Yahoo Answers is shutting down on May 4th, 2021 (Eastern Time) and beginning April 20th, 2021 (Eastern Time) the Yahoo Answers website will be in read-only mode. There will be no changes to other Yahoo properties or services, or your Yahoo account. You can find more information about the Yahoo Answers shutdown and how to download your data on this help page.
Trending News
Internet Slander on Local News Forum - Do I have recourse?
My ex-husband is the treasurer for a group that opposes a property tax increase. He answers questions on Internet forums to clarify exactly why he is against the increase.
The opposition has begun posting my name, alongside the name of numerous other people in newspaper forums with stories opposing the issue. My name would be the only one singled out in quotes.
Now, they have taken to not only using my name but slandering me (claiming that I'm obese, that I hate librarians, that I'm a teabagger, I'm a nut case, I'm histrionic, I'm a fear-monger, and they allege that I or someone else on that list plagiarized a web design for a Website and on and on). I think the scariest comment came from a man who claimed that he knew who I "hang out with".
The comments are particularly bad on the city-endorsed newspaper. My ex-husband is in opposition to a tax increase the city wants passed. This local newspaper will remove the comments but usually it takes one business day to do that. They do claim that posting my name publicly is a form of free speech: The person writing these things about me is protected by a pseudonym.
Now, the editor himself just posted an editorial stating that anyone who opposes this tax is a nutcase and is offering poison red kool-aid to the people who listen. It sounds like the paper is inciting the slander. The owner of the paper basically told me to keep quiet about the attacks as to not "scratch the itch". He said that he would allow me to write an editoral about my opinion on the issue: That is not something that I want to do. I want to address the personal attacks and why people make them.
The other websites seem to do a better job of moderating the comments. I've never seen my last name posted on those forums. Only the city endorsed paper seems to have a problem posting my full name.
The obese claim can really hurt my business: I am a weight loss hypnotherapist...I don't know if anyone would take the nut-job/histrionic claim seriously...but I am working towards licensure as a psychotherapist and do find it a bit disconcerting.
Do you have any advice? I'd like it to stop.
What suggestions would you give to protect myself? At what point should I take legal action? Should I take it against the publishing company?
Thank you in advance.
I am curious as to why I would become part of the story in the first place. It seems to be a case of poorly conducted internet stalking.
Thanks for the insight. I've left a message for a lawyer. If I get anything new, I'll post before closing out the question. Thanks.
5 Answers
- Eden*Lv 71 decade agoFavorite Answer
without going into too much detail, I can tell you that they don't have the security of hiding behind anonymous screen names, not if what they are posting is libel, and for it to be libel, they have to be posting it knowing without doubt it is not true. And that is where a lot of internet libel cases fall flat, you have to prove somehow that they absolutely know for a fact that what they say is not the case.
A screen name only offers limited protection to them, once the police are involved, and investigating, and IP's are being traced, the comments belong to whoever posted them or if they choose to hide behind their screen name and refuse to admit it was their work the police can prosecute whoever owns the computer at the time the posts were made.
You must copy them all, however painful it is to read them and to have to find the strength to go through them all, they are evidence and once you have copies of them, the owner of them cannot then delete them and claim they never existed. try not to respond to anything you see that is harmful to you, sometimes giving them a response only fuels the fire and then you end up being part of the problem and the police take it less seriously.
Internet libel is a crime in the same way anything libellous said in newspapers or letters which seeks to destroy another persons character in the knowledge that what is being said is not true and has no evidence to back it up.
Source(s): bitter experience - FREDERICK F. MLv 51 decade ago
Unfortunately you are on the receiving end of the constitution. It is a double edged sword and most people don't get the big picture until they become part of the story.The only thing you can do is maintain your integrity. Your clients will know the truth from you. You have the write to write it all out too. Your are looking at who said it first right now, so your side has to just be steady and strong and fight hard and smart with your own words. Don't let it get under your skin. That is where your heart lives and the truth lies.
- Anonymous5 years ago
It would be considered in the height of bad taste to insult the Sovereign as she is in no position to hit back,but it could be done unless anyone made a direct threat. They are public figures so are used to a lot being said. It may be the forum that took action if their rules were being broken ?
- ?Lv 71 decade ago
you could print it all off and take it to a solicitor , see what they can do about it . the intrnet is a legal minefield
good luck
- How do you think about the answers? You can sign in to vote the answer.
