SFBAY0001 wrote: > > John wrote: > >Several responses to this topic recognized the reality > > of occasional unethical practices by contracting companies. > > Unfortunately, the same responses advised against writing > > about such experiences with these companies. In fact, the > > advice seemed more like a warning, that is, one could be sued > > or blacklisted as a consequence. In short, these responses > > declared such writings as inappropriate and dangerous to > one's career. > What stifling verbiage!

Gentlemen,

I have a question for both of you. For the sake of argument, let's say that I had a "bad experience" with Karp and Associates. Can I state publically (vis a vis SAS-L for example) that I encountered what I perceived was a bad experience?

My definition of libel (for whatever its worth) is a statement of the form that "Karp and Associates are a bunch of crooks.". However, a statement of the form "I will never work with Karp and Associates because of reason A and reason B" is not libel (in my opinion) but simply an opinion based on personal experience (being illustrated with reasons A and B).

Whether others want to extrapolate from my latter statement if they feel that my reasons A and B are sufficient is something which I feel is up to that person.

John, for example, may say that he has had good experience with Karp and Associates whereas I may said that I have had a bad experience. Why should I be on the defensive with my statement since it is a negative comment on Karp and Associates and, therefore, be liable for my comment and, yet, John have no worry about being equally responsible for his comment?

On a slightly different note, one thing many of us have in common with SAS-L is that we work as SAS specialists and, at times, do have to interact with agencies. I feel that SAS-L should be used as a forum for such experiences. Why can we (or I) step all over SPSS when comparing it to SAS and not be able to do the same when talking about one or more agencies? Am I not libeling SPSS in my criticism when outlining its weaknesses against SAS?

I am big critic of SAS when in comes to their licensing structures, absence of a compiler and one or two other matters. Is this libel? What exactly constitutes libel? I feel that if I make a statement and attempt to back it up with what I perceive as one or more valid reasons, I am exercising my right of free speech and I am acting in what I perceive in being a responsible manner by using my experiences and observations in possibly exposing others to something they may find of interest.

Anthony.