The ONLY story here is that thiel ( who doesn't believe women deserve the right to vote ) decided to use his wealth to take down a news organization. There is a dedicated group here who are pushing a lot of lies and trying to frame the debate one way.
You can't say you are for free speech and defend thiel/hogan.
Another interesting tidbit, which is a more important and relevant tidbit than anything you mention:
Thiel and Hogan won the case in court.
They didn't just buy a verdict. They did not abuse the legal system to bully a settlement out of a helpless individual. Both parties had well-funded legal arguments presented in front of a judge and jury. Gawker lost. The jury looked at the facts and Gawker's own testimony and saw a reckless, malicious publisher that would cheerfully disregard any ethical standard they could in the pursuit of clicks and chaos.
Yes. It's a case where you ask 12 people to decide the fate of your existence.
> They didn't just buy a verdict.
They didn't have to.
> Both parties had well-funded legal arguments presented in front of a judge and jury. Gawker lost.
They didn't "lose". They could have kept going with the legal proceedings if they had the money.
> The jury looked at the facts and Gawker's own testimony and saw a reckless, malicious publisher that would cheerfully disregard any ethical standard they could in the pursuit of clicks and chaos.
Have you been a juror? Have you ever been sued?
There is a reason why most lawsuits are settled. Because jurors are highly UNRELIABLE.
Thiel/Hogan had nothing to lose with the verdict. Gawker had everything to lose.
It's why PATENT TROLLS sue companies. Because it is far easier for companies to settle suits than continue with the legal proceedings.
Here's a hint. If thiel really wanted to, he could sue hacker news and bankrupt it.
> malicious publisher that would cheerfully disregard any ethical standard they could in the pursuit of clicks and chaos.
Oh god... So many anti-free speech people here. It's no longer surprising.
I'm a die hard social libertarian and free speech advocate. Your (and the medias) attempts to frame this as a free speech issue is comical, bordering on delusional.
If you want to defend free speech, you'd be better served talking about what's currently going on at college campuses.
Interesting tidbits.
1. Sex tape was obtained LEGALLY.
2. Hogan discussed sex tape openly long before Gawker bought it and released it.
3. Many sites released footage of the sex tape years before gawker.
https://thinkprogress.org/nobody-speak-documentary-eab86b547...
The ONLY story here is that thiel ( who doesn't believe women deserve the right to vote ) decided to use his wealth to take down a news organization. There is a dedicated group here who are pushing a lot of lies and trying to frame the debate one way.
You can't say you are for free speech and defend thiel/hogan.