I only say something negative on the internet when it's a review of a movie or product.

I agree on saying the true about anything...

As soon as you start trying to police what people say online, then your on a pretty slippery slope. People have different opinions. People disagree. People say mean, offensive things. It's part of life.

I think it's fine to allow people to contest comments or reviews when they are personal attacks. But you can't censor the internet.

Just like non-internet communications, you should be able to say anything you want to for the most part. However, if you're an official news source, then there are slander/libel laws you should (in the interest of fairness and reporting) keep up with.

A yelp review or personal blog, though? Certainly not actionable. Those are personal/sort-of-private locations.

Like all aspects of life, you should practice some caution and tact on the Internet. I only criticize products when deserved, and if I want to vent my frustrations over someone, I go to my private Facebook page.

So, it's kind of like finding the line between freedom of speech and libel?

I think web-rage and the anonymity of the internet give way to some pretty ugly things posted that most people would not feel comfortable saying in real life. I think it is a personal ethics issue of people owning up to their words.

The model case is interesting because an anonymous poster created a blogspot page with the sole purpose of trashing this person with a few less than flattering pictures and unkind words. The yelp review case is a little more interesting to me. I am surprised how many vendors read yelp and thank me and my husband for our reviews when we see them in person. You really need to be careful what you write out there.

I think you should be able to post whatever you want. But if it's libelous- be prepared to get sued.

This is another reason why professional journalism, no matter its shapre in the future, will always be around. Too many people don't understand the fine points of getting out "the story" (or your opinions) without crossing the line into libel. And too many folks don't understand that the truth always wins out. If you're going to sue, you have the burden of proving whatever was said about you is not true. In "professional media" world, libel lawsuits are really difficult to win. Reporters keep stacks of notes and all kinds of stuff to defend themselves if needed.

So, go ahead and write a bad review. Just be sure you can defend yourself if needed.

I think there is a difference between a negative review about a product, movie, show, etc and bashing someone or something. While I'm not so much for bashing people/things, it happens. Especially on the internet. But policing it is going to be a horse of a different color. I also think you should be able to defend anything you type though.

How about JuicyCampus and DontDateHimGirl? Those really are geared toward negative comments...

That's funny, I thought the point of the internet was to anonymously bash people with little to no consequence...

Seriously, though, the model suing over the blog is like Britney suing TMZ for showing that pic of her flashing her cocha all over town. If you don't want people talking about you looking like crap in public, dress up when you go out.

As far as the doc reviews go... why didn't the doctor just post his own Yelp review saying, "I'm sorry you were disappointed with my service, this is not how I treat my patients. I'm happy to openly discuss my payment plans with any current or future patients." I personally really appreciate the doc reviews, since I'm new to Chicago and don't really have a lot of female friends to ask about things like a good gyno.

I think on one hand you should be able to but it should be monitored as not to be offensive or vulgar...

In principle, they should be able to say anything they want. A small time blog is HARDLY going to be a problem for this model. Wtf?

There is a fine line here between slander and opinion. If you are harassing someone via the internet, that is definitely wrong. If you are fabricating a story and spreading rumors, that is also wrong. But if you did not like the service you were given by a doctor, or if you don't like that model's look or style, you are allowed to express your opinion. Freedom of speech is a touchy subject but honestly, if I went anywhere wether it be to a doctors or to a restuarant, and I want to write a review, I can do that. It's my right. Just the same as if I received excellent service and wrote a positive review.

Well put angeldoesit! I couldn't have said it better myself

Oh, and to whoever this model is, he or she clearly wants the attention from this case? They can't seriously think that just because someone doesn't think they're attractive that they can sue? and sue GOOGLE? Uh.. that doesn't even make sense.

It's simple: treat the Internet as thought is IS real life. The same consequences apply in daily free speech should also apply online.

I think you should be able to say what you please be it positive or negative. Though, I tend to only comment on products and movie reviews, if I was unhappy with service or in this a DR, I would want to be able to express my opinion about it. However, I do agree that tact should be present in your comments. You can clearly express a negative comment or review without profanity and trash talk.

I think that overall, freedom of speech on the Internet is a great thing and should be preserved, but individual websites should also be able to continue to determine their own standards and moderate as they see fit, the way Sugar does.

freedom of speech, yo.

I think suing someone for a bad review...is like suing little Billy for saying little Jenny is a bad at tying shoes. Just plain ridiculous. Anyone who take sthe internet seriously really needs to grow up.

Funny I should find my way here after reading a long article about Yelp. After reading the comments already posted, these are my thoughts:

Yes, suing over a bad review when it is an honest bad review is silly, but when that review is false and malicious, then I have no problem suing over it. Keep in mind that reputations are unmade very day by cyberbullies and others who just want to go out and hurt people and can because they have a medium at their disposal that is virtually global and retains "information" in perpetuity and they can do it anonymously.

I agree with magickalrealis, treat the internet like real life: if you wouldn't say it to their face, don't say it online.

I actually tend to give positive reviews when I am online, promoting what I like rather than bashing what I don't.

Jyramiah, Yelp is a review site. People who go there, use the information there to help make decisions. We do that all the time with information find on the web. Information online can and should be taken seriously. So, when someone uses the site maliciously and posts bad reviews that lie because they are unhappy about something else, that is a serious issue and one Yelp should be looking at carefully. For example, I read a story that someone posted a bad review of a place (citing sanitary conditions) because they were mad that the place was closed for a private function. Um... I have a real problem with that on a review site.

When I was in college, I took a polisci class. The professor had this really great analogy about freedom. We each have the freedom to swing our arm and fist all we want, but when that fist connects with someone else's nose, we have just infringed on their freedom. I like to remember that analogy in cases like this. But then again, I still like the Golden Rule.

negative...well of course I think you should be able to express opinions, but I don't think you should say anything negative directly aimed toward a person, that kind of stuff shouldn't be allowed.

Its pretty obvious that some restaurant reviews are bunkum intended to run down restaurants that don't buy ads. If you trace the reviewers a bit you see these patterns like all fives and twos given to restaurants that are getting consistently other reviews. say what you will, its trade libel and extortion.