What if...... By: Raziq, Hasmah, Chanda, Jamie

Major issues for discussion:

• Defamation – harm done to a person’s reputation, and slander (spoken) versus libel (written)Defamation? It is indeed a serious topic because it impairs someone's reputation. The offendershould be punished.

• Whether a statement is seen or heard by a third party or parties. Again, this could impair someone's reputation. For example, if it is published to the internet where anyone at all is able to access, it definitely impair's someone's reputation hence it is wrong.

• Whether the identity of the target is clear. A punishment should be carried out only if the identity of the the target is clear.

• Anonymity – does it make the perpetrator more or less responsible? An anonymous person will make it more vague hence it will make it less responsible.

• Harassment – what does it involve? There are many types of harassments, such as but not limited to, religion harassment, sexual harassment, cyber bullying etc.

• Duty to provide a safe work or study environment – what roles do schools and teachers play?Rules and disciplinary actions should be taken to ensure that everyone is able to work or study in a safe environment as everyone has the right to.

• Right to freedom of expression – what limits should be placed on it? Freedom of expression? I believe that there should not be a limit. However, the times have changed and the freedom of expression; without doing anything that is against the law.

• Right to security of person – should people be protected from written or verbal attacks? It should be against the law to insult a person in any way at all.

• Defences and confounding factors – what makes a possibly libellous statement okay? Firstly, a libellous statement should not be hurtful and should be truthful. That makes a libellous okay.

• Truth – when the statement is accurate. Witnessed are usually the first option to seek for truth, however, the human senses are only so limited.

• Fair comment - a legitimate journalistic intent. Basically this is just feedback, however there are boundaries for everything and this should be okay as long as it does not include insults and any negativity that could jeopardise someone/something.

• “The reasonable person” - how offensive does something have to be before it becomes libellous?Usually, the law enforcer decides whether it is libellous or not as there is no law stating how offensive something must be before it becomes libellous.