# Should there be a rule about presumption of innocence? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [May 7, 2010, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-there-be-a-rule-about-presumption-of-innocence/538682 "2010-05-07T21:30:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2010, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-there-be-a-rule-about-presumption-of-innocence/538682/21 "2010-05-09T20:52:30Z")
> [@Angry Lurker](#): > > It seems to me that whenever a case is reported posters will side with whatever they want to be true… And once again, I say bullshit. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2010, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-there-be-a-rule-about-presumption-of-innocence/538682/22 "2010-05-10T16:05:54Z")
They will side with whichever condition they believe _is_ true, which is often whichever one they want to be true. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2010, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-there-be-a-rule-about-presumption-of-innocence/538682/23 "2010-05-10T17:17:34Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > Basically, YOUR opinion is that no one else should offer THEIR opinion on a criminal case. Because that would be “judging.” Correct? Incorrect. You’re over-analysing. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2010, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-there-be-a-rule-about-presumption-of-innocence/538682/24 "2010-05-10T18:50:14Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > Incorrect. You’re over-analysing. Over analysing what? That you feel it’s wrong to offer one’s opinions as to a suspect’s guilt or innocent, because that goes against “judge not, lest you be judged.” You said: > [@](#): > > I’m not so much worried about the board’s legal liability as the attitude displayed by posters. IMHO posters who pre-judge guilt should look closely in a mirror. Judge not, lest ye be judged and all that. Your opinion is that that before we look at the facts and think that said perp is most likely guilty, we should “look at ourselves”, correct? Because if that’s not what you meant, then speak up! ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2010, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-there-be-a-rule-about-presumption-of-innocence/538682/25 "2010-05-10T19:13:06Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > I’m not so much worried about the board’s legal liability as the attitude displayed by posters. IMHO posters who pre-judge guilt should look closely in a mirror. _Judge not, lest ye be judged_ and all that. 1. Dumb idea. Too many rules as it is. 2. Get the quote right. The quote you gave, when given in a non-truncated version is an explicit order _TO_ judge people as long as you’re not a hypocrite. “1 Judge not, that ye be not judged. 2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again” ---
**Author:** ![Cheshire\_Human](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Cheshire\_Human](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheshire_Human)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-there-be-a-rule-about-presumption-of-innocence/538682/26 "2010-05-12T00:28:53Z")
> [@Angry Lurker](#): > > I should probably point out here that, given the SDMB is avaliable in England, and therefore published there, any posters here can be sued in England if they say something libellous under our law, which is rather stricter than yours… this is the reason the National Enquirer blocks British IPs. Very true, as several recent English libel cases have demonstrated, but why should I give a shit? English court decisions can’t touch me here. Unless I actually go there (which ain’t going to happen), the plaintiff got his judgement, but nothing else that’s enforceable anywhere I live… Screw the bugger! ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Poster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Happy\_Poster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Poster)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-there-be-a-rule-about-presumption-of-innocence/538682/27 "2010-05-12T16:31:48Z")
> [@Cheshire\_Human](#): > > Very true, as several recent English libel cases have demonstrated, but why should I give a shit? English court decisions can’t touch me here. Unless I actually go there (which ain’t going to happen), the plaintiff got his judgement, but nothing else that’s enforceable anywhere I live… Screw the bugger! You might want to come here in a few years time, when we’re no longer a shit hole 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-there-be-a-rule-about-presumption-of-innocence/538682.md?page=1)