FAN FEEDBACK! ASK TIM HINES A QUESTION

[Ashe Raven]

Oookaayyy

The conspiracy never ends in Hine's mind. The world is after him. No film studio in their right mind would hire someone so packed with predetermined excuses.

Of course he was honestabout one thing. The biggerst obsitable being Budget.

Should have taken his time about it then.

[Cabbie]

I look at it this way. For every person sitting in chat rooms venting on me, that's one other public person that they are leaving alone. I'm kind of doing a service for other public figures. I'm sort of like a stalker magnet.

ermm more like a drama queen.

[dudalb]

"The more I read about him the more I can't decide if he is a crafty spin-doctor or just plain crazy. "
Considering what has happened with his reputation, he is a very incompetent spin doctor or just plain crazy. Not crafty at all.

[FALLINGSTAR]

Well whatever anyone thinks of Hines I still see Cruise and Spielberg as the real problem. They could have done the book full justice easily but no they had to go down the usual crap dumbed down blockbuster route and I definitely think there's a bit, sorry a lot of truth in the Asylum thing.

[Lensman]

Putting together what reads very much like conspiracy theories in the CFQ's article on Pendragon's WotW, added to the fact that Mr. Hines forced all involved with Pendragon's WotW to sign blanket non-disclosure agreements-- which if I understand it correctly is NOT the industry standard-- combined with his latest comments... I have come to the opinion that Timothy Hines has a pretty well developed, classic case of paranoia going. It's not just that he sees conspiracy in remote coincidences. My layman's understanding of classic paranoia is that really well-developed cases also have more than a touch of meglomania, in that they believe they are somehow considered important by large numbers of people. In fact, this *must* be the case to rationalize the idea that a huge number of people will form a conspiracy against them. And reading the end of the CFQ article, it seems to me that this is precisely what Hines is claiming-- that there are all those people at Paramount and the movie distribution companies (and now at Asylum), etc. etc. who think he's that important.

And if I'm right and Hines is suffering from a well-developed case of paranoia, then that certainly explains why he wants our real names, addresses etc. now doesn't it? Paranoiacs have a strong desire to know who their enemies are...

Re: American libel laws: My layman's understanding is that once you become a "public figure" then just about anything goes. The late-night talk show comedians can make just about any kind of joke at your expense, no matter how insulting, rude, crude or lewd in nature, and can't be sued. In addition to the "absence of malice" clause in American libel laws, my (again, layman's) understanding is that you have to prove any remarks are actually damaging to your reputation in order to have even a chance at winning a lawsuit.

Of course, again that only applies to "public figures". Does Timothy Hines qualify as a "public figure"? I have no idea, but I wouldn't be surprised if a court would rule "no". The average person on the street is *not* gonna recognize his name.

So, to those who think "anything goes" when insulting Mr. Hines: You just might wind up finding you're wrong in an extremely costly way. Much more likely, you might cause grief for Rob and others associated with this website. We have repeatedly been warned not to make any libelous remarks. I'm not entirely sure my remarks above aren't over the line in this regard, altho I was careful to label them my non-expert opinions only. But if this post is removed by a moderator, I'll understand why.

[mctoddridesagain]

In terms of Hines's probable mental state, Lensman, that's a Nail/Hammer Interface Scenario.

As for libel laws, I don't know, I'm no lawyer. However, I would have thought Hines does qualify as a public figure, insofar as he has put himself in the public sphere by making his film and promoting it; he has voluntarily given interviews in the public sphere; etc.

I found these comments on a Michigan Press site:

'Public figures are ordinary persons who have availed themselves of the press and have thrust them into the vortex of a particular controversy. Examples, include movie stars, candidates for public office, some wives of politicians, but not the children of politicians unless they have sought publicity.

Persons can be limited public figures, that is to say a public figure only for the purpose of discussing the particular topic with which their name has been affiliated. However, a limited purpose public figure must have voluntarily become involved in a public controversy.' www.michiganpress.org/libel.shtml

I would have thought that by virtue of his interviews, press releases, film publicity and the Q & A session which he instigated, Hines has most assuredly 'voluntarily become involved in a public controversy'.

So bollocks to him, the boggle-eyed schizo-cerebral fruitcake.