Rant about Slander

[Zetchryn]

Just... Just... Ugh. If someone is going to remove another as a friend on everything and block them, and then start slandering them to everyone they know...

 

Don't. Just please, that's one of the most immature and hurtful things I can think of. Has anyone else had this problem? No names, please.

[Kage]

Yes. It [slander/libel] happens in vague blogging or linkshells or blatantly in blogs. I've seen it happen to people in this very community and -from- this very community.

 

Not on the RPC because of the no-shame and name rules but yes.

[OttoVann]

People all the time trying to call me a creep ooc and stuff when I'm pretty far from it. Trashy hoes mostly.

 

Let the haters do as they will op, your actions will speak louder.

[Maril]

Yep. Not here, but yep. I'm very aware of it, but I try not to let it get to me.

[Nebbs]

It happens in life, it will happen other places. What is laughable is how 3rd hand slander is so hyped up and wrong yet people seem to think it is true. Some of the things people have said about me made me laugh.

 

However, don't give it any airtime. In a LS I started we take people on their own intentions, not what anyone else says. Don't listen to what others say, at least give someone a chance by getting to know them, you will be surprised how wrong first impressions can be.

[GloryRhodes]

Remember, technically speaking it's not slander if it's true.

[111]

Remember, technically speaking it's not slander if it's true.

 

Also if it's written, technically it's libel.

[Rila]

In situations like that, the person slandering says more about themselves than they do about whomever they're badmouthing.

 

Friendships fall apart sometimes, and the emotional aftermath of that sucks. For me, that's a time to self-reflect, and I may not always like what I see. Almost always I wind up with a list of things I could have done better. But as much as it hurts not only to mourn the loss of a connection but to face my own shortcomings, it's also a great opportunity to learn something about myself and grow up a little bit.

 

People who put all the blame on others and take no responsibility themselves don't easily mature. And to me, that's a person to be avoided.

[Alothia]

Let people talk, it shows more about them than it does about you. Don't let it get you riled up. Because anyone worth their salt isn't going to listen to what other people say.

 

It's a damned shame that that's how the world works. I try and tell my students that people continue to talk no matter how old they are. You like to think that at some point people grow out of the need to talk about others, but they never do. Better to let them talk and move on than waste your time worrying about what other people say about you.

[Hammersmith]

Remember, technically speaking it's not slander if it's true.

 

Also if it's written, technically it's libel.

 

With that said: I've had someone try this with me.

 

Thankfully they were already outed as being a terrible shitlord, so it was laughed off as hilarious by everyone I respected and cared about.

[Kage]

Sometimes though, the slander and the libel, may be fact (in which case it's not slander or libel). Some of the talk I've seen is pretty damning about the person being talked about and is -quite- substantiated and true.

 

I've also seen shittalk that is libel on blogs perpetuated towards people over misunderstandings, miscommunication or even entrapment. People using it to perpetuate a facade or make themselves look the victim and blame someone as a villain as if they were forcing others to bully others out of RP.

 

Sometimes, that shit needs saying. Sometimes it just needs to be ignored.

[Alothia]

Sometimes though, the slander and the libel, may be fact (in which case it's not slander or libel). Some of the talk I've seen is pretty damning about the person being talked about and is -quite- substantiated and true.

 

I've also seen shittalk that is libel on blogs perpetuated towards people over misunderstandings,  miscommunication or even entrapment. People using it to perpetuate a facade or make themselves look the victim and blame someone as a villain as if they were forcing others to bully others out of RP.

 

Sometimes, that shit needs saying. Sometimes it just needs to be ignored.

 

I don't think the shit needs saying like that, though. Sure, you may feel slighted by someone, but feeling the need to go and make ten bazillion tumblr posts talking about it. I don't know.  It's one thing if it's sexual harassment. It's another if someone is just kinda a jerk. Like, warn people on an individual basis. 

 

But that's just my take on it all. I've seen a lot of both, and really, the only one I can get behind is if it's someone who is sexually harassing and preying on people. Not just general asshattery.

[Edvyn]

 

hey guys its me ned slanders

hi diddly ho and such im going to complain about you on my bloggerino

 

 

 

Mod Note: User was warned for this post under Section 1 of the rules: Spurious off-topic posts, including meme images and patent nonsense.

[Nebbs]

In situations like that, the person slandering says more about themselves than they do about whomever they're badmouthing.

 

Friendships fall apart sometimes, and the emotional aftermath of that sucks. For me, that's a time to self-reflect, and I may not always like what I see. Almost always I wind up with a list of things I could have done better. But as much as it hurts not only to mourn the loss of a connection but to face my own shortcomings, it's also a great opportunity to learn something about myself and grow up a little bit.

 

People who put all the blame on others and take no responsibility themselves don't easily mature. And to me, that's a person to be avoided.

 

 

^^ So much this.. so much

[Rising]

Remember, technically speaking it's not slander if it's true.

 

Also if it's written, technically it's libel.

 

Don't forget that 'truth' can be very dependent on perspective. Text, especially when emotions are involved, is a terrible form of communication. You can't hear tone, see body language, or any other number of indicators. Without someone specifying, how do you know that what they are saying is the stone cold facts, or just a rant and them letting off steam?

 

Fact: "I hate this character! I'm going to kill him off and reroll." Pretty simple. Not going to play this char again. I think this means the same to both the speaker and the hearer.

 

Rant: "I hate this character! I'm going to kill him off and reroll." Not so simple. More like a frustrated and discouraged player that will likely work at the character once they've cooled off. Something the speaker takes for granted but not necessarily the hearer.

 

So, if the player continues to play the character, the hearer will think they lied and the speaker probably hasn't thought a thing beyond the rant. So what is truth?

 

Point of View has a lot to do with things.

 

Obi-Wan: Your father... was seduced by the Dark Side of the Force. He ceased to be Anakin Skywalker and "became" Darth Vader. When that happened, the good man who was your father was destroyed. So what I told you was true... from a certain point of view.

[111]

One note though, you need to be careful where you post from.

 

For example in America, there are very loose laws about such things. I could call any of you a child molester, and post on my tumblr how you molest children, and you could lose your job. Yet nothing could really be done to me.

 

In other places though (England I think is one of them), written word on the internet is considered similar to published word. So you can get in big trouble, if the other party figures out who you actually are behind the keyboard.

 

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/11/21/uk_defamation_law_reforms_take_effect_from_start_of_2014/

 

So play nice! Or live in 'murika.

[Kellach Woods]

alternately you could sue your former workplace for unfair termination of employment DEPENDING on which state you are in.

 

as much as people here say "just let them talk it says more about them than you" - yeah sure if it hasn't affected your enjoyment of the game via whatever all this shit can enflame. after that what do you do?

[Drifter]

I've recently been in this type of situation, technically still am. And while I do take responsibility for my actions leading up to the unfortunate ending of our friendship and completely understand the other person being upset and even hurt by it, I do not appreciate being bad mouthed to anyone willing to give him/her the time of day. Even worse is that my friends are being slandered right alongside me, when the only thing they've done is continue to be my friends.

 

/Endrant

 

To add my opinion on the thread itself; it's okay to be angry with someone, or frustrated, or even hurt emotionally. But don't go around spreading lies, rumors, or half-truths about that person to everyone just because they wronged you in some way.

[Seriphyn]

 

hey guys its me ned slanders

hi diddly ho and such im going to complain about you on my bloggerino

 

 

 

 

Mod Note: User was warned for this post under Section 1 of the rules: Spurious off-topic posts, including meme images and patent nonsense.

 

This...is not hurting anybody.

 

Sure, it's nonsense, but it's funny for that reason? It's just a piece of banter.

[Melkire]

 

hey guys its me ned slanders

hi diddly ho and such im going to complain about you on my bloggerino

 

 

 

 

Mod Note: User was warned for this post under Section 1 of the rules: Spurious off-topic posts, including meme images and patent nonsense.

 

This...is not hurting anybody.

 

Sure, it's nonsense, but it's funny for that reason? It's just a piece of banter.

 

[Moderator Hardhat]

 

It's non-constructive and potentially derailing.

 

Re-rail, please and thank you.

 

[/Moderator Hardhat]

[LiadansWhisper]

Just... Just... Ugh. If someone is going to remove another as a friend on everything and block them, and then start slandering them to everyone they know...

 

Don't. Just please, that's one of the most immature and hurtful things I can think of. Has anyone else had this problem? No names, please.

 

This happens quite a bit, really.  Unfortunately, unless you want to go through the expense and trouble of filing a lawsuit (which would involve figuring out who the person is who did the actual slandering), you're probably going to have to just grin and bear it.

 

The people who know you will know it for the bullshit it is.  The people who believe it probably aren't worth your time anyway.

[xelliexell]

I've definitely had this happen to me, and it's even extended to people saying whatever about the LS I run. At first I was like "What the?! That's not even remotely true!"

 

But after a time, I've come to realize that those who slander and rumormonger - or otherwise voice things for no other purpose than to drag someone else through the mud - are only showing their own poor sense of character. It's sad, but some people just don't have that sense of dignity or tact. Again, though, it reflects more on them than it ever does to you. And if Person B believes the slander without even fact checking or hearing your side of things? That probably isn't someone you want in your life, anyway.

 

For example, when a new person applies to my LS and immediately begins slandering their previous group, I instantly wonder how long it will be before they're saying the same thing about us. It's also why I take verbal cautions under advisement, but never act on anything unless I can see the screenshot of a particular incident.

 

There are people who like that sort of drama, but there are also those who absolutely do not get wrapped up in it. I would just focus on your friends who are the latter, and keep on keepin' on. Ignore the ones who want to reinact an episode of Jerry Springer and keep your mind on the stories, the creativity, and the RP. Don't let yourself get swept up in the nonsense. :thumbsup:

[Faye]

As an FC leader, yes, it happens all the time. I've had people who get punished or kicked for bad behavior who slander me or the FC as a whole (it happened just last night, actually -- and is probably ongoing!), we have people who come to us and immediately slander their previous FC/groups which is a never a good first impression to make, and I've seen it happen just among friends/members of the community (firsthand and personally, even). It's just a thing that happens because people suck. The best thing you can do is try to ignore it and keep your head up.

[Dravus]

I strive to distance myself from those who frequently gossip about other players in a negative manner. I learned quite quickly that if they're willing to badmouth other individuals then it's very likely that they'd be doing the same thing about me the moment the slightest disagreement or perceived issue emerged.

 

I'm also here to role-play and enjoy the game. High school style drama really isn't my cup of tea.

[GloryRhodes]

Ok, so let's talk about what libel actually is vs everyone's preconceived notions here.  This will be important to remember for future discussions.

 

Libel is the act of damaging the reputation of another person in text through public speech, and it is illegal.  Severe civil penalties can be accrued by libelous speech, and it is generally considered a big bad nono in professional journalism circles.  But what exactly qualifies as libelous speech?

 

For one thing, it has to be untrue.  If the person committing libel is backing up what they're saying with screenshots, then it's not libel, or slander.  It's simply speech.  This does not mean that their interpretation has to be correct.  If their base facts are correct, and they can prove that "X said Y" then it's not libel, and there is no legal recourse or right for complaint according to US law.

 

If you are a private person instead of a public figure (more on that later), then you need to prove negligence on the part of the libeler.  This means that you have to prove that they did not do the amount of research that a reasonable person would do in order to prove their statement.  

 

If xx420blazinxx heard that Buff van Darkblade was harassing female players from EkwilRites69, then posts that statement on his tumblr immediately, then our friend 420 is guilty of negligence because he didn't ask which players were being harassed nor did he ask the supposed victims.

 

Had xx420blazinxx asked the all the victims, and they corroborated each others' stories, but had no screenshots,victims, it becomes a bit confusing, but 420 can probably get away with it because he did the amount of research a reasonable person would do.

 

Now if you're a public figure things are much harder for you.  This covers politicians, celebrities and business leaders, which in an MMO setting could include FC Leaders or other people who make it a point of being seen and well known about the community.  If you're a public figure then you have to prove actual malice.  It's no longer just about action, it's about intent.

 

Let's say Buff van Darkblade is now the head of his own super popular FC, The Orange Wings, with over 50 active members, and ol' xx420blazinxx  puts up on his tumblr that Buff consistently tries to sexually harass his female members and send them dick pics.  Now, 420 has no proof of this, but EkwilRites69 told him it was true, and 420 is just trying to warn girls and keep them safe.  In this situation 420 has the same amount of info he had last time, but he's completely in the right, legally speaking.

 

Buff needs to prove that 420 is blatantly disregarding the facts, not just misinterpreting them, not just parroting things he heard from a reasonable source, and he has to prove that this blatant disregard for the facts is specifically meant to damage his reputation, not to protect people.

 

As you can see, being famous has its drawbacks, which is why the National Enquirer can get away with its headlines.

 

Generally speaking though, there is a reason to say bad things about people and call them out.  When the truth about events is obfuscated by allusion and vague references then misinterpretation is extremely easy.  It can, in fact, lead to libel.  If you're going to call someone out for something, take screenshots, post proof and use evidence to back up your claims.

 

Without call outs bad people continue to do bad things, but rumor mongering is bad, everyone can agree.  Instead gather evidence, post screenshots and leave no room for doubt as to the veracity of your claims.

 

Don't post rants on the RPC that name no names, but which "people in the know" will get.  It's irresponsible, rude and inappropriate.