Internuts believe cyberspace gives them unfettered license to defame, libel, invade privacy, disclose trade secrets and breach nondisclosure agreements.

They cry censorship, litigation abuse and repression of expression when corporate and individual victims of "cybersmears" retaliate in court.

In their defense, internuts claim their e-mail, chat-room and message-board comments are simply "letters to the editor" and protected by the First Amendment.Legitimate letters to the editor, however, are edited carefully by professional newsies with knowledge about libel laws and the principles of fair comment and criticism.

Internuts must be related to those misguided high-school journalists who invoke "freedom of the press" whenever principals and superintendents of schools (read publishers) edit or censor their work.

Internet users may have their own effective publishing tools to reach the world, but they also have obligations to use those tools only in lawful ways.

Sue the bastards if they don't.(19 NOVEMBER 2000 )

E-mail: higgens@aol.com