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Re: [OM] Re: Giles

Subject: Re: [OM] Re: Giles
From: John Levin <jlevin@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Thu, 10 Feb 2000 04:47:55 -0500
This is entirely, ENTIRELY off topic still, but you've hit a pet peeve button here. I am continually astounded at examples of this such as "The alleged decedent....", "After a continuously videotaped wild gun battle that left 17 dead and most of downtown in flames, the alleged assailant was shown on video allegedly firing mortar shells at the Mayor's residence", and occasionally (very occasionally) you'll see something like "the defendant allegedly stated in court"...

Incidentally, "alleged" isn't really a defense, it's more of a "magic word". If you send a letter to the editor stating that your (non public figure) competitor "allegedly patronizes underaged prostitutes and cheats on his income tax along with the rest of his evil coven of devil worshipers" (and the paper actually publishes it which seems unlikely), both you and the newspaper can expect to be sued and have a chance to prove the truth of the allegations in court in the US (or in less enlightened countries) pay up big time.

At 10:27 PM 02/09/2000 -0500, Gregg wrote:


Notice how often the word "allegedly" is used.  It protects them from
legal proceedings.  Unfortunately, when later information disproves the
headline, seldom is a retraction given the same space as the original
"news"



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