WRITERS' ETHICAL BOUNDARY

Juan Felipe Bautista Co Julian at a public library in Sengkang, Singapore. Photo by the blogger.

     If you are a writer in a democratic society, it is said that you can write anything under the sun or anything that catches your fancy. 
     This, of course, is conditioned by certain factors. For example, you can not write about people's dark secrets, a polician's girl friend who is not his wife, and other foibles without his or her consent or permission. Even with a cause, you may or you may not state that cause but it must be within the code. 
     Did you say that you have the mighty pen, and, therefore, you have the license to accuse anybody of committing acts that he or she has done without any proof? Think a million times.
     You must have in your possession documents and other irrefutable facts.
     Yes, there are ethical rules, there are

Art representation of the Ilokano dadapilan (sugar cane crusher)
 at Aurora plaza in Laoag City, Philippines 

principles of decency and fair play in the writing profession, especially in journalistic writing. You go beyond this boundary, and you are liable for damages in legal actions.

Quote of the week: "A story is not merely an image of life, but of life in motion- specifically, the presentation of individual characters moving through their particular experiences to some end that we may accept as meaningful." Robert Penn Warren