Defaming Someone's Reputation on the Internet
What happened to laws about slander? It seems nowadays you can post whatever you want on the internet or social networking sites whether it's a proven fact or not. An opinion can be taken as fact. Not to mention there are web sites all over the place now and to get their ranking or page views up they solicit reviews, feedback, etc. There are many professions where your reputation is everything. It would only take a few lies to completely destroy the livelihood of someone. You can be completely innocent and hold high principles, values and practices but it could only take one person having a bad day to post something unfounded that will never go away. I really hope laws are passed to protect people. I would hope that our society would learn to restrict a little before posting something that could harm someone for years. Especially when there are always two sides to every story and nowadays always many additional circumstances in these very complicated and stressful times. Not to mention people in general are under increased stress so a situation that maybe in times past you'd vent to a friend about it and then forget it. Nowadays someone will post publicly and maybe never think of it again. But meanwhile they've done a lifelong harm to someone over a very minor thing. I would hope at some point some would learn to really consider what they post regarding someone else's reputation. Someday that could be you or your family that get's posted about or possibly wronged and then how would you feel if the shoe were on the other foot? |
|
|
| How true and we've seen the consequences with some of these young people commiting suicide because of things that were posted. |
| Much of the difficulty that surrounds winning an online defamation case is that the person being defamed must first prove who writer of the statement is and, secondly, that the statement is false and written with the intention of causing damage. Finding that person can actually be pretty difficult. You can find out the details of the computer that was used to publish a libelous statement but it's a public computer then it is almost impossible to narrow down the search in order to find the culprit. At the university that I work at, we have over 2,000 computers just for public use-- and that's not even including all the staff and faculty computers. Lots of times, people forget to log out and anyone has access to jump on and mess around on their account, social media pages, etc. In a nutshell, just normally more trouble than it's worth. I don't think there are any laws that could be passed that would actually work to protect people. No one wants censorship. I think it all comes down to personal responsibility and ethics. So, in other words, we're doomed. |
| I had someone do something horrible to me (love ex's) and that was exactly what it was, and I don't want to go into details to what he did but it was clearly defamation (and extreme ...but no, it was nothing sexual). The host of the webpage he used, and the host they used ...along with the forums he went to basically banned him/his ip from ever using their services again. So there are definitely ways to get things taken off right away, but it sure took a LOT of investigating ...and it doesn't remove the damage it did for those who did view it. Since I actually knew the person, I'm sure I could have taken the next step of a restraining order ...but thankfully moving out of the state was enough to help. I do think bullying nowadays is a lot different than what it used to be due to the number of people one can reach ...in an instant. |
| Wow, Mrs. J., sorry that happened to you. I'm glad to hear that there was proper recourse and it was handled. But exactly my point of the damage that was done before it could be handled. Like the recent malignment of a forum member. I wonder if we were all sitting in a room together drinking  there you go Ron.   Would that person doing the maligning have said it if they had to lay ownership to their thoughts?  Not to mention to come at someone when they are at a very low point. Well that's for another conversation.  Society has laws against slander and libel so there's no reason those laws can't be applied to the internet. In my opinion, everything has a solution and things don't have to be a huge deal or mired in so much bureaucracy to get things done. We used to have just plain good 'ole common sense. Of course it would be better if people exercised restraint and created a movement, thereby making laws unnecessary. Just because the internet has exploded and we all enjoy the many benefits does not mean that society can't demand from each other: respect, integrity, common courtesy, decency and ethical behavior. Generations raised with the internet as a way of life, there is no reason they can't be ingrained with good basic values as many are. No reason at all. There are simple solutions really. A reminder that when you get in front of the computer not to leave your brain somewhere else. To be mindful of what you are saying regarding one another. I believe you should be free to do just about anything as long as it's involving yourself and doesn't involve harming others. But when people become braver about poking one another because there is no accountability well that's just wrong. There is still right and wrong regardless of how much you like the benefits of the internet. Of course no one wants censorship but this is an entirely different issue. If you could get sued for it in a non internet capacity you should be accountable for what you do on the internet. Jill you raise valid points about the public computers, etc. But that's just negligent behaviors, which of course could be addressed. Jill said: "I don't think there are any laws that could be passed that would actually work to protect people. No one wants censorship. I think it all comes down to personal responsibility and ethics. So, in other words, we're doomed." Thanks. You never fail to give me a grin.  I always think there are solutions and change for the better is ALWAYS possible. I think many people believe how I do, and for instance are standing up against bullying. OK, I'm done now... Back to the  |
please remember to cast your vote for judge roy bean.  ok, so i'm daydreamin. |
| It has happened here on this list, to others AND to ME. This is one reason i do not post much here anymore. |
Didn't find exactly what you're looking for? Search again here:
Custom Search
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|