- Image by M.V. Jantzen via Flickr
Whether you are using a blog site to speak your mind or booklet printing to distribute your material freedom of speech applies; however, it all comes down to who is going to read it and the heat you will take from it. So you have a blog because you think you’re funny. You think the things you say and do in your blog are hilarious and you want other readers to see your comedic prowess. This is all fair and good but it’s important not to get too gutsy when you write. You might think it’s OK to sound off on celebrities and other public figures because you are protected by the first amendment but the fact is the first amendment only protects you so much and for so long. You have to be smart if you want to be funny on the Internet.
The first thing you need to do is make sure that what you’re saying either is true or is completely made up. The more plausible what you are saying is the more you are at risk of getting in trouble for it, unless it is known as a fact or the person has a reputation for it. For example let’s take a look at a public figure like a king or a queen. You can say quite a bit about them if it’s all in good fun. If you were to say that they flew on a spaceship with aliens then there shouldn’t be any problem with that sort of online content because it is unlikely a reasonable person could believe that the Queen was in space. If you were to say that the King (who is a notoriously slow eater) was given a cot and a pillow at a local restaurant while he finished his meal, then it’s OK because although what you are writing is untrue, it is unlikely to be believed either and it is based off a public fact (true or untrue).
The point is that you should keep it in good fun and make sure not to go on the attack against anyone and you should be OK.