Community > Politics, Current News & Events

Topic: Write a bad church review, get sued LOL
Jeanniebean Joined Wed 01/30/08 Posts: 40028	Mon 05/14/12 11:01 AM Edited by Jeanniebean on Mon 05/14/12 11:04 AM
I think the woman is within her rights to express her opinion about the church. I believe the church did shun her. I believe she is telling the truth. Good for her. Churches sometimes think they represent God and that no one should appose them. I say BAH!! The question is, did the church shun her or not? That will be easy to prove or disprove. As for the words "creepy" and "cult" that is in the area of opinion and semantics. People are allowed to express their feelings and opinions.

Jeanniebean Joined Wed 01/30/08 Posts: 40028	Mon 05/14/12 11:05 AM Edited by Jeanniebean on Mon 05/14/12 11:08 AM
It is sad that this society has gotten to the point that they will sue anyone at the drop of a hat for expressing their feelings and opinions and even for telling the truth. Very sad indeed. It is not a good reflection on the church or that pastor. He should do the Christian thing and forgive and then apologize for what he has done and withdraw the suit. If not, the woman should counter sue him for all kinds of things. War is war. I would give him a taste of his own medicine.

singmesweet Joined Mon 07/28/08 Posts: 26661	Mon 05/14/12 11:07 AM
Places get bad reviews all the time. Should the owners/managers/whoever sue everyone who posts a bad review online? There is a difference between a bad review and defamation. Show us that what she said was defamation, rather than just a bad review.

Spidercmb Joined Fri 04/27/07 Posts: 13137	Mon 05/14/12 11:11 AM
Places get bad reviews all the time. Should the owners/managers/whoever sue everyone who posts a bad review online? There is a difference between a bad review and defamation. Show us that what she said was defamation, rather than just a bad review. No. Do you think that Christians should have to get your approval before filing a lawsuit?

Jeanniebean Joined Wed 01/30/08 Posts: 40028	Mon 05/14/12 11:13 AM Edited by Jeanniebean on Mon 05/14/12 11:13 AM
Places get bad reviews all the time. Should the owners/managers/whoever sue everyone who posts a bad review online? There is a difference between a bad review and defamation. Yes. Defamation is a lie. So the question is, did the church shun her or not? Were the church members told not to talk to her or not? That is the only question. But if she tells people that she feels the pastor is "creepy" that is her opinion. He can't do a thing about that.

oldhippie1952 Joined Mon 03/14/11 Posts: 22693	Mon 05/14/12 11:14 AM
I would like to write a bad review against Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, KS. They are the ones out protesting at soldier's funerals. Very unchristianlike, imho.

Spidercmb Joined Fri 04/27/07 Posts: 13137	Mon 05/14/12 11:21 AM
Places get bad reviews all the time. Should the owners/managers/whoever sue everyone who posts a bad review online? There is a difference between a bad review and defamation. Yes. Defamation is a lie. So the question is, did the church shun her or not? Were the church members told not to talk to her or not? That is the only question. But if she tells people that she feels the pastor is "creepy" that is her opinion. He can't do a thing about that. Yep.

boredinaz06 Joined Sun 10/15/06 Posts: 22764	Mon 05/14/12 11:24 AM
Places get bad reviews all the time. Should the owners/managers/whoever sue everyone who posts a bad review online? There is a difference between a bad review and defamation. Show us that what she said was defamation, rather than just a bad review. No. Do you think that Christians should have to get your approval before filing a lawsuit? Do you think the all knowing, all seeing mystery man in the air would approve of this lawsuit?

msharmony Joined Mon 08/31/09 Posts: 61041	Mon 05/14/12 11:25 AM
I agree with this woman's cult statement. There is no greater tool for brainwashing then religion. An Oregon pastor is reportedly suing a mother and her daughter for $500,000 after the two gave the church bad reviews online. Pastor Charles O'Neal of the Beaverton Grace Bible Church is suing Julie Anne Smith for allegedly writing unfavorable reviews of the church on the Internet, KATU.com reported. Smith told the website that she and her family were shunned by community members after leaving the church in Beaverton a few years ago. Smith said she then began writing Google and DEX reviews of the church as well as a blog. "I thought, I'm just going to post a review," Smith said. "We do it with restaurants and hotels and whatnot, and I thought, why not do it with this church?" Smith told the website. O'Neal claims in his lawsuit that Smith's use of words like "creepy," "cult," "control tactics," and "spiritual abuse," are defamation. O'Neal is suing Smith as well as her daughter and three other commentators, according to the website. Smith, however, says the online reviews and blog are protected under the right to free speech. "What somebody does in the church is one thing, but when you get out into society we have the right to free speech, and it may not be what people want to hear, but we absolutely have that right," she told the website. "He can say what he wants in the church and say, don't talk about this or don't talk about that, or don't talk to this person, but when you're out in the civil world, you don't do that anymore ... And he's not my pastor anymore. He does not have that right to keep people from talking." well, we dont exactly have an absolute freedom of speech, when will people understand the law considers potential harm,, which gives us libel and slander laws,,,

msharmony Joined Mon 08/31/09 Posts: 61041	Mon 05/14/12 11:27 AM
I think the woman is within her rights to express her opinion about the church. I believe the church did shun her. I believe she is telling the truth. Good for her. Churches sometimes think they represent God and that no one should appose them. I say BAH!! The question is, did the church shun her or not? That will be easy to prove or disprove. As for the words "creepy" and "cult" that is in the area of opinion and semantics. People are allowed to express their feelings and opinions. the word 'abuse' is not necessarily opinion if it causes potential damages its a bit mroe serious an allegatin than creepy or cult,,,

Spidercmb Joined Fri 04/27/07 Posts: 13137	Mon 05/14/12 11:27 AM
Places get bad reviews all the time. Should the owners/managers/whoever sue everyone who posts a bad review online? There is a difference between a bad review and defamation. Show us that what she said was defamation, rather than just a bad review. No. Do you think that Christians should have to get your approval before filing a lawsuit? Do you think the all knowing, all seeing mystery man in the air would approve of this lawsuit? Oh my! You must be the first person in the history of the world to ever ridicule the belief in God! You are so original. Your parents must be so proud.

boredinaz06 Joined Sun 10/15/06 Posts: 22764	Mon 05/14/12 11:28 AM
well, we dont exactly have an absolute freedom of speech, when will people understand the law considers potential harm,, which gives us libel and slander laws,,, If in fact there is any slander involved, if there is not then I hope this woman can counter sue the church.

singmesweet Joined Mon 07/28/08 Posts: 26661	Mon 05/14/12 11:29 AM
Places get bad reviews all the time. Should the owners/managers/whoever sue everyone who posts a bad review online? There is a difference between a bad review and defamation. Show us that what she said was defamation, rather than just a bad review. No. Do you think that Christians should have to get your approval before filing a lawsuit? I didn't say that. I guess we'll just have to see if she's telling the truth. Perhaps more on this story will come out soon.

msharmony Joined Mon 08/31/09 Posts: 61041	Mon 05/14/12 11:29 AM
well, we dont exactly have an absolute freedom of speech, when will people understand the law considers potential harm,, which gives us libel and slander laws,,, If in fact there is any slander involved, if there is not then I hope this woman can counter sue the church. for what? 'shunning' is not against any laws unless they FORBID her from returning, which may be illegal depending upon their status as private or public,,,,

oldhippie1952 Joined Mon 03/14/11 Posts: 22693	Mon 05/14/12 11:30 AM
well, we dont exactly have an absolute freedom of speech, when will people understand the law considers potential harm,, which gives us libel and slander laws,,, If in fact there is any slander involved, if there is not then I hope this woman can counter sue the church.

Spidercmb Joined Fri 04/27/07 Posts: 13137	Mon 05/14/12 11:30 AM
I didn't say that. I guess we'll just have to see if she's telling the truth. Perhaps more on this story will come out soon. That's kind of what lawsuits are for, so that both sides can bring out all of their evidence and a (hopefully) impartial judge will determine the truth.

Spidercmb Joined Fri 04/27/07 Posts: 13137	Mon 05/14/12 11:31 AM Edited by Spidercmb on Mon 05/14/12 11:36 AM
well, we dont exactly have an absolute freedom of speech, when will people understand the law considers potential harm,, which gives us libel and slander laws,,, If in fact there is any slander involved, if there is not then I hope this woman can counter sue the church. She can file a counter suit regardless of if there is evidence to support the Pastor's suit or not.

Spidercmb Joined Fri 04/27/07 Posts: 13137	Mon 05/14/12 11:35 AM Edited by Spidercmb on Mon 05/14/12 11:41 AM
I would like to write a bad review against Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, KS. They are the ones out protesting at soldier's funerals. Very unchristianlike, imho. Be careful what you say about them, they have several members who are lawyers and they are very litigious.

msharmony Joined Mon 08/31/09 Posts: 61041	Mon 05/14/12 11:50 AM
I agree with the other poster who said we are too litigious in this country. Wastes alot of time and money.

Spidercmb Joined Fri 04/27/07 Posts: 13137	Mon 05/14/12 11:52 AM
I agree with the other poster who said we are too litigious in this country. Wastes alot of time and money. Simple fix for that: Make the loser pay the winner's legal fees.