# Nice Job FOX, Kudos! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 26, 2005, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nice-job-fox-kudos/318750 "2005-08-26T16:59:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2005, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nice-job-fox-kudos/318750/21 "2005-08-26T19:55:33Z")
> [@This Year's Model](#): > > Apparently my sarcasm is too subtle. I’ll dial it up a notch in future. I understood your sarcasm and the :rolleyes: wasn’t directed at you. My roll eyes would have been directed to anybody actually may think it was the best way to handle the situation. ---
**Author:** ![DoctorJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctorj/32/2904_2.png) [@DoctorJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoctorJ)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2005, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nice-job-fox-kudos/318750/22 "2005-08-26T20:08:53Z")
> [@](#): > > I don’t see where “libel” occurs. They didn’t accuse the real home owner of anything. Well, depending on what the basis of their claim was and exactly what he has been up to, Hilal may have a libel (actually slander, I think) case. But I agree; it doesn’t appear that they have actually slandered the couple who lives there now. It’s more like they incited a riot against them. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2005, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nice-job-fox-kudos/318750/23 "2005-08-26T20:25:13Z")
> [@DoctorJ](#): > > Well, depending on what the basis of their claim was and exactly what he has been up to, Hilal may have a libel (actually slander, I think) case. > > But I agree; it doesn’t appear that they have actually slandered the couple who lives there now. It’s more like they incited a riot against them. I could see a slander argument to be made here. Fox identified the people at 666 Fake Street as terrorists. The people at 666 Fake Street are not terrorists. Therefore, they’ve been slandered. They also incorrectly identified the people at 666 Fake Street as a Muslim named Hilal, but that’s not slanderous, so doesn’t really matter. Don’t know if this would hold up legally, though. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2005, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nice-job-fox-kudos/318750/24 "2005-08-26T20:39:00Z")
> [@Electronic Chaos](#): > > I love how someone spraypainted “Terrist” on their house. They’re probably sorry for the inconvience. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2005, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nice-job-fox-kudos/318750/25 "2005-08-26T21:05:28Z")
> [@adam yax](#): > > Should the “news” be in the habit of giving out addresses over the air to begin with? Well, they’ve done before while reporting house fires and such. In this case, I agree, Loftus was an ass and should be smacked down hard. At the very least, he owes the family an apology delivered in person and an apology to his audience, on air, with much groveling. His “mistakes happen” and “the best way to notify police” comes across as arrogant and unapologetic. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2005, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nice-job-fox-kudos/318750/26 "2005-08-26T21:20:45Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > His “mistakes happen” and “the best way to notify police” comes across as arrogant and unapologetic. I wonder how Loftus would feel if his house was on fire and somebody decided to call his show to let the fire department know, rather than actually call the fire department. ---
**Author:** ![Dan\_Norder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4af34b/32.png) [@Dan\_Norder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dan_Norder)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2005, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nice-job-fox-kudos/318750/27 "2005-08-27T03:08:37Z")
For libel and slander cases, the name being mentioned is not paramount, it’s a matter of identification. You can identify someone without giving a name (like “Professor of Oriental art at a nearby college” if that can only describe on person) even while giving an incorrect name. He negligently identified a private citizen by address as a terrorist, so he’s definitely up the creek if this goes to court. Not to mention besides the legal questions, there’s also a questions of morals, and none were used here. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2005, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nice-job-fox-kudos/318750/28 "2005-08-27T03:56:35Z")
All you people are thinking _criminal_, when this is a slam-dunk _civil_ case against everyone at FOX NEWS who was within five feet of this bomb. Loftus, his handlers, the editorial staff and fact-checkers (_both_ of them), and even the management could be found liable and forced to pay hefty damages in civil court. The lawyers who take this on contingency are probably going to make boat payments for the next decade or so off this case. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2005, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nice-job-fox-kudos/318750/29 "2005-08-27T04:50:21Z")
> [@Derleth](#): > > All you people are thinking _criminal_ Not one single person in the thread before you said anything about criminal. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2005, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nice-job-fox-kudos/318750/30 "2005-08-27T05:02:52Z")
> [@Otto](#): > > Not one single person in the thread before you said anything about criminal. I plead brainfart, and throw myself on the mercy of the Dopers. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2005, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nice-job-fox-kudos/318750/31 "2005-08-27T05:13:52Z")
Can anyone supply any info on whether Loftus actually prosecuted any cases while working for the Justice Dept? I found a link which suggested that he did not. ---
**Author:** ![betenoir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@betenoir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betenoir)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2005, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nice-job-fox-kudos/318750/32 "2005-08-27T06:06:41Z")
> [@Otto](#): > > Not one single person in the thread before you said anything about criminal. No, people were talking about “libel”. Which is also a criminal offence (although having a much higher standard of proof than at the civil level). Which is what I figured Dereth meant but as he’s already pleaded to"brainfart" there’s nothing I can do :D. But as far as slander: “I could see a slander argument to be made here. Fox identified the people at 666 Fake Street as terrorists. The people at 666 Fake Street are not terrorists. Therefore, they’ve been slandered. They also incorrectly identified the people at 666 Fake Street as a Muslim named Hilal, but that’s not slanderous, so doesn’t really matter.” I think they have a case, but the bigger issue is Hilal has a case. If they identified him as a terrorist. The FBI says he’s not (er…that is, they don’t say he is). As horrific as it is that people completely uninvolved got caught up in this, it’s not much better that someone who has been convicted of nothing, and, at the moment suspected of nothing, has his adress put out, in a clear invitation to harrassment. What’s scarerier is if it had been the “right” guy who got vandalized, would it have made news? If they don’t fire all involved I will lose all respect for FOX as a journalistic organization…oh…wait. Nevermind ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2005, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nice-job-fox-kudos/318750/33 "2005-08-27T06:13:13Z")
> [@Derleth](#): > > … the mercy of the Dopers. 7,000 posts and yet retains such charming innocence. ---
**Author:** ![Baldwin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baldwin/32/7264_2.png) [@Baldwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baldwin)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2005, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nice-job-fox-kudos/318750/34 "2005-08-27T14:34:03Z")
> [@](#): > > . . . spray-painted “terrorist” (spelling it “terrist”) on their property. Maybe it’s a new trend for spelling words the way the President pronounces them. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2005, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nice-job-fox-kudos/318750/35 "2005-08-27T15:06:25Z")
> [@Baldwin](#): > > Maybe it’s a new trend for spelling words the way the President pronounces them. I thought it was something to do with Terra. Maybe they’re members of the ELF? ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2005, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nice-job-fox-kudos/318750/36 "2005-08-27T19:08:35Z")
It just goes to show that you can’t spell “terrorist” without “error.” ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2005, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nice-job-fox-kudos/318750/37 "2005-08-29T16:10:09Z")
> [@Johnny L.A.](#): > > I thought it was something to do with Terra. Maybe they’re members of the ELF? maybe ALF lived there! He’s Back! In pog form! ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2005, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nice-job-fox-kudos/318750/38 "2005-08-29T16:27:13Z")
How many of those involved in this affair had been on record as chastising Dan Rather? ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2005, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nice-job-fox-kudos/318750/39 "2005-08-29T20:39:42Z")
> [@Baldwin](#): > > Maybe it’s a new trend for spelling words the way the President pronounces them. _G bonics?_ ---
**Author:** ![Martiju](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e8c25b/32.png) [@Martiju](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martiju)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2005, 10:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nice-job-fox-kudos/318750/40 "2005-08-30T10:31:46Z")
> [@Larry Mudd](#): > > It just goes to show that you can’t spell “terrorist” without “error.” And the best play on words for the day goes to… **Larry Mudd** [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nice-job-fox-kudos/318750.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nice-job-fox-kudos/318750.md?page=3)