1 00:00:23,230 --> 00:00:09,110 welcome to the skeptic zone the podcast 2 00:00:32,510 --> 00:00:27,460 yes it's the skeptic Zone episode number 3 00:00:35,180 --> 00:00:32,520 184 the 31st of March 2012 Richard 4 00:00:37,310 --> 00:00:35,190 Saunders here with you from beautiful 5 00:00:39,740 --> 00:00:37,320 southern New South Wales along the 6 00:00:41,030 --> 00:00:39,750 Murray River not so far out of Aubrey 7 00:00:43,400 --> 00:00:41,040 I'm here with my good friend and 8 00:00:46,090 --> 00:00:43,410 voiceover man for the skeptic zone Jim 9 00:00:48,319 --> 00:00:46,100 Wilshire hi Jim Richard how he who I'm 10 00:00:51,110 --> 00:00:48,329 well because we just had a fabulous 11 00:00:52,790 --> 00:00:51,120 chicken dinner with chips and broccoli 12 00:00:55,369 --> 00:00:52,800 and I was just gorgeous but pretty good 13 00:00:57,020 --> 00:00:55,379 Rosen is dangling now we're standing in 14 00:00:59,150 --> 00:00:57,030 your front yard listening to the 15 00:01:01,610 --> 00:00:59,160 cockatoo screeching in the background 16 00:01:04,399 --> 00:01:01,620 because we're waiting for the imminent 17 00:01:07,250 --> 00:01:04,409 arrival and passing overhead of the 18 00:01:09,770 --> 00:01:07,260 International Space Station the ISS is 19 00:01:13,010 --> 00:01:09,780 on its way it is and where Stan if the 20 00:01:15,560 --> 00:01:13,020 sun's just set Jupiter and Venus are 21 00:01:17,780 --> 00:01:15,570 bright bright over there towards the 22 00:01:20,090 --> 00:01:17,790 horizon the moon sort of not going to 23 00:01:22,910 --> 00:01:20,100 cause too much problem just see the last 24 00:01:26,030 --> 00:01:22,920 glow of the Sun this the sets I'm now 25 00:01:28,039 --> 00:01:26,040 and any minute as we gaze up towards the 26 00:01:31,880 --> 00:01:28,049 heavens which are looking more heavenly 27 00:01:34,100 --> 00:01:31,890 as we gaze more stars pop out I must say 28 00:01:37,249 --> 00:01:34,110 this part of the world where you live 29 00:01:38,899 --> 00:01:37,259 somewhat out of all bree is there's no 30 00:01:43,179 --> 00:01:38,909 light pollution absolutely it's 31 00:01:46,219 --> 00:01:43,189 absolutely superb for night viewing 32 00:01:49,460 --> 00:01:46,229 starveling stargazing you get the full 33 00:01:53,270 --> 00:01:49,470 experience of the Milky Way and all the 34 00:01:54,620 --> 00:01:53,280 stars brightly lit it's just makes you 35 00:01:56,240 --> 00:01:54,630 realize when you live in the city what 36 00:01:59,090 --> 00:01:56,250 you miss when you come here and of 37 00:02:01,069 --> 00:01:59,100 course the thing that still boggles my 38 00:02:03,620 --> 00:02:01,079 mind is that when you look up and look 39 00:02:06,020 --> 00:02:03,630 at all the stars you're seeing a pattern 40 00:02:11,089 --> 00:02:06,030 which has never existed doesn't exist 41 00:02:12,760 --> 00:02:11,099 now I never will that's right so so 42 00:02:14,200 --> 00:02:12,770 they're astrologers 43 00:02:16,990 --> 00:02:14,210 and the reason is of course because 44 00:02:19,000 --> 00:02:17,000 they're moving basically randomly in 45 00:02:20,860 --> 00:02:19,010 different directions yeah this is a 46 00:02:22,540 --> 00:02:20,870 foreign distances what we see is a 47 00:02:25,030 --> 00:02:22,550 snapshot from our point of view at this 48 00:02:26,980 --> 00:02:25,040 particular moment really well it's a 49 00:02:30,820 --> 00:02:26,990 construction I've not even a snapshot 50 00:02:33,730 --> 00:02:30,830 it's a construction but where is he is 51 00:02:36,190 --> 00:02:33,740 we're still at any minute now we're 52 00:02:38,590 --> 00:02:36,200 within a minute or two of actually you 53 00:02:41,140 --> 00:02:38,600 keep gazing towards the heavens and how 54 00:02:45,100 --> 00:02:41,150 that our listeners know that coming up 55 00:02:46,990 --> 00:02:45,110 on the skeptic zone today Maynard good 56 00:02:49,630 --> 00:02:47,000 old Maynard interviews a professor of 57 00:02:51,190 --> 00:02:49,640 journalism from bond university mark 58 00:02:54,150 --> 00:02:51,200 Pearson who's written a book called 59 00:02:56,740 --> 00:02:54,160 blogging and tweeting without being sued 60 00:02:58,720 --> 00:02:56,750 yes so I mean we're all blogging we're 61 00:03:00,520 --> 00:02:58,730 all twittering well some of us are you 62 00:03:02,440 --> 00:03:00,530 want to keep twittering away without 63 00:03:03,850 --> 00:03:02,450 being sued better listen to this 64 00:03:05,680 --> 00:03:03,860 interview coming up at the top of the 65 00:03:07,360 --> 00:03:05,690 show then after the break we have a 66 00:03:10,360 --> 00:03:07,370 report from our friends our very good 67 00:03:12,400 --> 00:03:10,370 friends at choice magazine the consumers 68 00:03:15,490 --> 00:03:12,410 advocate the watchdog here in Australia 69 00:03:18,760 --> 00:03:15,500 they've recently awarded a good man dr. 70 00:03:20,260 --> 00:03:18,770 ken harvey with their achievement award 71 00:03:22,420 --> 00:03:20,270 from choice magazine which is the 72 00:03:24,040 --> 00:03:22,430 opposite to their show keys which they 73 00:03:25,600 --> 00:03:24,050 dish out every year and a couple of 74 00:03:27,940 --> 00:03:25,610 years ago they gave one to the power 75 00:03:29,710 --> 00:03:27,950 balance people that's coming up and also 76 00:03:33,640 --> 00:03:29,720 on today's show we have a report from 77 00:03:36,010 --> 00:03:33,650 the launch of soap in albury with our 78 00:03:38,290 --> 00:03:36,020 good friend dr. chrissy wilson that'll 79 00:03:39,880 --> 00:03:38,300 be coming up well Jim a congratulations 80 00:03:41,650 --> 00:03:39,890 on that Ridge by the way is everything 81 00:03:45,520 --> 00:03:41,660 terrific thank you very much good to see 82 00:03:48,699 --> 00:03:45,530 you using soap occasionally thank you 83 00:03:54,070 --> 00:03:48,709 Jim yes yes I was speaking there just 84 00:03:57,040 --> 00:03:54,080 last night thank you Jim now let's gaze 85 00:04:00,370 --> 00:03:57,050 towards the heavens I am I have you are 86 00:04:06,220 --> 00:04:00,380 I'm looking at my watch now and it's it 87 00:04:08,890 --> 00:04:06,230 should be in viewed well now where are 88 00:04:14,199 --> 00:04:08,900 you international space station then 89 00:04:15,880 --> 00:04:14,209 decimated ah ah what wait a minute now 90 00:04:17,860 --> 00:04:15,890 if we look over towards their gym what's 91 00:04:22,390 --> 00:04:17,870 that above the tree line they're coming 92 00:04:26,110 --> 00:04:22,400 now there it is that is it appearing 93 00:04:29,200 --> 00:04:26,120 from the south direction some of the 94 00:04:31,300 --> 00:04:29,210 south east and we can see this moving 95 00:04:33,070 --> 00:04:31,310 light it's moving much faster than a 96 00:04:35,500 --> 00:04:33,080 plane gee that's doing about twenty 97 00:04:38,710 --> 00:04:35,510 seven thousand kilometers an hour reckon 98 00:04:43,210 --> 00:04:38,720 it's slightly larger than a football 99 00:04:47,100 --> 00:04:43,220 field yes ways the equivalent about 450 100 00:04:50,529 --> 00:04:47,110 cars quite extraordinary piece of 101 00:04:53,469 --> 00:04:50,539 contraption that mankind has built weary 102 00:04:56,020 --> 00:04:53,479 hundred and seventy kilometers out into 103 00:04:57,670 --> 00:04:56,030 space we were just briefly looking at 104 00:04:59,350 --> 00:04:57,680 the newspaper because the newspaper 105 00:05:00,640 --> 00:04:59,360 alerted us to the fact that if we came 106 00:05:04,420 --> 00:05:00,650 out at this time we should be able to 107 00:05:06,490 --> 00:05:04,430 see it well it's about a quarter of the 108 00:05:10,240 --> 00:05:06,500 way across the sky now and when we first 109 00:05:13,870 --> 00:05:10,250 glimpsed it it's to be honest not quite 110 00:05:16,420 --> 00:05:13,880 as bright as I did yeah it's about as 111 00:05:18,430 --> 00:05:16,430 blade is very impressive it is it's 112 00:05:20,080 --> 00:05:18,440 about as bright it's a little bit 113 00:05:22,870 --> 00:05:20,090 brighter than a star but not not very 114 00:05:25,600 --> 00:05:22,880 much bigger is it it's supposed to have 115 00:05:28,659 --> 00:05:25,610 six people in it at the moment yeah but 116 00:05:32,260 --> 00:05:28,669 I think I can see two entire football 117 00:05:34,360 --> 00:05:32,270 teams that is a football pitch it's not 118 00:05:36,400 --> 00:05:34,370 the ISS look they're waving to us from 119 00:05:38,980 --> 00:05:36,410 the process the bright light it's the 120 00:05:42,370 --> 00:05:38,990 bright lights no no it's the iris it it 121 00:05:43,750 --> 00:05:42,380 is yes I'm sure if we had a decent pair 122 00:05:46,600 --> 00:05:43,760 of binoculars or telescope right now we 123 00:05:49,060 --> 00:05:46,610 probably make out it some details but it 124 00:05:50,409 --> 00:05:49,070 looks like a bright star just shooting 125 00:05:53,440 --> 00:05:50,419 across the sky do you think they're 126 00:05:54,670 --> 00:05:53,450 making n signal service they are I sure 127 00:05:56,170 --> 00:05:54,680 I'm sure they look they listen to the 128 00:05:58,180 --> 00:05:56,180 skeptic zone every week up there they 129 00:06:01,300 --> 00:05:58,190 must hi guys we're looking at you yes 130 00:06:02,800 --> 00:06:01,310 sir when you download this episode or 131 00:06:06,400 --> 00:06:02,810 maybe you upload it when you're in space 132 00:06:08,529 --> 00:06:06,410 after you have to or they'd have to be 133 00:06:12,370 --> 00:06:08,539 on the other side of the planet you know 134 00:06:16,330 --> 00:06:12,380 it's it's roughly now halfway it's 135 00:06:18,150 --> 00:06:16,340 ranked slightly it's perfect it's just 136 00:06:21,330 --> 00:06:18,160 it's doing a u-turn and it 137 00:06:23,250 --> 00:06:21,340 just about to pass in front of Alpha 138 00:06:25,980 --> 00:06:23,260 Centauri well we heard the Southern 139 00:06:28,260 --> 00:06:25,990 Cross it might go behind might go behind 140 00:06:30,480 --> 00:06:28,270 a visionary and for those of you in the 141 00:06:32,460 --> 00:06:30,490 southern hemisphere the two pointers to 142 00:06:35,300 --> 00:06:32,470 the Southern Cross the space station is 143 00:06:39,840 --> 00:06:35,310 just about the past right between them 144 00:06:43,440 --> 00:06:39,850 look at that here it comes G the entire 145 00:06:46,200 --> 00:06:43,450 Traverse of an arc which is probably at 146 00:06:50,280 --> 00:06:46,210 what 20 degrees or so maybe our net ya 147 00:06:52,440 --> 00:06:50,290 from the horizon is expected to take 148 00:06:54,450 --> 00:06:52,450 about five minutes and that'd be about 149 00:06:56,670 --> 00:06:54,460 right should that be right about right 150 00:06:57,930 --> 00:06:56,680 so it's just gone through the Southern 151 00:07:00,630 --> 00:06:57,940 Cross well that the pointers of the 152 00:07:03,720 --> 00:07:00,640 Southern Cross now how am I going to be 153 00:07:05,700 --> 00:07:03,730 losing sight soon I think we're going to 154 00:07:09,180 --> 00:07:05,710 lose so it's about to go behind the 155 00:07:11,190 --> 00:07:09,190 power pole oh no what could we do oh 156 00:07:13,200 --> 00:07:11,200 it's step this way a little bit oh it 157 00:07:16,140 --> 00:07:13,210 blinked it blinked there it is take but 158 00:07:19,560 --> 00:07:16,150 there it is it's back again yes that's 159 00:07:22,500 --> 00:07:19,570 company what what did they actually 160 00:07:25,350 --> 00:07:22,510 spend putting it together Richard oh I 161 00:07:27,030 --> 00:07:25,360 wouldn't have a lot of money a lot had 162 00:07:29,250 --> 00:07:27,040 not a lot of dog biscuits let's more 163 00:07:33,000 --> 00:07:29,260 than a smidgen it had more than a 164 00:07:36,870 --> 00:07:33,010 smidgen I'm sure it's maybe two tags we 165 00:07:38,490 --> 00:07:36,880 are now it's sort of going to go behind 166 00:07:40,380 --> 00:07:38,500 the bull yeah we gonna lose your behind 167 00:07:43,560 --> 00:07:40,390 some stew the trees in the hill in about 168 00:07:45,930 --> 00:07:43,570 a minute or less even less yeah very 169 00:07:48,690 --> 00:07:45,940 impressive though and very exciting that 170 00:07:53,730 --> 00:07:48,700 it's happening live hmm on this replay 171 00:07:55,950 --> 00:07:53,740 of the zone is at whatever particular 172 00:07:57,840 --> 00:07:55,960 point in time people are repaying even 173 00:08:02,240 --> 00:07:57,850 in 20 years time that's that's right 174 00:08:05,790 --> 00:08:02,250 alive rolling out right now 20 years ago 175 00:08:07,890 --> 00:08:05,800 well there it there is a way they ain't 176 00:08:10,970 --> 00:08:07,900 goodbye we can still see it but it's 177 00:08:14,640 --> 00:08:10,980 just going behind this tree now yes and 178 00:08:16,920 --> 00:08:14,650 I'll go into the Pacific Ocean headings 179 00:08:20,220 --> 00:08:16,930 are then crashed or it's gone behind the 180 00:08:22,230 --> 00:08:20,230 truth there goes lovely all right quite 181 00:08:24,810 --> 00:08:22,240 Linda that was great well Jim why don't 182 00:08:26,580 --> 00:08:24,820 we run inside have a nice cold bottle of 183 00:08:42,690 --> 00:08:26,590 ginger beer and we'll let our listeners 184 00:08:50,259 --> 00:08:47,100 here's my not spooky action at a 185 00:08:54,740 --> 00:08:52,670 hey I just like getting out there and 186 00:08:57,379 --> 00:08:54,750 saying whatever I like about whoever I 187 00:08:59,480 --> 00:08:57,389 like whenever I like on Twitter online 188 00:09:01,850 --> 00:08:59,490 and Twitter is this amazing thing you 189 00:09:03,470 --> 00:09:01,860 know people it's a form of media where 190 00:09:05,960 --> 00:09:03,480 you can say whatever you like about 191 00:09:08,210 --> 00:09:05,970 anyone you like at any time without any 192 00:09:09,619 --> 00:09:08,220 legal recourse well apparently there's 193 00:09:11,780 --> 00:09:09,629 someone who thinks is not the case that 194 00:09:13,519 --> 00:09:11,790 person's mark Pearson journalist and 195 00:09:15,619 --> 00:09:13,529 professor of journalism at bond 196 00:09:18,050 --> 00:09:15,629 university so he knows was talking about 197 00:09:20,059 --> 00:09:18,060 and co-author of the quite well regarded 198 00:09:22,100 --> 00:09:20,069 the journalists guide to media law which 199 00:09:23,660 --> 00:09:22,110 I read briefly in the bathroom before I 200 00:09:25,280 --> 00:09:23,670 came here and it was because 201 00:09:26,600 --> 00:09:25,290 correspondent for reporters without 202 00:09:29,030 --> 00:09:26,610 borders and has been published in The 203 00:09:31,249 --> 00:09:29,040 Wall Street Journal so you've been sued 204 00:09:33,800 --> 00:09:31,259 many times mark have you well what quite 205 00:09:37,730 --> 00:09:33,810 I had a lawsuit very early in my career 206 00:09:39,199 --> 00:09:37,740 and that taught me a lesson that meant 207 00:09:41,540 --> 00:09:39,209 that I had to go across and research is 208 00:09:43,790 --> 00:09:41,550 this material and basically spent the 209 00:09:45,619 --> 00:09:43,800 last 30 years or so doing that well the 210 00:09:47,990 --> 00:09:45,629 book you've got is called blogging and 211 00:09:49,220 --> 00:09:48,000 tweeting without getting sued and what 212 00:09:51,530 --> 00:09:49,230 you've done well as you've done so good 213 00:09:53,900 --> 00:09:51,540 font work here because as the title gets 214 00:09:56,210 --> 00:09:53,910 larger towards the word sued that is the 215 00:09:57,980 --> 00:09:56,220 biggest word on the cover and that gets 216 00:09:59,569 --> 00:09:57,990 your attention if you're journalist yes 217 00:10:02,030 --> 00:09:59,579 well publisher has to take credit for 218 00:10:04,429 --> 00:10:02,040 that typography but it certainly does 219 00:10:06,980 --> 00:10:04,439 get the message home but not just a 220 00:10:09,889 --> 00:10:06,990 journalist's to the ordinary blogger and 221 00:10:13,699 --> 00:10:09,899 it's really aimed more at the lay 222 00:10:15,290 --> 00:10:13,709 bloggers and twitter who often goes into 223 00:10:16,490 --> 00:10:15,300 this business of publishing and they 224 00:10:18,740 --> 00:10:16,500 don't realize that it's online 225 00:10:21,710 --> 00:10:18,750 publishing that they're doing without 226 00:10:23,929 --> 00:10:21,720 understanding the centuries of laws and 227 00:10:26,120 --> 00:10:23,939 the hundreds of wars across different 228 00:10:28,189 --> 00:10:26,130 jurisdictions that apply to them mamiya 229 00:10:30,259 --> 00:10:28,199 mark pearson as a mob I'm always telling 230 00:10:32,240 --> 00:10:30,269 the people around me don't mistake me 231 00:10:34,069 --> 00:10:32,250 for journalists because I don't wish to 232 00:10:36,620 --> 00:10:34,079 be taken seriously I'm not that kind of 233 00:10:37,850 --> 00:10:36,630 person but whether you're taking 234 00:10:40,850 --> 00:10:37,860 seriously or not is in the eye the 235 00:10:42,679 --> 00:10:40,860 beholder isn't it well it is and people 236 00:10:45,590 --> 00:10:42,689 need to realize that what they're 237 00:10:48,439 --> 00:10:45,600 tweeting or posting to their Facebook 238 00:10:50,329 --> 00:10:48,449 pages or writing in their blog can 239 00:10:52,809 --> 00:10:50,339 actually have consequences for those 240 00:10:55,160 --> 00:10:52,819 that they are writing about and 241 00:10:56,509 --> 00:10:55,170 particularly the area of deformation 242 00:10:59,629 --> 00:10:56,519 which is a law that's been around for 243 00:11:02,900 --> 00:10:59,639 centuries was really only of concern to 244 00:11:03,639 --> 00:11:02,910 media outlets until this social media 245 00:11:06,670 --> 00:11:03,649 rebel 246 00:11:09,460 --> 00:11:06,680 and now people are ordinary citizens are 247 00:11:10,809 --> 00:11:09,470 getting sued because other people don't 248 00:11:12,369 --> 00:11:10,819 like what they've been saying about them 249 00:11:13,689 --> 00:11:12,379 look and one of the things you've got to 250 00:11:15,970 --> 00:11:13,699 realize straight away is that you've got 251 00:11:17,710 --> 00:11:15,980 a worldwide jurisdiction to look after 252 00:11:20,319 --> 00:11:17,720 whenever you say something potentially 253 00:11:23,470 --> 00:11:20,329 about anyone so how can anyone cover 254 00:11:25,809 --> 00:11:23,480 that well well I found a lot of 255 00:11:27,730 --> 00:11:25,819 difficulty myself in fact it's it's 256 00:11:31,269 --> 00:11:27,740 impossible even in a small book like 257 00:11:33,489 --> 00:11:31,279 that to go into detail into the various 258 00:11:35,650 --> 00:11:33,499 laws that control publishing throughout 259 00:11:37,689 --> 00:11:35,660 the world so all I've been able to do is 260 00:11:39,609 --> 00:11:37,699 scratch the surface and give people an 261 00:11:41,590 --> 00:11:39,619 idea of some of the basic principles 262 00:11:43,840 --> 00:11:41,600 behind it I think the main thing with 263 00:11:46,749 --> 00:11:43,850 the ordinary bloggers or social media 264 00:11:49,269 --> 00:11:46,759 user is to know when the alarm bells are 265 00:11:52,269 --> 00:11:49,279 ringing so that they they can sort of 266 00:11:55,900 --> 00:11:52,279 hold back and not rush to to press that 267 00:11:57,910 --> 00:11:55,910 publish button and be to know when to 268 00:11:59,829 --> 00:11:57,920 seek legal advice though that's the most 269 00:12:02,230 --> 00:11:59,839 important thing and it's better to be 270 00:12:04,900 --> 00:12:02,240 getting such advice before the event 271 00:12:06,790 --> 00:12:04,910 rather than when you've received the the 272 00:12:08,590 --> 00:12:06,800 deformation route let's go through a 273 00:12:10,299 --> 00:12:08,600 couple of statements here that I might 274 00:12:12,100 --> 00:12:10,309 put on a tweet or you might read or 275 00:12:14,949 --> 00:12:12,110 something like that if you Twitter or 276 00:12:17,290 --> 00:12:14,959 wrote it publicly my boss is an idiot 277 00:12:19,329 --> 00:12:17,300 now is that defamatory or because we 278 00:12:20,769 --> 00:12:19,339 don't know who my boss is or whether my 279 00:12:22,689 --> 00:12:20,779 boss is a particular person I could have 280 00:12:24,369 --> 00:12:22,699 a couple it could be you know my spouse 281 00:12:26,530 --> 00:12:24,379 is that something that would be 282 00:12:28,059 --> 00:12:26,540 defamatory well on the face of it it 283 00:12:30,939 --> 00:12:28,069 certainly is defamatory and not just 284 00:12:32,139 --> 00:12:30,949 your boss but someone else who can show 285 00:12:34,360 --> 00:12:32,149 that people thought you were talking 286 00:12:37,749 --> 00:12:34,370 about them so maybe if you have two or 287 00:12:39,780 --> 00:12:37,759 three bosses then the other the others 288 00:12:43,809 --> 00:12:39,790 that you didn't even intend to defame 289 00:12:46,480 --> 00:12:43,819 may may well take action against you so 290 00:12:49,239 --> 00:12:46,490 on the face of it without further 291 00:12:51,069 --> 00:12:49,249 explanation there could be a defense 292 00:12:52,689 --> 00:12:51,079 that's available to you but that's 293 00:12:55,179 --> 00:12:52,699 that's what you'd need to really 294 00:12:57,100 --> 00:12:55,189 research before pressing that button 295 00:12:58,569 --> 00:12:57,110 that'll be interesting in court then 296 00:13:01,059 --> 00:12:58,579 because you'd have to then prove that 297 00:13:03,369 --> 00:13:01,069 the saddles person was or wasn't it an 298 00:13:05,410 --> 00:13:03,379 idiot you then have to like that would 299 00:13:08,169 --> 00:13:05,420 be there any case it's come up that this 300 00:13:11,769 --> 00:13:08,179 is cuttin clear is that yes um in fact 301 00:13:15,039 --> 00:13:11,779 well the former RSL leader in Victoria 302 00:13:17,470 --> 00:13:15,049 Bruce Ruxton uh actually used that 303 00:13:19,840 --> 00:13:17,480 expression about a former politician 304 00:13:21,759 --> 00:13:19,850 and that case went all the way to a high 305 00:13:25,180 --> 00:13:21,769 court where he had written that this 306 00:13:27,759 --> 00:13:25,190 politician was an idiot luckily in that 307 00:13:29,740 --> 00:13:27,769 case the High Court held that he was 308 00:13:32,050 --> 00:13:29,750 expressing a political opinion which 309 00:13:33,550 --> 00:13:32,060 which they felt was actually protected 310 00:13:36,220 --> 00:13:33,560 under a very special constitutional 311 00:13:38,490 --> 00:13:36,230 defense but all rights to technical I 312 00:13:40,870 --> 00:13:38,500 certainly wouldn't be relying on that 313 00:13:44,379 --> 00:13:40,880 unless you had some very good legal 314 00:13:47,800 --> 00:13:44,389 advice and and a real really good 315 00:13:49,120 --> 00:13:47,810 bankroll of legal resources available to 316 00:13:52,300 --> 00:13:49,130 you all rights they probably couldn't 317 00:13:53,949 --> 00:13:52,310 save Maynard sucks well you know may 318 00:13:56,170 --> 00:13:53,959 know that may well be true that's true 319 00:13:58,810 --> 00:13:56,180 they say his work is shonky and below 320 00:14:00,879 --> 00:13:58,820 par frankly he sucks I go well fair cop 321 00:14:02,710 --> 00:14:00,889 really truth is a defense after all yeah 322 00:14:04,840 --> 00:14:02,720 there is a defense called honest opinion 323 00:14:07,930 --> 00:14:04,850 or fair comment which allows you to come 324 00:14:11,379 --> 00:14:07,940 to a negative conclusion about somebody 325 00:14:12,850 --> 00:14:11,389 in your opinion based on provable facts 326 00:14:15,790 --> 00:14:12,860 along the way so in other words you've 327 00:14:18,340 --> 00:14:15,800 got to build up an argument on provable 328 00:14:20,079 --> 00:14:18,350 facts to demonstrate that your opinion 329 00:14:23,110 --> 00:14:20,089 might be an extreme opinion about 330 00:14:25,329 --> 00:14:23,120 someone is is justifiable I always think 331 00:14:28,059 --> 00:14:25,339 humor should be a defense like if I said 332 00:14:31,480 --> 00:14:28,069 that Julia Gillard is really a man it's 333 00:14:33,790 --> 00:14:31,490 obviously a third statement and she's a 334 00:14:36,970 --> 00:14:33,800 public figure could I go to court for 335 00:14:38,400 --> 00:14:36,980 that well indeed you could or you could 336 00:14:40,449 --> 00:14:38,410 be sued over such a statement 337 00:14:43,180 --> 00:14:40,459 unfortunately the courts don't always 338 00:14:45,519 --> 00:14:43,190 have as good a sense of humor as we 339 00:14:47,019 --> 00:14:45,529 might hope and I don't think they had 340 00:14:48,850 --> 00:14:47,029 any sense of humor I don't think I was 341 00:14:51,610 --> 00:14:48,860 in a judge I've never seen a judge at a 342 00:14:53,410 --> 00:14:51,620 stand-up comedy gig alright the law 343 00:14:55,420 --> 00:14:53,420 doesn't specifically in Australia at 344 00:14:58,660 --> 00:14:55,430 least it doesn't specifically protects a 345 00:15:02,379 --> 00:14:58,670 tire and so it's one thing to be you 346 00:15:04,689 --> 00:15:02,389 know in a community situation but it's 347 00:15:06,550 --> 00:15:04,699 another to actually be being satirical 348 00:15:08,439 --> 00:15:06,560 about someone and saying things that 349 00:15:10,629 --> 00:15:08,449 appear truthful but they're really 350 00:15:12,129 --> 00:15:10,639 tongue-in-cheek judges have shown 351 00:15:14,350 --> 00:15:12,139 traditionally they don't have much of a 352 00:15:16,480 --> 00:15:14,360 sense of humor there and they have to 353 00:15:18,819 --> 00:15:16,490 basically guess what the ordinary 354 00:15:21,579 --> 00:15:18,829 reasonable person would think about that 355 00:15:23,410 --> 00:15:21,589 was a classic case where some very 356 00:15:26,199 --> 00:15:23,420 satirical comments were made about the 357 00:15:28,870 --> 00:15:26,209 former politician Pauline Hanson in 358 00:15:31,360 --> 00:15:28,880 Queensland in the form of a recording 359 00:15:35,440 --> 00:15:31,370 that was being played on the ABCs triple 360 00:15:37,420 --> 00:15:35,450 day by a satirist and Pauline Hanson 361 00:15:39,040 --> 00:15:37,430 went to the Queensland up went to the 362 00:15:40,210 --> 00:15:39,050 court of appeal in Queensland and it 363 00:15:42,760 --> 00:15:40,220 doesn't said that that was hilarious 364 00:15:45,610 --> 00:15:42,770 that track yes you remember if other 365 00:15:48,070 --> 00:15:45,620 porn to put the port the Pauline pants 366 00:15:49,780 --> 00:15:48,080 down track yes yeah that's still subject 367 00:15:51,640 --> 00:15:49,790 as I understand it's still subject to an 368 00:15:54,460 --> 00:15:51,650 injunction which stops that being 369 00:15:57,160 --> 00:15:54,470 broadcast because the court held that it 370 00:15:59,200 --> 00:15:57,170 was defamatory and didn't hold didn't 371 00:16:01,900 --> 00:15:59,210 share that satirist sense of humor and 372 00:16:03,280 --> 00:16:01,910 what about retweeting is a good chap 373 00:16:05,890 --> 00:16:03,290 you've got in your book about hosting 374 00:16:08,380 --> 00:16:05,900 the words of others now if the if a 375 00:16:09,820 --> 00:16:08,390 newspaper quotes someone or reruns a 376 00:16:11,620 --> 00:16:09,830 story from another newspaper they're 377 00:16:14,500 --> 00:16:11,630 equally liable as in this country is 378 00:16:16,840 --> 00:16:14,510 that the case with a retweet well that's 379 00:16:19,810 --> 00:16:16,850 yet to be determined by the courts and 380 00:16:22,150 --> 00:16:19,820 the thing is when you retweet something 381 00:16:23,890 --> 00:16:22,160 if it is defamatory if it's highly 382 00:16:26,200 --> 00:16:23,900 defamatory of someone else you know and 383 00:16:28,269 --> 00:16:26,210 and you've got 140 characters in Twitter 384 00:16:31,120 --> 00:16:28,279 to play with so you could say something 385 00:16:32,740 --> 00:16:31,130 very very nasty we know a few words in 386 00:16:35,320 --> 00:16:32,750 the language that we might say about 387 00:16:38,470 --> 00:16:35,330 somebody that is particularly scathing 388 00:16:41,110 --> 00:16:38,480 and highly defamatory or a retweet with 389 00:16:43,930 --> 00:16:41,120 those words would you would be 390 00:16:45,610 --> 00:16:43,940 republishing them so basically by 391 00:16:47,680 --> 00:16:45,620 retweeting even though you might say you 392 00:16:50,949 --> 00:16:47,690 don't endorse with retweets if those 393 00:16:53,829 --> 00:16:50,959 bear words are so defamatory of somebody 394 00:16:55,930 --> 00:16:53,839 else then you have republish them and if 395 00:16:57,699 --> 00:16:55,940 you're an easier target to find for the 396 00:17:00,880 --> 00:16:57,709 person that has been defamed if you're a 397 00:17:03,220 --> 00:17:00,890 perhaps wolfy ER or you're easily more 398 00:17:05,410 --> 00:17:03,230 easily identified as the person that's 399 00:17:09,189 --> 00:17:05,420 republished them then they might go for 400 00:17:11,110 --> 00:17:09,199 you rather than the original tweeter who 401 00:17:12,819 --> 00:17:11,120 may have a bit a legal team may have a 402 00:17:16,000 --> 00:17:12,829 better legal team or may not be as 403 00:17:19,650 --> 00:17:16,010 easily found because they may have used 404 00:17:22,179 --> 00:17:19,660 various devices anonymity or whatever to 405 00:17:24,880 --> 00:17:22,189 escape identification now what 406 00:17:26,679 --> 00:17:24,890 high-profile test cases have we had for 407 00:17:30,280 --> 00:17:26,689 blogging I imagine there's been a few 408 00:17:32,440 --> 00:17:30,290 and Twitter in Australia we've had we've 409 00:17:34,750 --> 00:17:32,450 had a few most of them have a work their 410 00:17:36,750 --> 00:17:34,760 way all the way through the courts we 411 00:17:40,510 --> 00:17:36,760 had one where a West Australian 412 00:17:43,750 --> 00:17:40,520 businessman was defamed fairly badly on 413 00:17:45,250 --> 00:17:43,760 on basically an online bulletin board 414 00:17:47,170 --> 00:17:45,260 about the company 415 00:17:49,720 --> 00:17:47,180 in the operations and his own 416 00:17:53,560 --> 00:17:49,730 performance and that was done by an 417 00:17:56,350 --> 00:17:53,570 anonymous commentator but his lawyers 418 00:17:59,920 --> 00:17:56,360 got on the job and managed to do various 419 00:18:01,810 --> 00:17:59,930 searches and through IP Internet 420 00:18:05,020 --> 00:18:01,820 Protocol numbers and so on they managed 421 00:18:06,880 --> 00:18:05,030 to identify who this person was and he 422 00:18:09,190 --> 00:18:06,890 finished up having to pay about forty 423 00:18:11,980 --> 00:18:09,200 thousand dollars in defamation payments 424 00:18:15,160 --> 00:18:11,990 okay that's a pretty penny yes we also 425 00:18:18,370 --> 00:18:15,170 recently had that like a hardy case 426 00:18:20,920 --> 00:18:18,380 where where apparently she's had to 427 00:18:24,960 --> 00:18:20,930 settle out of court over wrongly 428 00:18:27,880 --> 00:18:24,970 accusing someone of being online stalker 429 00:18:29,650 --> 00:18:27,890 we've had various ones where they've 430 00:18:31,810 --> 00:18:29,660 been very serious threats of defamation 431 00:18:34,540 --> 00:18:31,820 action the editor-in-chief of the 432 00:18:37,120 --> 00:18:34,550 Australian newspaper threatened a 433 00:18:40,390 --> 00:18:37,130 journalism academic who had been 434 00:18:44,110 --> 00:18:40,400 tweeting a conference almost 18 months 435 00:18:46,870 --> 00:18:44,120 ago now and she had quoted a former 436 00:18:48,730 --> 00:18:46,880 reporter saying certain things and the 437 00:18:51,880 --> 00:18:48,740 editor-in-chief of the Australian wrote 438 00:18:54,490 --> 00:18:51,890 a very serious legal letter threatening 439 00:18:56,980 --> 00:18:54,500 defamation action movie ended that 440 00:19:00,490 --> 00:18:56,990 didn't unfold the action wasn't pursued 441 00:19:02,200 --> 00:19:00,500 but nevertheless it sent a very scary 442 00:19:03,760 --> 00:19:02,210 message to that particular academic 443 00:19:05,680 --> 00:19:03,770 because that's where it can get really 444 00:19:07,600 --> 00:19:05,690 up that's rub seen some of the nastiest 445 00:19:10,240 --> 00:19:07,610 stuff is when people are blogging a live 446 00:19:11,890 --> 00:19:10,250 event it's almost like they just want to 447 00:19:13,150 --> 00:19:11,900 heckle you it's like that they want to 448 00:19:14,410 --> 00:19:13,160 score points on you for the sake of 449 00:19:16,180 --> 00:19:14,420 scoring points because they're in the 450 00:19:18,010 --> 00:19:16,190 room and they can say stuff you can't 451 00:19:20,680 --> 00:19:18,020 see yeah I think it's a very dangerous 452 00:19:23,710 --> 00:19:20,690 practice having what's called a live 453 00:19:25,930 --> 00:19:23,720 Twitter feed why would you do that you 454 00:19:28,930 --> 00:19:25,940 just asking for trouble in the very 455 00:19:30,670 --> 00:19:28,940 conference whip where the audience can 456 00:19:32,710 --> 00:19:30,680 see the twitter feed there are so many 457 00:19:35,530 --> 00:19:32,720 dynamics that come into play I've been 458 00:19:37,840 --> 00:19:35,540 in conferences where this happens and it 459 00:19:38,740 --> 00:19:37,850 really is a distraction in some ways and 460 00:19:41,770 --> 00:19:38,750 the people who are in the audience 461 00:19:43,270 --> 00:19:41,780 tweeting start to take on you know the 462 00:19:45,550 --> 00:19:43,280 role of the people that are meant to be 463 00:19:48,250 --> 00:19:45,560 running the show of the panelists or the 464 00:19:50,140 --> 00:19:48,260 author speaker and quite often it's a 465 00:19:52,300 --> 00:19:50,150 distraction and quite often it's a very 466 00:19:54,280 --> 00:19:52,310 negative force in the room I do just 467 00:19:55,690 --> 00:19:54,290 like the tweets on Q&A one of the 468 00:19:57,640 --> 00:19:55,700 reasons I don't watch the show is 469 00:19:59,139 --> 00:19:57,650 because that it there's people just 470 00:20:02,259 --> 00:19:59,149 saying stuff and they're just saying 471 00:20:03,369 --> 00:20:02,269 to be funny which is okay but it comes 472 00:20:05,289 --> 00:20:03,379 up the bottom there and it can often 473 00:20:06,999 --> 00:20:05,299 distract from what's the argument that's 474 00:20:08,769 --> 00:20:07,009 going to the rather you know arrow died 475 00:20:10,329 --> 00:20:08,779 argument that's going on on the screen 476 00:20:12,099 --> 00:20:10,339 gets distracted by something completely 477 00:20:14,469 --> 00:20:12,109 frivolous but then again maybe that's 478 00:20:17,169 --> 00:20:14,479 why people like it yeah might I disagree 479 00:20:18,639 --> 00:20:17,179 with you there oh I think they ring the 480 00:20:20,289 --> 00:20:18,649 bell ring the bell without a fight you 481 00:20:22,479 --> 00:20:20,299 disagree you think that make that makes 482 00:20:24,879 --> 00:20:22,489 the show you reckon I enjoy the QA 483 00:20:26,859 --> 00:20:24,889 twitter feed and there is so important 484 00:20:28,930 --> 00:20:26,869 differences there what I was talking 485 00:20:31,690 --> 00:20:28,940 about was basically a twitter feed going 486 00:20:34,089 --> 00:20:31,700 on during a conference which is 487 00:20:36,310 --> 00:20:34,099 basically are moderated whereas at least 488 00:20:39,009 --> 00:20:36,320 the QA one is moderated there's someone 489 00:20:41,529 --> 00:20:39,019 at the ABC sifting through hundreds 490 00:20:43,419 --> 00:20:41,539 perhaps thousands of tweets going on as 491 00:20:45,369 --> 00:20:43,429 that program is being broadcast 492 00:20:47,320 --> 00:20:45,379 selecting the ones they see as most 493 00:20:49,719 --> 00:20:47,330 pertinent so you have basically a 494 00:20:51,729 --> 00:20:49,729 separate and entertainment channel going 495 00:20:54,159 --> 00:20:51,739 on in the bottom half of the screen see 496 00:20:57,759 --> 00:20:54,169 III would debate your use of the word 497 00:20:59,529 --> 00:20:57,769 pertinent well we're talking about 498 00:21:01,359 --> 00:20:59,539 settle our earlier and some of them 499 00:21:03,279 --> 00:21:01,369 clearly fall into that category Matt 500 00:21:05,289 --> 00:21:03,289 that's true and also it is Mark Scott's 501 00:21:06,579 --> 00:21:05,299 one of his favorite shows so I I don't 502 00:21:08,409 --> 00:21:06,589 think you'll ever see a problem with it 503 00:21:12,249 --> 00:21:08,419 and to his credit is one of these are 504 00:21:14,979 --> 00:21:12,259 very active Twitter user and not just in 505 00:21:16,930 --> 00:21:14,989 promoting the abcs programming but he 506 00:21:18,849 --> 00:21:16,940 often has some very insightful comments 507 00:21:20,379 --> 00:21:18,859 see yeah I've got to say who is your 508 00:21:21,669 --> 00:21:20,389 most favorite you said you like Mark 509 00:21:22,899 --> 00:21:21,679 Scott there and he's probably one of the 510 00:21:24,849 --> 00:21:22,909 guys it's in the middle of what's going 511 00:21:27,489 --> 00:21:24,859 on is that who's your favorite Twitter 512 00:21:30,609 --> 00:21:27,499 person Australia more well in Australia 513 00:21:32,799 --> 00:21:30,619 yep the the thing is I don't use Twitter 514 00:21:35,589 --> 00:21:32,809 much in that way main I use it as a 515 00:21:37,869 --> 00:21:35,599 professional research tool so my 516 00:21:39,940 --> 00:21:37,879 favorite tweets we call them twitter 517 00:21:41,619 --> 00:21:39,950 friends are actually people that would 518 00:21:43,359 --> 00:21:41,629 be quite boring probably to your 519 00:21:45,609 --> 00:21:43,369 audience because they are tweeting on 520 00:21:47,829 --> 00:21:45,619 media law issues which are in social 521 00:21:52,289 --> 00:21:47,839 media law which is my area of expertise 522 00:21:56,200 --> 00:21:52,299 I don't use Twitter as a as a social 523 00:21:58,419 --> 00:21:56,210 private vehicle i use my facebook page 524 00:22:01,269 --> 00:21:58,429 for that so i've got a very clear 525 00:22:03,190 --> 00:22:01,279 division between the two and so i 526 00:22:05,409 --> 00:22:03,200 wouldn't dare to mention a favourite 527 00:22:07,209 --> 00:22:05,419 Tweep in my area of media law because 528 00:22:09,610 --> 00:22:07,219 i'd be upsetting to many of the others 529 00:22:11,620 --> 00:22:09,620 who i follow 530 00:22:14,020 --> 00:22:11,630 I think that's that's very telling mark 531 00:22:15,160 --> 00:22:14,030 Pearson like here are the journalists 532 00:22:18,910 --> 00:22:15,170 professor of journals with bond 533 00:22:21,430 --> 00:22:18,920 university and you don't use twitter in 534 00:22:23,560 --> 00:22:21,440 a way like it yet you're very very 535 00:22:26,710 --> 00:22:23,570 careful with it and I think that is a 536 00:22:29,260 --> 00:22:26,720 warning to the rest of us well it may 537 00:22:30,340 --> 00:22:29,270 well be it's a people do these things in 538 00:22:33,700 --> 00:22:30,350 their own way and make their own 539 00:22:36,070 --> 00:22:33,710 decisions I've actually found it all a 540 00:22:38,380 --> 00:22:36,080 little confusing early on in me in 541 00:22:39,790 --> 00:22:38,390 Twitter with people sort of on the one 542 00:22:41,560 --> 00:22:39,800 hand sometimes saying their coffee 543 00:22:43,030 --> 00:22:41,570 heading coffee or a nice meal or 544 00:22:44,980 --> 00:22:43,040 chatting with friends and on the other 545 00:22:47,320 --> 00:22:44,990 hand saying something quite significant 546 00:22:49,450 --> 00:22:47,330 that I find useful for my work so I 547 00:22:53,410 --> 00:22:49,460 decided very early on to maintain 548 00:22:56,620 --> 00:22:53,420 separate guys it's journal or guys as my 549 00:22:59,260 --> 00:22:56,630 Twitter account and or hand or as it's 550 00:23:02,740 --> 00:22:59,270 called in Twitter and only tweet on 551 00:23:05,169 --> 00:23:02,750 media law press freedom social media law 552 00:23:07,600 --> 00:23:05,179 those sorts of topics and one of the 553 00:23:09,100 --> 00:23:07,610 questions I want to ask you in regard to 554 00:23:10,330 --> 00:23:09,110 the Australian skeptics is one of the 555 00:23:12,430 --> 00:23:10,340 ongoing there's a lot of on-going 556 00:23:14,140 --> 00:23:12,440 debates between the Australian 557 00:23:15,669 --> 00:23:14,150 vaccination network and this try and 558 00:23:17,140 --> 00:23:15,679 skeptics or the strand skeptics all 559 00:23:19,360 --> 00:23:17,150 these people and I've seen a lot of very 560 00:23:21,700 --> 00:23:19,370 heated debate going back and forth and 561 00:23:24,490 --> 00:23:21,710 at times I've thought oh that's a bit 562 00:23:27,580 --> 00:23:24,500 much from from both sides it is there an 563 00:23:28,810 --> 00:23:27,590 easy is there a quick way to to avoid 564 00:23:30,100 --> 00:23:28,820 getting yourself in trouble and you're 565 00:23:31,690 --> 00:23:30,110 getting this back and forth kind of 566 00:23:33,400 --> 00:23:31,700 debate well I've got to make it clear 567 00:23:35,830 --> 00:23:33,410 that I'm not a lawyer so I can't give 568 00:23:37,960 --> 00:23:35,840 legal advice yeah that's right here he 569 00:23:41,380 --> 00:23:37,970 only plays one on TV occasionally people 570 00:23:43,810 --> 00:23:41,390 is not a real lawyer but as a journalist 571 00:23:46,090 --> 00:23:43,820 I would suggest p if people stick to the 572 00:23:47,860 --> 00:23:46,100 topic often in sport we have the 573 00:23:50,830 --> 00:23:47,870 expression about playing the ball 574 00:23:53,260 --> 00:23:50,840 rolling the man and if people stick to 575 00:23:54,940 --> 00:23:53,270 the ball basically the topic that is 576 00:23:57,549 --> 00:23:54,950 being debated in the public arena 577 00:24:00,400 --> 00:23:57,559 they're going to be pretty safe it's 578 00:24:02,830 --> 00:24:00,410 when they venture into personal 579 00:24:05,830 --> 00:24:02,840 characteristics they personalize their 580 00:24:08,530 --> 00:24:05,840 attack they bring in material from left 581 00:24:10,680 --> 00:24:08,540 field that they can't prove so if 582 00:24:14,049 --> 00:24:10,690 skeptics are talking about an issue like 583 00:24:16,120 --> 00:24:14,059 vaccinations and they are talking about 584 00:24:18,280 --> 00:24:16,130 the data that's involved and and they're 585 00:24:20,169 --> 00:24:18,290 engaging in debate and perhaps very 586 00:24:22,409 --> 00:24:20,179 heated debate with the individuals from 587 00:24:23,759 --> 00:24:22,419 from a different viewpoint there 588 00:24:25,289 --> 00:24:23,769 they're going to be pretty safe but as 589 00:24:27,720 --> 00:24:25,299 soon as they start talking about that 590 00:24:31,259 --> 00:24:27,730 individual and their private life for 591 00:24:33,840 --> 00:24:31,269 that's alleging that they've you know 592 00:24:36,330 --> 00:24:33,850 misused finances or they're negligent in 593 00:24:37,859 --> 00:24:36,340 their work these sorts of things then 594 00:24:40,200 --> 00:24:37,869 that's when they're going to be on shaky 595 00:24:42,450 --> 00:24:40,210 ground now shaky ground you can find 596 00:24:44,399 --> 00:24:42,460 yourself on pretty easily is the case in 597 00:24:46,529 --> 00:24:44,409 your book of paul chambers in the UK 598 00:24:48,180 --> 00:24:46,539 where he ran foul of the terror laws 599 00:24:50,009 --> 00:24:48,190 there i imagine we have similar ones 600 00:24:51,570 --> 00:24:50,019 here in australia but basically he was 601 00:24:53,580 --> 00:24:51,580 just making a joke because it was late 602 00:24:55,680 --> 00:24:53,590 for a flight or the airport was snowed 603 00:24:56,879 --> 00:24:55,690 in and he said arm get that isn't fixed 604 00:24:59,820 --> 00:24:56,889 within a week I'm going to blow up the 605 00:25:01,799 --> 00:24:59,830 airport and I most people would take 606 00:25:03,029 --> 00:25:01,809 that at face value and not think that he 607 00:25:05,279 --> 00:25:03,039 was going to blow up the airport there's 608 00:25:06,869 --> 00:25:05,289 a joke yes well like I said earlier the 609 00:25:09,029 --> 00:25:06,879 authorities don't always have the same 610 00:25:12,899 --> 00:25:09,039 sense of humor and we we live in an 611 00:25:15,739 --> 00:25:12,909 international era of of high national 612 00:25:18,299 --> 00:25:15,749 security counterterrorism operations and 613 00:25:20,460 --> 00:25:18,309 if there's one thing I'd suggest to all 614 00:25:23,399 --> 00:25:20,470 of your listeners is don't never joke 615 00:25:25,289 --> 00:25:23,409 about those sorts of things and and what 616 00:25:27,590 --> 00:25:25,299 he did he made that mistake the 617 00:25:31,289 --> 00:25:27,600 authorities took it seriously because 618 00:25:33,269 --> 00:25:31,299 when someone says is threatening to blow 619 00:25:35,039 --> 00:25:33,279 up an airport that there's not 620 00:25:39,619 --> 00:25:35,049 necessarily a hundred percent chance 621 00:25:43,259 --> 00:25:39,629 it's a joke so he was suddenly arrested 622 00:25:44,549 --> 00:25:43,269 charged he was in awful legal trouble I 623 00:25:47,279 --> 00:25:44,559 understand he's gone through an appeal 624 00:25:50,580 --> 00:25:47,289 process since then and but nevertheless 625 00:25:53,279 --> 00:25:50,590 he faced all sorts of legal costs and 626 00:25:55,440 --> 00:25:53,289 consequences that was just for the 627 00:25:56,940 --> 00:25:55,450 moment and you know at the time just 628 00:25:59,220 --> 00:25:56,950 seemed to be a funny little joke he was 629 00:26:01,470 --> 00:25:59,230 sharing with his Twitter followers but 630 00:26:03,330 --> 00:26:01,480 to a judge wouldn't it seem that if you 631 00:26:05,460 --> 00:26:03,340 were actually going to blow up an 632 00:26:07,169 --> 00:26:05,470 airport you would not tweet to people 633 00:26:09,330 --> 00:26:07,179 that you're going to blow up an airport 634 00:26:11,340 --> 00:26:09,340 yes I think the courts and the 635 00:26:13,590 --> 00:26:11,350 authorities would have sent a very clear 636 00:26:15,629 --> 00:26:13,600 message to the community that this isn't 637 00:26:20,009 --> 00:26:15,639 something that is meant to be joked 638 00:26:22,379 --> 00:26:20,019 about and also how I mean from it from 639 00:26:24,720 --> 00:26:22,389 their point of view I suppose they don't 640 00:26:26,460 --> 00:26:24,730 want their time taken up with people 641 00:26:28,409 --> 00:26:26,470 joking about these things when there's 642 00:26:31,589 --> 00:26:28,419 the real battle to be fought there 643 00:26:33,419 --> 00:26:31,599 against uh actual terrorists who have 644 00:26:35,470 --> 00:26:33,429 such plans and one of the real 645 00:26:37,540 --> 00:26:35,480 situations we find on 646 00:26:39,250 --> 00:26:37,550 Twitter and with blogs as well is people 647 00:26:41,770 --> 00:26:39,260 impersonating other people one of my 648 00:26:42,850 --> 00:26:41,780 favorite tweets that one of my favorite 649 00:26:45,400 --> 00:26:42,860 Twitter accounts in Australia is the 650 00:26:47,560 --> 00:26:45,410 fake Paul Keating it can be pretty ribe 651 00:26:49,210 --> 00:26:47,570 all the time much as Paul himself could 652 00:26:51,910 --> 00:26:49,220 be and it does make some interesting 653 00:26:53,650 --> 00:26:51,920 political points but when you give your 654 00:26:55,720 --> 00:26:53,660 fake Julia Gillard there you got fake 655 00:26:58,810 --> 00:26:55,730 everybody now I know there's a law in 656 00:27:01,030 --> 00:26:58,820 Arkansas's that was passed in 2009 657 00:27:03,250 --> 00:27:01,040 against a specific thing but is there a 658 00:27:05,140 --> 00:27:03,260 problem with impersonating other people 659 00:27:06,790 --> 00:27:05,150 as there is in real life well it 660 00:27:09,510 --> 00:27:06,800 certainly can be a lot of these things 661 00:27:12,880 --> 00:27:09,520 are taken as purely satirical and and 662 00:27:16,480 --> 00:27:12,890 the even the real people for whom the 663 00:27:18,700 --> 00:27:16,490 fake account has been set up take it as 664 00:27:20,500 --> 00:27:18,710 a joke and understand that most of the 665 00:27:23,710 --> 00:27:20,510 people reading it would never even think 666 00:27:26,740 --> 00:27:23,720 it was really them writing it so the 667 00:27:29,500 --> 00:27:26,750 thing with these fake identities is that 668 00:27:31,870 --> 00:27:29,510 normally in the descriptor on the the 669 00:27:33,790 --> 00:27:31,880 person's gravatar they are their hand or 670 00:27:37,360 --> 00:27:33,800 for the account it does say that they 671 00:27:39,040 --> 00:27:37,370 are not the real person who you get into 672 00:27:41,320 --> 00:27:39,050 trouble if you are actually genuinely 673 00:27:43,450 --> 00:27:41,330 pretending to be that person basically 674 00:27:46,690 --> 00:27:43,460 impersonating someone else and that 675 00:27:49,390 --> 00:27:46,700 breaches both the rules of Facebook and 676 00:27:51,070 --> 00:27:49,400 Twitter and so they can actually suspend 677 00:27:53,200 --> 00:27:51,080 your account if someone complains about 678 00:27:56,080 --> 00:27:53,210 that but it also might break a whole 679 00:27:58,150 --> 00:27:56,090 range of rules in within the country 680 00:27:59,770 --> 00:27:58,160 that you're operating to do with 681 00:28:01,990 --> 00:27:59,780 people's will in the u.s. it's often 682 00:28:03,700 --> 00:28:02,000 called personality rights and and 683 00:28:05,560 --> 00:28:03,710 they're saying within Australian 684 00:28:08,500 --> 00:28:05,570 copyright law there are moral rights 685 00:28:12,340 --> 00:28:08,510 where people have entitlement to 686 00:28:16,360 --> 00:28:12,350 represent material works words under 687 00:28:18,070 --> 00:28:16,370 their own guys because and even have 688 00:28:21,040 --> 00:28:18,080 right to take action against those 689 00:28:22,930 --> 00:28:21,050 falsely using their identity and two 690 00:28:25,030 --> 00:28:22,940 last questions which get to the core of 691 00:28:26,980 --> 00:28:25,040 the matter what is the first step you 692 00:28:30,100 --> 00:28:26,990 should take if you feel you've been 693 00:28:32,470 --> 00:28:30,110 wronged well the first thing you would 694 00:28:34,210 --> 00:28:32,480 do would be to take legal advice to find 695 00:28:36,820 --> 00:28:34,220 out whether you actually have been 696 00:28:38,260 --> 00:28:36,830 wronged but as so you shouldn't go to 697 00:28:40,090 --> 00:28:38,270 the person themselves and say look I'd 698 00:28:41,770 --> 00:28:40,100 like an apology you shouldn't do what I 699 00:28:43,570 --> 00:28:41,780 was gonna say that as a free expression 700 00:28:46,030 --> 00:28:43,580 advocate I think these things can 701 00:28:47,470 --> 00:28:46,040 normally be resolved without lawyers 702 00:28:49,720 --> 00:28:47,480 being involved so 703 00:28:52,390 --> 00:28:49,730 my first step would be to complain to 704 00:28:54,580 --> 00:28:52,400 whoever it is that said it ask them to 705 00:28:57,850 --> 00:28:54,590 apologize ask them to issue a correction 706 00:29:00,400 --> 00:28:57,860 and and if they're not willing to do 707 00:29:02,890 --> 00:29:00,410 that then perhaps to consider some legal 708 00:29:06,130 --> 00:29:02,900 advice to to pursue the matter further 709 00:29:08,260 --> 00:29:06,140 and what should you do when you're the 710 00:29:10,180 --> 00:29:08,270 one you think I've stuffed up or you've 711 00:29:11,500 --> 00:29:10,190 received a complaint well if you've 712 00:29:14,530 --> 00:29:11,510 received a complaint and there's any 713 00:29:17,620 --> 00:29:14,540 threat of legal action whatsoever I'd be 714 00:29:19,690 --> 00:29:17,630 getting legal advice instantly if it's 715 00:29:22,210 --> 00:29:19,700 not a threat of legal advice then I 716 00:29:23,830 --> 00:29:22,220 would be also engaging in you know some 717 00:29:26,260 --> 00:29:23,840 sort of alternative dispute resolution 718 00:29:28,180 --> 00:29:26,270 with the person involved to try to us 719 00:29:29,980 --> 00:29:28,190 wage them so that they don't take that 720 00:29:31,720 --> 00:29:29,990 step it's interesting you write in your 721 00:29:34,180 --> 00:29:31,730 book that the first thing you might want 722 00:29:35,830 --> 00:29:34,190 to do is apologize but maybe not that's 723 00:29:37,810 --> 00:29:35,840 not what you should do first of all you 724 00:29:40,780 --> 00:29:37,820 write in your book yes well the trouble 725 00:29:45,420 --> 00:29:40,790 with apologies and corrections Andrew no 726 00:29:48,580 --> 00:29:45,430 retractions is that and the legal advice 727 00:29:50,830 --> 00:29:48,590 is really necessary before you do these 728 00:29:54,040 --> 00:29:50,840 sorts of things because sometimes it can 729 00:29:56,230 --> 00:29:54,050 ruin a legal defense to have done so so 730 00:29:58,030 --> 00:29:56,240 for example a defense that it was your 731 00:30:00,190 --> 00:29:58,040 honest opinion or your fair comment 732 00:30:01,720 --> 00:30:00,200 where you were criticizing someone if 733 00:30:03,880 --> 00:30:01,730 you've retracted that and said you 734 00:30:05,890 --> 00:30:03,890 didn't really mean to say it in some 735 00:30:08,800 --> 00:30:05,900 places you'd lose the defense because 736 00:30:11,110 --> 00:30:08,810 how can you have an honest opinion if 737 00:30:12,370 --> 00:30:11,120 you didn't mean to say it so we're 738 00:30:16,000 --> 00:30:12,380 starting to get a little bit technical 739 00:30:18,550 --> 00:30:16,010 legally here so all I'm saying is you 740 00:30:21,130 --> 00:30:18,560 know an apology like I'm sorry this made 741 00:30:22,480 --> 00:30:21,140 you upset rather than I'm sorry I was 742 00:30:24,220 --> 00:30:22,490 wrong I didn't mean to say it 743 00:30:26,140 --> 00:30:24,230 particularly if you didn't if you 744 00:30:28,720 --> 00:30:26,150 actually didn't mean to say it you might 745 00:30:30,520 --> 00:30:28,730 be on better ground but in Australian 746 00:30:33,370 --> 00:30:30,530 under Australian law there's some very 747 00:30:36,310 --> 00:30:33,380 very technical and strict requirements 748 00:30:38,080 --> 00:30:36,320 of offers of amends and apologies and so 749 00:30:40,750 --> 00:30:38,090 they really need to be negotiated 750 00:30:42,640 --> 00:30:40,760 through a lawyer look mark Pearson from 751 00:30:45,100 --> 00:30:42,650 bond university professor of journalism 752 00:30:48,400 --> 00:30:45,110 and what is the one thing your students 753 00:30:50,710 --> 00:30:48,410 ask you the most often ask me whether 754 00:30:52,540 --> 00:30:50,720 they are really publishers when they're 755 00:30:54,580 --> 00:30:52,550 using social media they just can't 756 00:30:56,230 --> 00:30:54,590 believe it and I can't believe that 757 00:30:58,360 --> 00:30:56,240 their work is might be going to six 758 00:31:01,060 --> 00:30:58,370 hundred or more jurisdictions throughout 759 00:31:03,190 --> 00:31:01,070 the world so it takes a lot for them 760 00:31:05,560 --> 00:31:03,200 understand that just the smallest tweet 761 00:31:09,129 --> 00:31:05,570 can actually be a publication with legal 762 00:31:11,680 --> 00:31:09,139 consequences and the quick answer to is 763 00:31:13,629 --> 00:31:11,690 it am a bit worried about this is to 764 00:31:14,950 --> 00:31:13,639 maybe take some time don't do it 765 00:31:16,960 --> 00:31:14,960 instantly if you got if you're reacting 766 00:31:20,289 --> 00:31:16,970 to something take time before you tweet 767 00:31:22,090 --> 00:31:20,299 don't react sleep on it uh well Twitter 768 00:31:24,159 --> 00:31:22,100 is an instant medium and it's really 769 00:31:27,460 --> 00:31:24,169 cool to be seen to be right on top of it 770 00:31:29,200 --> 00:31:27,470 topic getting it wrong or doing damage 771 00:31:31,960 --> 00:31:29,210 to somebody else in a whole range of 772 00:31:34,389 --> 00:31:31,970 ways is far too great a risk to take sit 773 00:31:35,860 --> 00:31:34,399 back take a deep breath don't have a cup 774 00:31:39,970 --> 00:31:35,870 of coffee think about what you really 775 00:31:41,889 --> 00:31:39,980 want to write and and only then after 776 00:31:44,320 --> 00:31:41,899 calming down a little bite you write 777 00:31:45,820 --> 00:31:44,330 something a little more tempered Mike 778 00:31:48,009 --> 00:31:45,830 Pearson author of blogging and tweeting 779 00:31:49,539 --> 00:31:48,019 without getting sued I'm actually 780 00:31:51,700 --> 00:31:49,549 reading the font because it gets bigger 781 00:31:53,169 --> 00:31:51,710 they're a very useful book and hopefully 782 00:31:54,970 --> 00:31:53,179 it'll avoid someone ending up in court 783 00:32:10,119 --> 00:31:54,980 in the near future thank you Mark Thank 784 00:32:15,919 --> 00:32:13,460 hi this is Carrie papi i am ross 785 00:32:19,279 --> 00:32:15,929 Fletcher okay Ross hey we're from a 786 00:32:21,259 --> 00:32:19,289 podcast called oh no roster kerry we 787 00:32:22,849 --> 00:32:21,269 find out what happens when you show up 788 00:32:25,190 --> 00:32:22,859 and ask questions we've hung out with 789 00:32:27,769 --> 00:32:25,200 the caballes the Mormons we've gone and 790 00:32:30,169 --> 00:32:27,779 gotten ear candle gone to the Sikhs we 791 00:32:31,820 --> 00:32:30,179 show up so you don't have to so find out 792 00:32:33,919 --> 00:32:31,830 where we're going next we'll even have 793 00:32:36,349 --> 00:32:33,929 special episodes where we have famous 794 00:32:38,330 --> 00:32:36,359 guests like Brian Dalton from mr. deity 795 00:32:40,369 --> 00:32:38,340 you heard that awesome theme music he 796 00:32:44,539 --> 00:32:40,379 wrote that you should come visit us at 797 00:32:47,719 --> 00:32:44,549 Oh No podcast.com or facebook.com slash 798 00:32:51,589 --> 00:32:47,729 on rack what the hell's on a cross Oh in 799 00:32:59,539 --> 00:32:51,599 RAC Oh Oh No Ross and Carrie that's our 800 00:33:01,729 --> 00:32:59,549 show that's a smart come join us choice 801 00:33:04,129 --> 00:33:01,739 exists to unlock the power of consumers 802 00:33:06,229 --> 00:33:04,139 and we do that by providing expert 803 00:33:08,419 --> 00:33:06,239 information advice and support to our 804 00:33:10,789 --> 00:33:08,429 members and where necessary we will 805 00:33:12,440 --> 00:33:10,799 intervene in markets to campaign for the 806 00:33:14,149 --> 00:33:12,450 consumer interest as well maybe one 807 00:33:16,700 --> 00:33:14,159 hundred percent of our income is derived 808 00:33:18,320 --> 00:33:16,710 from our members and that allows us to 809 00:33:20,320 --> 00:33:18,330 be able to speak out without fear or 810 00:33:22,639 --> 00:33:20,330 favor we are one hundred percent 811 00:33:24,589 --> 00:33:22,649 independent in what we say and in what 812 00:33:26,509 --> 00:33:24,599 we do twice a year we hold awards 813 00:33:28,339 --> 00:33:26,519 firstly the sean keys which showcased 814 00:33:31,549 --> 00:33:28,349 the very worst products and services in 815 00:33:33,349 --> 00:33:31,559 australia but secondly and today you 816 00:33:34,700 --> 00:33:33,359 will see the choice award some of the 817 00:33:36,859 --> 00:33:34,710 very best products and services 818 00:33:40,609 --> 00:33:36,869 available and they are truly exceptional 819 00:33:43,159 --> 00:33:40,619 to pass the choice test dr. ken harvey 820 00:33:46,190 --> 00:33:43,169 is one of australia's leading experts in 821 00:33:48,680 --> 00:33:46,200 public health he's a fierce champion for 822 00:33:51,080 --> 00:33:48,690 the rights of consumers in particular 823 00:33:53,659 --> 00:33:51,090 around dodgy health products that are 824 00:33:56,239 --> 00:33:53,669 more spin than cure so it will covers no 825 00:33:59,299 --> 00:33:56,249 surprise that ken is our consumer 826 00:34:01,219 --> 00:33:59,309 champion for 2012 let's hear from Ken in 827 00:34:03,529 --> 00:34:01,229 his own words that the work that was 828 00:34:03,990 --> 00:34:03,539 done other work that he continues to do 829 00:34:09,300 --> 00:34:04,000 on 830 00:34:11,100 --> 00:34:09,310 was late seventies I was involved with a 831 00:34:13,169 --> 00:34:11,110 World Health Organization on ethical 832 00:34:15,090 --> 00:34:13,179 criteria of the medicinal drug promotion 833 00:34:17,010 --> 00:34:15,100 and ethical promotion is part of 834 00:34:19,200 --> 00:34:17,020 national drug policies and World Health 835 00:34:23,190 --> 00:34:19,210 Organization drug policies and so I've 836 00:34:25,680 --> 00:34:23,200 always had an interest in bed and if IC 837 00:34:28,200 --> 00:34:25,690 promotion that I think is not in accord 838 00:34:30,530 --> 00:34:28,210 with ethical criteria and there's a 839 00:34:33,270 --> 00:34:30,540 variety of codes of conduct and 840 00:34:35,070 --> 00:34:33,280 therapeutic goods advertising codes then 841 00:34:37,500 --> 00:34:35,080 I send in complaints are on the grounds 842 00:34:39,869 --> 00:34:37,510 that someone should do it and hence my 843 00:34:42,300 --> 00:34:39,879 reputation as a serial complainant which 844 00:34:44,129 --> 00:34:42,310 I think I'm quite proud of actually just 845 00:34:45,720 --> 00:34:44,139 early this year I succeeded in getting a 846 00:34:49,200 --> 00:34:45,730 forty thousand dollar fine out of the 847 00:34:51,149 --> 00:34:49,210 company for inappropriately promoting a 848 00:34:52,950 --> 00:34:51,159 prescription drug to general public 849 00:34:55,560 --> 00:34:52,960 unethical promotion no matter whether 850 00:34:59,220 --> 00:34:55,570 it's directed to doctors or consumers is 851 00:35:01,140 --> 00:34:59,230 basically trying to get irresponsible 852 00:35:03,600 --> 00:35:01,150 prescribing or consumption habits of 853 00:35:06,060 --> 00:35:03,610 drugs it's trying to delude either the 854 00:35:10,930 --> 00:35:06,070 doctors or consumers that a product's 855 00:35:14,650 --> 00:35:13,059 the principles of a system and good I 856 00:35:16,540 --> 00:35:14,660 mean there is a good therapeutic with 857 00:35:19,660 --> 00:35:16,550 advertising code based on the World 858 00:35:21,760 --> 00:35:19,670 Health ethical criteria there's a good 859 00:35:22,930 --> 00:35:21,770 independent complaint resolution panel 860 00:35:25,510 --> 00:35:22,940 which I think produces good 861 00:35:27,130 --> 00:35:25,520 determinations albeit they're overloaded 862 00:35:30,760 --> 00:35:27,140 the problem is complaint resolution 863 00:35:34,300 --> 00:35:30,770 panels got no power if they can and they 864 00:35:35,980 --> 00:35:34,310 do send non-compliance to the 865 00:35:38,230 --> 00:35:35,990 Therapeutic Goods Administration which 866 00:35:42,010 --> 00:35:38,240 ultimately is the final regulator the 867 00:35:45,040 --> 00:35:42,020 TGA then could Institute criminal 868 00:35:47,260 --> 00:35:45,050 proceedings in practice they have never 869 00:35:51,040 --> 00:35:47,270 ever done so the teacher is a paper 870 00:35:54,520 --> 00:35:51,050 tiger and that most people most sponsors 871 00:35:56,620 --> 00:35:54,530 can get away with unethical advertising 872 00:35:58,420 --> 00:35:56,630 so clearly if you have a system with no 873 00:35:59,920 --> 00:35:58,430 penalties the Cowboys are going to take 874 00:36:04,880 --> 00:35:59,930 advantage of it and that's what's 875 00:36:10,730 --> 00:36:08,150 there's been a succession of weight loss 876 00:36:14,090 --> 00:36:10,740 complementary medicines that have been 877 00:36:16,190 --> 00:36:14,100 scams basically advertised out of all 878 00:36:17,780 --> 00:36:16,200 proportion to their efficacy and the 879 00:36:19,940 --> 00:36:17,790 census things are classic I mean it was 880 00:36:23,600 --> 00:36:19,950 said to be the largest world clinical 881 00:36:26,990 --> 00:36:23,610 trial wonderful claims you'd lose weight 882 00:36:29,600 --> 00:36:27,000 while you sleep for example the trial 883 00:36:31,700 --> 00:36:29,610 was fabricated and never existed and it 884 00:36:34,040 --> 00:36:31,710 was just a reflection of really relax 885 00:36:37,070 --> 00:36:34,050 Atia the Australian system again I don't 886 00:36:38,900 --> 00:36:37,080 believe the TGA takes these these 887 00:36:40,610 --> 00:36:38,910 concerns seriously enough it's a scandal 888 00:36:42,260 --> 00:36:40,620 but the government doesn't seem to want 889 00:36:44,330 --> 00:36:42,270 to do much about it I say I used to 890 00:36:45,980 --> 00:36:44,340 treat patients now I treat governments 891 00:36:47,930 --> 00:36:45,990 they're not sicker and a lot harder to 892 00:36:50,390 --> 00:36:47,940 treat but someone's got to do it p'tee 893 00:36:51,680 --> 00:36:50,400 GA needs civil penalties rather than 894 00:36:54,190 --> 00:36:51,690 criminal penalties it can be easily 895 00:36:56,510 --> 00:36:54,200 applied and which will bite and hurt 896 00:36:58,010 --> 00:36:56,520 they haven't got those at the moment and 897 00:37:02,990 --> 00:36:58,020 again the complaint resolution panel 898 00:37:04,640 --> 00:37:03,000 needs and also I had encourage people if 899 00:37:07,010 --> 00:37:04,650 they think that something on television 900 00:37:08,930 --> 00:37:07,020 doesn't look right for claims seem to be 901 00:37:12,620 --> 00:37:08,940 too good to be true they probably are 902 00:37:13,970 --> 00:37:12,630 too good to be true and the complaint 903 00:37:16,070 --> 00:37:13,980 resolution panel can be found on a 904 00:37:18,530 --> 00:37:16,080 website there's an online complaint form 905 00:37:20,330 --> 00:37:18,540 again if they felt that they wanted help 906 00:37:22,040 --> 00:37:20,340 then there are people available and on 907 00:37:24,170 --> 00:37:22,050 one of them that will will help 908 00:37:28,180 --> 00:37:24,180 consumers to properly formulate a 909 00:37:33,609 --> 00:37:30,849 choice were a bit of encouragement from 910 00:37:35,770 --> 00:37:33,619 others has finally after five months got 911 00:37:38,680 --> 00:37:35,780 out of the TGA a list of properly 912 00:37:40,359 --> 00:37:38,690 evaluated registered complementary 913 00:37:43,300 --> 00:37:40,369 medicines which went up on the TGA 914 00:37:45,819 --> 00:37:43,310 website just this week choice I think is 915 00:37:48,550 --> 00:37:45,829 a crucial organization it's not the only 916 00:37:51,400 --> 00:37:48,560 organization working in con consumer 917 00:37:53,740 --> 00:37:51,410 health issues but choice is totally 918 00:37:56,650 --> 00:37:53,750 independent and a net principle of 919 00:37:58,180 --> 00:37:56,660 independent assessment is crucial it's 920 00:38:00,970 --> 00:37:58,190 what I'm on about about pharmaceuticals 921 00:38:03,010 --> 00:38:00,980 the need equally well the fact that 922 00:38:05,470 --> 00:38:03,020 choice have recognized that it's not 923 00:38:07,329 --> 00:38:05,480 enough just to test products if you find 924 00:38:09,849 --> 00:38:07,339 that products are consistently having 925 00:38:12,040 --> 00:38:09,859 problems that's a policy issue and as a 926 00:38:14,740 --> 00:38:12,050 need to have a policy arm and again 927 00:38:16,630 --> 00:38:14,750 choice of had its do have policy 928 00:38:18,579 --> 00:38:16,640 officers that can work on the larger 929 00:38:20,020 --> 00:38:18,589 issues and choice were one of the first 930 00:38:22,150 --> 00:38:20,030 bodies mr. and consumers association 931 00:38:23,920 --> 00:38:22,160 they set up consumers international 932 00:38:26,260 --> 00:38:23,930 shimmers international set up Health 933 00:38:29,530 --> 00:38:26,270 Action international which works with 934 00:38:32,290 --> 00:38:29,540 people like me in the region so they've 935 00:38:35,589 --> 00:38:32,300 had a significant influence in terms of 936 00:38:47,800 --> 00:38:35,599 both medicinal drug policy consumer 937 00:38:49,990 --> 00:38:47,810 betterment hey guys this is jay from the 938 00:38:52,780 --> 00:38:50,000 skeptics guide to the universe a weld-on 939 00:38:54,550 --> 00:38:52,790 whoa everybody knows I'm the only reason 940 00:38:55,750 --> 00:38:54,560 to listen to the Freak Show right I mean 941 00:38:59,180 --> 00:38:55,760 it was up to me the show would start 942 00:39:05,250 --> 00:39:02,730 yeah boy well Rebecca would hate that 943 00:39:06,690 --> 00:39:05,260 probably but I mean I'd rock that listen 944 00:39:08,160 --> 00:39:06,700 to our show and you can learn about cool 945 00:39:09,600 --> 00:39:08,170 stuff like a technological singularity 946 00:39:11,490 --> 00:39:09,610 which is someday when technology 947 00:39:12,840 --> 00:39:11,500 progresses so fast that it would make 948 00:39:14,880 --> 00:39:12,850 the Industrial Revolution look like a 949 00:39:41,970 --> 00:39:14,890 kid science project anyway come check us 950 00:39:47,319 --> 00:39:45,609 I'm here in Albury Wodonga which is sort 951 00:39:49,150 --> 00:39:47,329 of between New South Wales and Victoria 952 00:39:51,640 --> 00:39:49,160 in fact it's on the border is that we 953 00:39:54,190 --> 00:39:51,650 are doctoral see we'll just exactly on 954 00:39:57,099 --> 00:39:54,200 the border we're about a mile also not a 955 00:39:59,650 --> 00:39:57,109 mile a kilometer a kilometer from the 956 00:40:01,299 --> 00:39:59,660 board it's our roving reporter for the 957 00:40:04,630 --> 00:40:01,309 skeptics I'm dr. Chrissy Wilson I've 958 00:40:07,599 --> 00:40:04,640 flown down here to help you launch soap 959 00:40:11,140 --> 00:40:07,609 what is so so that stands for the 960 00:40:13,359 --> 00:40:11,150 science of animalistic phenomena and for 961 00:40:17,289 --> 00:40:13,369 four years now I have been waiting to 962 00:40:18,910 --> 00:40:17,299 launch soap but here is absolutely the 963 00:40:21,430 --> 00:40:18,920 right place to do it this is regional 964 00:40:24,069 --> 00:40:21,440 New South Wales and it's just perfect so 965 00:40:27,599 --> 00:40:24,079 so science of animalistic phenomena is a 966 00:40:30,039 --> 00:40:27,609 new research unit where I am going to be 967 00:40:32,019 --> 00:40:30,049 taking on various studies various 968 00:40:34,450 --> 00:40:32,029 research projects getting lots of local 969 00:40:36,640 --> 00:40:34,460 people involved so that we can explore 970 00:40:38,920 --> 00:40:36,650 and investigate the science of belief 971 00:40:40,980 --> 00:40:38,930 the psychology of belief why people 972 00:40:44,200 --> 00:40:40,990 believe in weird and wonderful things 973 00:40:46,539 --> 00:40:44,210 fantastic fantastic and tomorrow night 974 00:40:49,599 --> 00:40:46,549 is the big night it isn't a stand up on 975 00:40:53,289 --> 00:40:49,609 your soap box I am I have all my little 976 00:40:55,210 --> 00:40:53,299 soap suds around me which is your 977 00:40:56,799 --> 00:40:55,220 neighbor that way when people subscriber 978 00:40:58,990 --> 00:40:56,809 isn't it they're going to become so yep 979 00:41:01,900 --> 00:40:59,000 if you want to be a friend of soap if 980 00:41:05,440 --> 00:41:01,910 you are clean up your act if you want to 981 00:41:08,170 --> 00:41:05,450 clean up your act gloomy a drug user you 982 00:41:10,960 --> 00:41:08,180 can become a soap sud yeah Oh Tim 983 00:41:12,910 --> 00:41:10,970 mendham wonderful editor of the skeptic 984 00:41:14,829 --> 00:41:12,920 he emailed me and he said you know you 985 00:41:17,140 --> 00:41:14,839 could you have lots of lovely headlines 986 00:41:21,700 --> 00:41:17,150 likely watch out psychics Chrissy's 987 00:41:24,400 --> 00:41:21,710 coming with the soap so yeah if you want 988 00:41:25,839 --> 00:41:24,410 to be a soap sud then you can join the 989 00:41:27,370 --> 00:41:25,849 mailing list and be a friend of soap 990 00:41:29,650 --> 00:41:27,380 alright what we're going to do now is 991 00:41:31,990 --> 00:41:29,660 you are on TV a little bit earlier today 992 00:41:34,240 --> 00:41:32,000 on the local news yeah so we're just 993 00:41:37,329 --> 00:41:34,250 going to play the audio of that and then 994 00:41:40,150 --> 00:41:37,339 we'll buy the magic of podcasting will 995 00:41:42,549 --> 00:41:40,160 actually be at the launch absolute after 996 00:41:45,250 --> 00:41:42,559 this little clip so here's you now a 997 00:41:46,810 --> 00:41:45,260 little clip from local television we 998 00:41:49,570 --> 00:41:46,820 almost the reason goes 999 00:41:51,760 --> 00:41:49,580 aliens and so I cakes but if you ever 1000 00:41:54,220 --> 00:41:51,770 ask yourself if you're a skeptic or a 1001 00:41:56,290 --> 00:41:54,230 believer linear research group will be 1002 00:41:58,300 --> 00:41:56,300 launched to Charles Duke University to 1003 00:42:00,490 --> 00:41:58,310 find out why people believe in the 1004 00:42:11,470 --> 00:42:00,500 paranormal and why some of us are more 1005 00:42:14,290 --> 00:42:11,480 susceptible to malini is the truth 1006 00:42:17,260 --> 00:42:14,300 really out there or is it just our 1007 00:42:18,900 --> 00:42:17,270 mind's playing tricks all many believe 1008 00:42:22,840 --> 00:42:18,910 in the world of paranormal activity 1009 00:42:24,460 --> 00:42:22,850 others remain firmly unconvinced what 1010 00:42:26,680 --> 00:42:24,470 most people don't realize is that I 1011 00:42:29,110 --> 00:42:26,690 cognitive abilities constantly let us 1012 00:42:30,780 --> 00:42:29,120 down so we see things we haven't seen we 1013 00:42:33,490 --> 00:42:30,790 hear things we haven't heard we even 1014 00:42:35,620 --> 00:42:33,500 remember events that didn't even take 1015 00:42:38,470 --> 00:42:35,630 place dr. Wilson who was taught 1016 00:42:40,630 --> 00:42:38,480 psychology in London and Tasmania is 1017 00:42:42,970 --> 00:42:40,640 setting up a research unit into the 1018 00:42:44,440 --> 00:42:42,980 subject she is looking for reasons why 1019 00:42:46,420 --> 00:42:44,450 people believe in the weird and 1020 00:42:49,270 --> 00:42:46,430 wonderful and will be enlisting the help 1021 00:42:51,490 --> 00:42:49,280 of locals to do so but I also want to do 1022 00:42:53,230 --> 00:42:51,500 some experimental stuff I'm since I've 1023 00:42:55,030 --> 00:42:53,240 been here I've become aware of the fact 1024 00:42:58,180 --> 00:42:55,040 that there are lots and lots of really 1025 00:43:00,850 --> 00:42:58,190 spooking houses in the area stinking 1026 00:43:02,770 --> 00:43:00,860 buildings dr. Wilson hopes to take our 1027 00:43:05,320 --> 00:43:02,780 research to places like the former 1028 00:43:08,230 --> 00:43:05,330 Beechworth asylum and Monte Cristo 1029 00:43:10,060 --> 00:43:08,240 homestead at uni the research group will 1030 00:43:12,010 --> 00:43:10,070 be launched tomorrow night with locals 1031 00:43:15,160 --> 00:43:12,020 and courage to come along if you 1032 00:43:16,840 --> 00:43:15,170 disagree with me if you think I'm on the 1033 00:43:18,940 --> 00:43:16,850 wrong track if you've got some fantastic 1034 00:43:21,280 --> 00:43:18,950 stories to tell us then come along 1035 00:43:24,160 --> 00:43:21,290 tomorrow night the launch will be at CSU 1036 00:43:27,280 --> 00:43:24,170 from 6pm dhoni orbiting prime seven 1037 00:43:31,330 --> 00:43:27,290 years well i'm here at the launch of 1038 00:43:33,160 --> 00:43:31,340 soap and stagger me blow me down who's 1039 00:43:36,040 --> 00:43:33,170 walked in none other than voiceover men 1040 00:43:37,990 --> 00:43:36,050 Jim Wilshire hi Jim hi Richard I'm 1041 00:43:38,430 --> 00:43:38,000 really well really excited to be here 1042 00:43:40,859 --> 00:43:38,440 too 1043 00:43:44,190 --> 00:43:40,869 launch soap I'm really looking forward 1044 00:43:45,660 --> 00:43:44,200 to hearing you are you i'm looking 1045 00:43:47,280 --> 00:43:45,670 forward to speaking to people i'm seeing 1046 00:43:51,000 --> 00:43:47,290 you but the time you're speaking to me 1047 00:43:52,620 --> 00:43:51,010 it's happening it's anywhere early we 1048 00:43:54,030 --> 00:43:52,630 are a little bit early but the crowds 1049 00:43:55,559 --> 00:43:54,040 moving in which is nice to see the 1050 00:43:58,380 --> 00:43:55,569 auditorium here at the university is 1051 00:44:00,180 --> 00:43:58,390 filling up so and i'm lucky enough after 1052 00:44:01,770 --> 00:44:00,190 this heading up to your property for a 1053 00:44:04,410 --> 00:44:01,780 feud and relaxing days by the murray 1054 00:44:06,960 --> 00:44:04,420 river it'll be absolutely wonderful at 1055 00:44:09,000 --> 00:44:06,970 you again thank you looking forward to a 1056 00:44:48,430 --> 00:44:09,010 gym oh well let's find our seats and 1057 00:44:58,779 --> 00:44:54,260 animalistic very well welcome to the 1058 00:45:08,120 --> 00:45:04,249 so is a brand new research unit that is 1059 00:45:12,980 --> 00:45:08,130 going to be dedicated to investigate 1060 00:45:15,859 --> 00:45:12,990 and all the latest ordinary phenomenal 1061 00:45:17,989 --> 00:45:15,869 okay so my research 1062 00:45:21,049 --> 00:45:17,999 is called formalistic so I packaging 1063 00:45:21,890 --> 00:45:21,059 that's not to be confused with what you 1064 00:45:25,010 --> 00:45:21,900 probably heard 1065 00:45:27,530 --> 00:45:25,020 for carousel apology now the image of a 1066 00:45:30,800 --> 00:45:27,540 parapsychologist tends to remodel ideas 1067 00:45:32,510 --> 00:45:30,810 with the or more-- title character for 1068 00:45:35,090 --> 00:45:32,520 ghost bus the social kind of wacky 1069 00:45:37,620 --> 00:45:35,100 monster who spends most weekends 1070 00:45:40,510 --> 00:45:37,630 importances 1071 00:45:44,680 --> 00:45:40,520 that's not what I do actually I have to 1072 00:45:47,230 --> 00:45:44,690 learn your daughter TV programs with UK 1073 00:45:50,320 --> 00:45:47,240 but I was open on the listing 1074 00:45:53,890 --> 00:45:50,330 psychologist so it's very much looking 1075 00:45:57,670 --> 00:45:53,900 at the camera from a psychological in 1076 00:46:03,640 --> 00:45:57,680 some cases physiological or to do my 1077 00:46:06,250 --> 00:46:03,650 next guest needs no introduction you'll 1078 00:46:09,310 --> 00:46:06,260 always be loved st. Anselm's program 1079 00:46:13,180 --> 00:46:09,320 Australia search for it so significant 1080 00:46:15,250 --> 00:46:13,190 psychic for are you suggesting to the 1081 00:46:17,280 --> 00:46:15,260 producers of the world what they might 1082 00:46:20,470 --> 00:46:17,290 like to call their second series I 1083 00:46:27,980 --> 00:46:20,480 suggest you or strange chris with these 1084 00:46:37,170 --> 00:46:27,990 summer too so 1085 00:46:47,490 --> 00:46:44,780 Thank You demonstrations I am the 1086 00:46:50,819 --> 00:46:47,500 circled skeptical judge 1 i've been 1087 00:46:53,579 --> 00:46:50,829 involved and skepticism down pretty cool 1088 00:47:00,320 --> 00:46:53,589 on for about 13 years on the member of 1089 00:47:06,110 --> 00:47:03,830 also we spend wire 1090 00:47:10,550 --> 00:47:06,120 the United States a group set up by 1091 00:47:13,210 --> 00:47:10,560 James ran across a high as one people I 1092 00:47:17,870 --> 00:47:13,220 love traveling the world investigators 1093 00:47:26,540 --> 00:47:17,880 meetings of like-minded people so like 1094 00:47:26,550 --> 00:47:49,120 that's why we told our guys 1095 00:47:49,130 --> 00:47:59,420 these designs 1096 00:47:59,430 --> 00:48:28,839 is it 1097 00:48:28,849 --> 00:48:32,680 ok 1098 00:48:32,690 --> 00:48:52,400 can we design 1099 00:48:56,540 --> 00:48:54,980 this is ben Radford I'm deputy editor of 1100 00:48:58,610 --> 00:48:56,550 skeptical inquirer science magazine 1101 00:49:00,530 --> 00:48:58,620 author of six books including tracking 1102 00:49:10,970 --> 00:49:00,540 chupacabra and you can find out more 1103 00:49:13,100 --> 00:49:10,980 about me at Benjamin Radford com well 1104 00:49:14,660 --> 00:49:13,110 thank you for listening to the skeptic 1105 00:49:16,610 --> 00:49:14,670 zone and thanks for joining us for that 1106 00:49:18,980 --> 00:49:16,620 very exciting little encounter we had 1107 00:49:22,190 --> 00:49:18,990 with the International Space Station a 1108 00:49:23,600 --> 00:49:22,200 while ago coming up soon on the skipping 1109 00:49:25,190 --> 00:49:23,610 zone lot more interviews I think we've 1110 00:49:26,630 --> 00:49:25,200 got a think tank coming up because lots 1111 00:49:28,580 --> 00:49:26,640 of people request that we have a think 1112 00:49:29,900 --> 00:49:28,590 tank thank you to all the listeners who 1113 00:49:32,600 --> 00:49:29,910 said hello to me while I've been 1114 00:49:34,400 --> 00:49:32,610 visiting Aubrey and very nice comments 1115 00:49:37,130 --> 00:49:34,410 saying how much you enjoy listening to 1116 00:49:39,440 --> 00:49:37,140 the skeptic zone but for this week this 1117 00:49:40,940 --> 00:49:39,450 is Richard Saunders signing off from the 1118 00:49:42,740 --> 00:49:40,950 beautiful thin the banks of the 1119 00:49:49,010 --> 00:49:42,750 beautiful Murray River southern New 1120 00:49:52,280 --> 00:49:49,020 South Wales Australia you've been 1121 00:49:56,810 --> 00:49:52,290 listening to the skeptic zone visit our 1122 00:49:59,300 --> 00:49:56,820 website at www skeptics on TV for