Couple sues over email claiming they are swingers

[JustAskJulie]

Aurora couple sues woman, sister over e-mail that alleged they were 'swingers' - chicagotribune.com

From is the email that was sent....

"We have several 'swinging families' with children that go to our schools," the e-mail read, according to the lawsuit. "If you are not familiar with that term, which I was not, it means that couples get together and swap spouses, whether at a party or otherwise.

"I personally do not want my child going to any of the houses where parents are participating in 'swinging,' "

The couple in question says they are not swingers and that the woman who sent this (another parent at their child's school) has had a long standing issue with them.

[fun4Ds]

Interesting situation.... I'm not sure what is, or is not, slanderous, without seeing the e-mail in its entirety.

I would think the Howard's attorney would have to find out whats true, untrue and opinion.

I would also like to see the follow up on this one ?

[Additude]

One way or the other, this is just another classic example of why people need to be discreet. Even with family members and friends. Just the slightest slip of tongue (No phun intended), even in innocent situations can have disastrous consequences and be taken completely out of context when interpreted by certain people.

[Trace Ekies]

This is also a classic case of the neanderthal understanding that people have about what we do.

It is automatically assumed that "swingers" are monsters and would "infect" children on purpose to have more swingers to have sex with.

Trace

[DigginIt]

You nailed that on the head Trace!!!

To quote: "Day and Ream broadcast the falsehood that the Howards are promiscuous and sexually perverted and should be avoided and shunned," the lawsuit says. "This conduct is truly extreme and outrageous, and goes beyond all possible bounds of decency."

I always thought perverted was something you did with a gerbil.

[Chicup]

Oddly enough that area IS known for swinging, though when people talk about it, its never their burb but that one burb over.

Still there is a possibility that they are in fact swingers, but suing because she can't prove it.

[Hott Times]

Whether the couple are swingers or not is not the issue. The issue is the assumption that they can not be trusted in the neighborhood or school just because they practice an alternative lifestyle and therefore are monsters that would prey on children. Also the assumptions that the other school children would not be safe visiting their children in the home or that the children are left alone in the house.
This is no different than if some of the other parents were gay, or crossdressers or anything that is different from the vanilla sexual mindset. I bet some of the other parents are alcoholics or habitually using drugs, which would be potentially more harmful to their children than if they happened to live on the street of "swingers".

[CXXC]

Originally Posted by Hott Times

This is no different than if some of the other parents were gay, or crossdressers or anything that is different from the vanilla sexual mindset. I bet some of the other parents are alcoholics or habitually using drugs, which would be potentially more harmful to their children than if they happened to live on the street of "swingers".

Let’s take this even a step further. Forget habitual substance abuse or alcoholism. These have both been defended as addictive personality disorders and are even argued as genetic. According to some, they can’t help themselves. Let’s look at a real killer, (according to the media) SMOKING! The argument that 2nd hand smoke kills 50K a year etc….. base it on that argument. I will bet these same parents, sitting in the family mini-van puffing away with the children safely tucked away in their car seats, would crucify the swingers! According to the media, these negligent acts against children should be outlawed! Yet, when held up to an alternative lifestyle such as swinging, well, we are simply deviants and will molest children at the first opportunity! ACK!!!!!!

This couple has been branded. It will take years for them to overcome the stigma. No matter if they are or are not, they have a very long road ahead of them!

[DigginIt]

Originally Posted by CXXC

I will bet these same parents, sitting in the family mini-van puffing away with the children safely tucked away in their car seats, would crucify the swingers!

I'd like to note that people that know that they are doing is wrong or harmful feel justified or vindicated when they can jump on someone else's crucifixion train because it make themselves feel better about what they are doing.

It's the old "I'm not as bad as...." rationalization.

It's easier to point out people they believe is worse than what they are doing than to take responsibility for their own actions.

[JustAskJulie]

Aurora couple wins lawsuit after e-mail accused them of being "swingers" - chicagotribune.com

A Will County judge this week awarded $54,000 to an Aurora couple who sued after e-mails accusing them of being "swingers" and attending "nude hot tub parties" were sent to dozens of their neighbors and the staff of their children's elementary school.

[VegasLee]

The bad thing about this judgment is that it was a "default" judgment because those that did the wrong did not defend their reasons for sending the email in the first place.

Does not really give the victim their true day in court against those that did the damage to them.

Getting the judgment was the easy part. Collecting will be another story.

Would have been better if it had gone to trial. That way they could have brought out the lies told. Would have made them look better to the public that has shunned them.

[hotmocpl69]

Precisely why I left my first wife. She now sends my children to do her dirty work for her. That marriage ended over twenty years ago. Its crap like this that nearly destroyed my military. Precisely what happened in Chicago, I know for a fact my ex does not wish to be on the oppiset side of the court room from me.

As a society, what should we do with these people?