Shock Jock Huffing and Puffing Is Okay

It’s okay to make shocking statements that mock public figures and stretch the bounds of decency. In Canada, anyway.

The Supreme Court of Canada ruled Friday that a B.C. radio commentator was using fair comment when he exaggerated the position held by critics of school use of books depicting same-sex parents.

From the Globe and Mail:

“We live in a free country, where people have as much right to express outrageous and ridiculous opinions as moderate ones,” Judge Binnie said. “In much modern media, personalities such as Rafe Mair are as much entertainers as journalists.”

The 9-0 decision by Canada’s highest court should ease some of the libel chill that has settled in in recent years.

No more worrying about whether your comparison of a politician to Herman Goebbels may come back to haunt you.

Unfortunately, the court made no distinction between the crap that gets doled out regularly and commentary that is done with flair. If we can’t have libel chill, maybe some less draconian punishment of tedious commentary…

Maybe a flabby jockstrap award for shock jocks who shock with no class and no humor. I have some nominations ready.