The Dangers of Weblogging in the USA
Today I wanted to see what one of my favorite lawyer-webloggers was up to, and found this page. It seems Tiger's blog--humane, heartfelt, honest, and true--was taken offline after it was used against him by opponents in his campaign for County Attorney of Somervell County, Texas.
Tiger's explanation of events contains some interesting commentary on the weblog phenomenon. I would say that Tiger will be much-missed, except that he also adds:
I shall continue my weblogging efforts, but I have disconnected such efforts from my local law practice site and I have already taken steps and will take such additional future steps as are necessary to remove such from the view of local highly-opinionated close-minded individuals.
This one, as they say, bears watching . . .
UPDATE I 3/21/04 The old Tiger site is no more, but the old content can be found on a new server under the name "Read My Lips." In the most recent post, "George" writes, "As Tiger has decided to take a hiatus from writing what is on his mind, he approached me to see if I would like to take over this blog."
UPDATE II 3/26/04 For those following along, George (or "notGeorge") effectively responds to one of his detractors in this post, which is a step-by-step dissection of the text of a website set up specifically to disparage him (and which uses as ammunition comments to this post).
I sympathize with Tiger. Nonetheless, consider this statement he makes: "I have used coarse language in my writings as such were not meant for public consumption."
I don't see how one can publish one's words on a forum accessible to literally the entire planet with a few clicks of the button, using a real name and identity, and still have an expectation of.. what.. privacy?
Posted by: UCL | March 21, 2004 at 07:17 PM
I just sent Tiger an email with the exact sentiments in it as those expressed by UCL. If nothing else, it makes me think that Tiger might need a little more common sense before deciding to run for County Attorney.
Posted by: David Giacalone | March 21, 2004 at 09:09 PM
Lesson to be learned: don't run for public office in the USA.
That said, I think the criteria people use for deciding whether someone is fit for public office in the USA are completely idiotic. Your sex life when you were 13 (note: I didn't read the original text of the weblog) or your propensity to use "coarse" language or your having gotten a blowjob from an intern has absolutely nothing to do with your fitness for public office.
Posted by: crankysysadmin | March 22, 2004 at 02:48 AM