From: droelke@rdxsunhost.aud.alcatel.com (Daniel R. Oelke)
Date: Thu, 19 Sep 1996 06:11:58 +0800
To: dthorn@gte.net
Subject: Re: Snake-Oil FAQ
Message-ID: <9609181827.AA20470@spirit.aud.alcatel.com>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain



Dale Thorn <dthorn@gte.net> wrote:
> 
> Krenn wrote:
> > It would be nice to have a list of actual products which are deemed
> > potential snake-oil. Such a list could be maintained anonymously
> > through a nym to avoid all the annoying legal problems with commenting
> > on another's product. Though truth is the best defense against libel
> > charges, it would be very annoying to be sued or some such by some
> > hairbrained snake-oil peddler.
> 
> Think how much more annoying it would be if the shoe were on the other 
> foot.
> 

Libel/Slander is very different from doing a review.  Unfortunately,
in todays legal climate, it is way to easy to find a lawyer that
will harass someone for a negative review.  Unless you are 
prepared to fight such a legal battle, it is much easier to 
do anonymous reviews, and build up a reputation as a good reviewer
through use of signatures, etc.

If you have a good product, and get negative reviews, the truth
will come out eventually through other channels.  Either the product
really isn't good, or the reviewer loses his reputation and his messages
descend into the noise.

Thats life - deal with it!

Dan
------------------------------------------------------------------
Dan Oelke                                  Alcatel Network Systems
droelke@aud.alcatel.com                             Richardson, TX