Hi there. I'm new to the forums (but not to quizzyland), and I'm not sure if I'm posting in the right area, but...

I'm planning to write a quiz trashing the academic integrity of a certain historical novel (soon to be staring Tom Hanks, if you need a clue). Is this ok, or could I get funtrivia sued for libel?! I don't want to spend time on a quiz which could never go on line, so thought I'd better check.

If you do it in an academic way, as in comparing the movie to actual historical fact, then you should have no problem. But if you go on about how the movie sucks and the people are liars who couldn't read their way out of "Green Eggs and Ham," then no.

It's not libel if it's factual and done maturely.

Thanks for replying so quickly. I'll try to be polite about the author, however little he deserves it! Or failing that, I'll make sure I can verify my facts.

Quote:

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I'll make sure I can verify my facts.

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Always a good idea on Funtrivia, in any case!

I'm sure I know quite a few people who'd love to take on the book in question and I've heard it quite often that there was a major gap between research and the book.
However, the word 'trash' isn't sounding terribly positive. If you do this, it cannot simply be your personal view, but, 'So and so wrote that the Temple of X was inscribed with XYZ whereas researchers have shown that the inscriptions were actually quite recent.' might be closer.
However, you probaby don't want a scholarly treatise style quiz, which, could plummet to the ground like the proverbial lead balloon.

It has to be like LadyMac says, more of a comparison.

Bruyere funtrivia ed.

If Funtrivia thought that your quiz was in any way libellous or inappropriate they would deny it as a quiz.

Just a minor addition to the excellent advice above: in my long FT history of making 57 quizzes I found some player, somewhere, will be an expert on some small part of your quiz and will send you a correction notice for the smallest of errors. Given the potentially controversial nature of your subject, be absolutely certain of your facts before you submit it.

I brought something similar up about Dubya and his amazing flip-flopping abilities, and while the editor asked agrees with me and the integrity of my site, I was told that what some could see as flip-flopping, others could see as flexibility. Be careful how you phrase things, in this case...

We're talking about The DaVinci Code, right? The whole tale seems to have more questions than it does answers. A quiz about it may get tricky. For the same reasons. If you do it right, though, it may be fine. I'd play it. But I wouldn't if it's just about your opinions on it. Give it a whack. The editors will let you know if you misstepped.

Out of idle curiousity, I looked it up and there are literally dozens of sites doing just what you wish to do, point by point description of fact vs fiction. However, in the case of the 'fact' on this one, lots of the old stories about the Templars et al, are unsolved mysteries etc, so it would be rather tenuous at best making a quiz on this.
You might have to say, so and so has questioned such and such and as I stated earlier, it might make a good scholarly treatise, but not such a cool quiz.

As you might guess, the Catholic Church and study groups are the main proponents of Brown's book being based on legends rather than facts.

In general terms, it's best to confine yourself to what the book does and doesn't say, what it includes, considers and so on. Avoid comments like "The author couldn't be bothered to consider evidence that suggests ..."

FT Editor

Hmm... I may put the idea on ice for a while until a have a bit more spare time to do some very serious research and get some primary evidence together.

Thanks for all the advice given: I will certainly do my best to follow it when I get round to writing this quiz.

In general it's best not to use FunTrivia quizzes to discuss contentious issues. While we have our share of deeply thoughtful, educational quizzes, FunTrivia errs on the side of caution.

Afterall, it is supposed to be "Fun" Trivia.

Terry