Family or friends using the computer wouldn't even be a defense. My brother used to post some on my account, more so at GF than here, until he got tired of playing with Singer. Sometimes I would read something that he wrote and not necessarily agree with it, but I would still be and take responsibility for anything. If you allow someone to use your account you are still responsible.
That said, I am both shocked and disappointed to read Mickeycrimm's original post to this thread. I didn't comment right away because I wanted to wait until Dan Druff weighed in. If it is true, redietz has to be banned. Moses was. there has to be a line. Free speech does NOT mean free speech. We are seeing cases where people are being sued and losing for things said online.
I still think mickey has been pushing and pushing and pushing redietz for most of this year now, ever since redietz made that comment about mickey and social security. But regardless, you can't make physical threats.
Red, if what mickey says is true, you should publicly apologize. I guess mickey accepting it or not would be mickey's call. But first things first. Maybe tell Mickey you were drunk and see if he buys that. I kind of remember mickey threatening a forum owner and later apologizing and claiming a little extra firewater.
That defense didn't work out too well for the Raiders guy.