Ben Franklin on False Accusations
many of our printers make no scruple of gratifying the malice of individuals by false accusations of the fairest characters
In Ben Franklins autobiography I found the following quote.
Little did Ben Franklin know that in our day, we would have social media where not only would the newspapers be able to spread gossip and slander, but it would become almost a hobby among people hiding behind a screen and keyboard. So few people today even consider investigating before believing and spreading whatever they hear. It would seem that we love to be in on the latest. We never question if it is accurate or how much a lie can hurt. We never even go to the source to ask what is happening. We enjoy the destruction that comes from such deception.
In the conduct of my newspaper, I carefully excluded all libeling and personal abuse, which is of late years become so disgraceful to our country.
Whenever I was solicited to insert anything of that kind, and the writers pleaded, as they generally did, the liberty of the press, and that a newspaper was like a stagecoach, in which any one who would pay had a right to a place, my answer was, that I would print the piece separately if desired, and the author might have as many copies as he pleased to distribute himself, but that I would not take upon me to spread his detraction; and that, having contracted with my subscribers to furnish them with what might be either useful or entertaining,
I could not fill their papers with private altercation, in which they had no concern, without doing them manifest injustice. Now, many of our printers make no scruple of gratifying the malice of individuals by false accusations of the fairest characters among ourselves, augmenting animosity even to the producing of duels; and are, moreover, so indiscreet as to print scurrilous reflections on the government of neighboring states, and even on the conduct of our best national allies, which may be attended with the most pernicious consequences.
These things I mention as a caution to young printers, and that they may be encouraged not to pollute their presses and disgrace their profession by such infamous practices, but refuse steadily, as they may see by my example that such a course of conduct will not, on the whole, be injurious to their interests.
Other interesting articles about judging
The Three Steps of Church Discipline
Sizing up everyone but themselves
WHEN BOB HAS A PROBLEM WITH EVERYONE, BOB IS USUALLY THE PROBLEM
What do you do with the accusation?
