Web posts stirring up free speech

A male teacher from an area high school stood accused of having a sexual relationship with a teenage female student.

The news story, in its online version at PJStar.com, drew the collective scorn of a group of people that seemed gleefully eager to blast the teacher with comments on the Web site. Online editor Jerry Smith watched as anonymous rumor followed anonymous rumor. Invective followed invective. Hate piled atop hate.