘messages primarily intended to promote a cause.’ Frankly **Gfactor** ’s response really covers everything I would say here. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2010, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-not-pressure-posters-into-ingoring-professional-reporting-requirements/527979/3 "2010-02-07T04:05:14Z")
Do you think that the SDMB providing a forum for a pedophile to express his views on pedophilia, including changing legislation to make having sex with infants and children legal, could bring legal difficulties for the SDMB? ---
**Author:** ![ivn1188](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e480ec/32.png) [@ivn1188](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivn1188)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2010, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-not-pressure-posters-into-ingoring-professional-reporting-requirements/527979/4 "2010-02-07T04:18:27Z")
> [@Muffin](#): > > Do you think that the SDMB providing a forum for a pedophile to express his views on pedophilia, including changing legislation to make having sex with infants and children legal, could bring legal difficulties for the SDMB? No. We have this thing called the first amendment that sort of protects speech. ---
**Author:** ![Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimmy_Chitwood)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2010, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-not-pressure-posters-into-ingoring-professional-reporting-requirements/527979/5 "2010-02-07T04:18:54Z")
How on earth could it? He can shout that directly at Congressmen if he likes. edit - to **Muffin’s** question, not at **ivn**. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2010, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-not-pressure-posters-into-ingoring-professional-reporting-requirements/527979/6 "2010-02-07T04:22:55Z")
You’ll find the answer if you read the post I responded to. > [@Cesario: shut the fuck up, you gross fucking asshole](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cesario-shut-the-fuck-up-you-gross-fucking-asshole/527954/24): > > All I have to say is that if TPTB let this nasty individual continue on his merry way, especially if they allow him his own little fapfest, that **every person who reads this board who is also a mandatory reporter get on the stick and inform law enforcement that there’s a venue that is encouraging his behavior. Nasty perverts may have First Amendment rights but companies have personhood as well, apparently, and can be held accountable for the behavior they enable.** Emphasis mine. Like you, **Muffin** , I’m not a lawyer. Unlike some of us I presume no legal expertise. But I do know when someone is trying to create a legal problem for the board in order to prove a point, and I know how those things are generally dealt with, not to mention that posters are not supposed to use the board to start a campaign. So I thought it was wise to point out that this was not a good road to go down. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2010, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-not-pressure-posters-into-ingoring-professional-reporting-requirements/527979/7 "2010-02-07T04:39:59Z")
> [@ivn1188](#): > > No. We have this thing called the first amendment that sort of protects speech. Thank you for proving my point that because there can be no legal problem for the board as a result of any reporting of Cesario, you should not censure a poster for encouraging such reporting. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2010, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-not-pressure-posters-into-ingoring-professional-reporting-requirements/527979/8 "2010-02-07T04:42:30Z")
Then why bother encouraging the reporting in the first place? ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2010, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-not-pressure-posters-into-ingoring-professional-reporting-requirements/527979/9 "2010-02-07T04:43:34Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > posters are not supposed to use the board to start a campaign. Cesario has been using the board to campaign for the legalization of the fucking of infants and children. You have failed to put a stop to his campaign, but you have taken care to put a stop to what you allege to be a campaign by SmartAleq. Time to get your priorities straight and deal with Cesario’s campaign. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2010, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-not-pressure-posters-into-ingoring-professional-reporting-requirements/527979/10 "2010-02-07T04:45:52Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Then why bother encouraging the reporting in the first place? If Cesario is know to the police, there is a better chance that he will eventually be caught. ---
**Author:** ![Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimmy_Chitwood)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2010, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-not-pressure-posters-into-ingoring-professional-reporting-requirements/527979/11 "2010-02-07T04:48:24Z")
This is the most fascinating thing that happened to this place since I’ve joined, by far. It’s like being around for a witch-burning. Things don’t even have to make a little sense. Godspeed, **Marley** my man; talk about lose-lose. I’ve never envied your position, but my heart really goes out to you in this case. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2010, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-not-pressure-posters-into-ingoring-professional-reporting-requirements/527979/12 "2010-02-07T04:50:01Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Like you, **Muffin** , I’m not a lawyer. Wrong. I am a lawyer. I see no reason in law why Cesario should or should not be reported. I see a very strong moral reason why he should be reported. BTW, the SDMB has already lost one lawyer due to it’s position on Cesario. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2010, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-not-pressure-posters-into-ingoring-professional-reporting-requirements/527979/13 "2010-02-07T04:51:51Z")
> [@Muffin](#): > > If Cesario is know to the police, there is a better chance that he will eventually be caught. Caught for doing _what_? Talking? Upsetting you? What in ghod’s name would people be reporting him _for?_ ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2010, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-not-pressure-posters-into-ingoring-professional-reporting-requirements/527979/14 "2010-02-07T04:54:05Z")
> [@Muffin](#): > > Cesario has been using the board to campaign for the legalization of the fucking of infants and children. [Not true.](http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/campaign) We have a rule against using the board to organize a campaign, like “This politician said something offensive. Here’s his home address, let’s send him letters.” That applies whether the action is legal or illegal and it’s been the case for a long time. **Cesario** hasn’t done anything like that. He’s said he wants those laws to be changed. What **SmartAleq** said definitely qualifies as a campaign; she encouraged people to take a specific action. And like I said - and you haven’t bothered to dispute - she was asking people to make a problem for the board because she doesn’t like the idea of letting **Cesario** start a thread. **Cesario** has been on this board since August, and presumably people who have reporting obligations know their business. So if they were going to report him they probably did it six months ago. There’s no sense in any of this, and since I never discouraged anyone from doing their job (I discouraged someone from starting a protest over it), I don’t think you have any grounds for a complaint here. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2010, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-not-pressure-posters-into-ingoring-professional-reporting-requirements/527979/15 "2010-02-07T04:56:29Z")
> [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](#): > > Godspeed, **Marley** my man; talk about lose-lose. I’ve never envied your position, but my heart really goes out to you in this case. Tell me about it. Either we can exercise prior restraint, which we practically never do and which nobody likes, or giving somebody permission to beg for attention while talking about how he’d like to rape children. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2010, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-not-pressure-posters-into-ingoring-professional-reporting-requirements/527979/16 "2010-02-07T04:57:55Z")
> [@Muffin](#): > > Wrong. I am a lawyer. What kind of law do you practice, and what is your professional experience with these kinds of reporting obligations? ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2010, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-not-pressure-posters-into-ingoring-professional-reporting-requirements/527979/17 "2010-02-07T04:58:05Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Caught for doing _what_? > Talking? > Upsetting you? > What in ghod’s name would people be reporting him _for?_ Promoting the fucking of infants and children. Depending on how the authorities in his juristiction deal with pedophiles, it may (or in my juristiction certainly would) get him investigated and monitored, such that if he were actually carrying out what it is that he has promoted, there would be a greater chance that he would be nabbed. It all starts with civics 101, by working with the authorities proactively, rather than sitting on your hands until something horrid happens. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2010, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-not-pressure-posters-into-ingoring-professional-reporting-requirements/527979/18 "2010-02-07T05:03:49Z")
> [@Muffin](#): > > Promoting the fucking of infants and children. > > Depending on how the authorities in his juristiction deal with pedophiles, it may (or in my juristiction certainly would) get him investigated and monitored, such that if he were actually carrying out what it is that he has promoted, there would be a greater chance that he would be nabbed. > > It all starts with civics 101, by working with the authorities proactively, rather than sitting on your hands until something horrid happens. So you would like us to release personal information about another poster to the general population, so that the authorities might question him for crimes for which he denies outright and for which there is no evidence. I think that the most offensive part of your whole spiel is your use of the term “civil.” ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2010, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-not-pressure-posters-into-ingoring-professional-reporting-requirements/527979/19 "2010-02-07T05:04:37Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > What kind of law do you practice, and what is your professional experience with these kinds of reporting obligations? Family law, child protection law, and previously also criminal law. I have had to deal with pedophiles in all three contexts, including the reporting obligations of my own profession. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2010, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-not-pressure-posters-into-ingoring-professional-reporting-requirements/527979/20 "2010-02-07T05:06:12Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > So you would like us to release personal information about another poster to the general population, so that the authorities might question him for crimes for which he denies outright and for which there is no evidence. Yes, report him to the authorities. Most resoundingly, yes. For you to fail to do so, and to continue to provide a platform for his views, is truly pathetic. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-not-pressure-posters-into-ingoring-professional-reporting-requirements/527979.md?page=2)