We Are Vulnerable

(7)

As Kootch and I watched yesterday's Millionaire on tivo today the subject of 'defamation' came up and Kootch seemed to have no clue. I explained that 'defamation' was an esoteric subject related to 'reputation.' Kootch accepted my definition as usual.

Then I began to think about the relationship of defamation to reputation. It seemed to me that without reputation there could be no defamation. It seemed to me that only those folks who possessed a reputation could suffer defamation: No reputation - no defamation.

I have no reputation. Therefore I am immune to defamation (stomp above me at 2249). Walter Gerash, on the other hand, has a reputation, hence is vulnerable to defamation.

But is this correct? I think not. It seems to me that everyone has a certain 'base reputation.' That is to say that everyone is presumed to be an average citizen until proven otherwise. It is the same democratic rationale that everyone is to be presumed innocent until proven guilty. Therefore every citizen is vulnerable to defamation. Even me. Even Walter Gerash.