Mithrandir Posted September 19, 2017 Share Posted September 19, 2017 Someone posted a Facebook comment that said the Mayor-elect of my town and another guy were gay lovers. Is that a form of libel? Could they sue the poster over the comment? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ancient Ways Posted September 19, 2017 Share Posted September 19, 2017 https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/libel Maybe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mithrandir Posted September 19, 2017 Author Share Posted September 19, 2017 https://www.merriam-...ictionary/libel MaybeThanks. I know what libel is, but was just curious if anyone had any firsthand knowledge of Facebook style libel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edhunter Posted September 19, 2017 Share Posted September 19, 2017 Someone posted a Facebook comment that said the Mayor-elect of my town and another guy were gay lovers. Is that a form of libel? Could they sue the poster over the comment? I'd bet you're, err, your friend is safe. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mithrandir Posted September 19, 2017 Author Share Posted September 19, 2017 Someone posted a Facebook comment that said the Mayor-elect of my town and another guy were gay lovers. Is that a form of libel? Could they sue the poster over the comment? I'd bet you're, err, your friend is safe.Hahaha.. not me...but I am friends with the guy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lorraine Posted September 19, 2017 Share Posted September 19, 2017 (edited) Is it true? It's not libel if it's true. And if it's true, why should your mayor-elect care? Is he ashamed? Edited September 19, 2017 by Lorraine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maverick Posted September 19, 2017 Share Posted September 19, 2017 If it is true, it is not libel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mithrandir Posted September 20, 2017 Author Share Posted September 20, 2017 Is it true? It's not libel if it's true. And if it's true, why should your mayor-elect care? Is he ashamed? i know that it is not true. So is it libel? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mithrandir Posted September 20, 2017 Author Share Posted September 20, 2017 Every response has been useless. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edhunter Posted September 20, 2017 Share Posted September 20, 2017 I'm surprised my cousin Paulie hasn't been sued for some of the insults he posts on FB. He's the most rabid right-winger I've ever seen, and absolutely doesn't care who sees it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueschica Posted September 20, 2017 Share Posted September 20, 2017 Short answer from internets- Yes, but you may have to prove damages. But you know, least said, soonest mended. Surely your friend didn't get to be mayor elect without being able to ignore random bizarre insults. Tell them to ignore it. Who believes those weird social media rumors anyway (unless it's me about the Lee Lifeson project). https://www.hg.org/article.asp?id=36205 http://injury.findlaw.com/torts-and-personal-injuries/defamation-and-social-media--what-you-need-to-know.html 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mithrandir Posted September 20, 2017 Author Share Posted September 20, 2017 (edited) Short answer from internets- Yes, but you may have to prove damages. But you know, least said, soonest mended. Surely your friend didn't get to be mayor elect without being able to ignore random bizarre insults. Tell them to ignore it. Who believes those weird social media rumors anyway (unless it's me about the Lee Lifeson project). https://www.hg.org/a....asp?id=36205 http://injury.findla...ed-to-know.htmlI guess I just like to see assholes pay the price for their bullshit. And in a town where the majority of the voters are Senior citizens who just might harbor homophobic feelings it could cost him in the general election. If this was your son or family member I guess you would be ok with it? Sorry but your type of attitude is almost as bad as the morons who spew this shit. "Oh just let it go..teehee"... Edited September 20, 2017 by Mithrandir 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boots Posted September 20, 2017 Share Posted September 20, 2017 I studied law at a technical institute for 3 years, but I'm not qualified to give advice because I'm not a lawyer. I don't know American law. I think LABT is a lawyer. If the statement is true, it isn't libel. If untrue, you could be sued for defamation of character. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lorraine Posted September 20, 2017 Share Posted September 20, 2017 Every response has been useless.We're not a law firm. This is a Rush forum. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Your_Lion Posted September 20, 2017 Share Posted September 20, 2017 Every response has been useless.We're not a law firm. This is a Rush forum.http://www.therushlawfirm.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/TrippRush_Logo_Horiz-LargeCrest-768x768.png 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ancient Ways Posted September 20, 2017 Share Posted September 20, 2017 Every response has been useless.Especially this one. Even if there was a lawyer here they need more facts to give an opinion. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lorraine Posted September 20, 2017 Share Posted September 20, 2017 Every response has been useless.We're not a law firm. This is a Rush forum.http://www.therushlawfirm.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/TrippRush_Logo_Horiz-LargeCrest-768x768.png Let's dust off our shingle. :codger: Then you grab your legal pad and sharpen your pencil and meet us in the conference room. :D-13: 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EagleMoon Posted September 20, 2017 Share Posted September 20, 2017 I seriously doubt a Facebook comment would be considered as real evidence considering anyone could be using the account. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueschica Posted September 20, 2017 Share Posted September 20, 2017 (edited) Short answer from internets- Yes, but you may have to prove damages. But you know, least said, soonest mended. Surely your friend didn't get to be mayor elect without being able to ignore random bizarre insults. Tell them to ignore it. Who believes those weird social media rumors anyway (unless it's me about the Lee Lifeson project). https://www.hg.org/a....asp?id=36205 http://injury.findla...ed-to-know.htmlI guess I just like to see assholes pay the price for their bullshit. And in a town where the majority of the voters are Senior citizens who just might harbor homophobic feelings it could cost him in the general election. If this was your son or family member I guess you would be ok with it? Sorry but your type of attitude is almost as bad as the morons who spew this shit. "Oh just let it go..teehee"... I'm sorry that my advice doesn't seem to apply; as with most things I write on this board you are free to use or not use the parts that might be helpful. I was just responding in a general manner to what you described in very general terms. Since the friend you are talking about is/was running for elected office I was assuming they are 1) an adult and 2) knowing that they will have to put up with some opposition in their run for office. I wasn't saying "teehee" let it go, I was recommending, "don't waste precious campaign energy responding to jerks." This has happened a few times in school board, mayor, zoning board races etc. around here and suddenly everyone is all over the person's entire internet life (both insulter and responder) and has taken screen shots of everything before they can take it down. Not everyone can withstand that. Of course if your friend was a student or teen being cyber bullied it would be different. I hope the rest of your friend's campaign goes OK for them. Edited September 20, 2017 by blueschica 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EagleMoon Posted September 20, 2017 Share Posted September 20, 2017 Short answer from internets- Yes, but you may have to prove damages. But you know, least said, soonest mended. Surely your friend didn't get to be mayor elect without being able to ignore random bizarre insults. Tell them to ignore it. Who believes those weird social media rumors anyway (unless it's me about the Lee Lifeson project). https://www.hg.org/a....asp?id=36205 http://injury.findla...ed-to-know.htmlI guess I just like to see assholes pay the price for their bullshit. And in a town where the majority of the voters are Senior citizens who just might harbor homophobic feelings it could cost him in the general election. If this was your son or family member I guess you would be ok with it? Sorry but your type of attitude is almost as bad as the morons who spew this shit. "Oh just let it go..teehee"... I'm sorry that my advice doesn't seem to apply; as with most things I write on this board you are free to use or not use the parts that might be helpful. I was just responding in a general manner to what you described in very general terms. Since the friend you are talking about is/was running for elected office I was assuming they are 1) an adult and 2) knowing that they will have to put up with some opposition in their run for office. I wasn't saying "teehee" let it go, I was recommending, "don't waste precious campaign energy responding to jerks." This has happened a few times in school board, mayor, zoning board races etc. around here and suddenly everyone is all over the person's entire internet life (both insulter and responder) and has taken screen shots of everything before they can take it down. Not everyone can withstand that. Of course if your friend was a student or teen being cyber bullied it would be different. I hope the rest of your friend's campaign goes OK for them. I agree. Responding to it just draws attention to it. Better to just ignore and move on. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maverick Posted September 21, 2017 Share Posted September 21, 2017 Every response has been useless. KYS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Principled Man Posted September 21, 2017 Share Posted September 21, 2017 Someone posted a Facebook comment that said the Mayor-elect of my town and another guy were gay lovers. Is that a form of libel? Could they sue the poster over the comment? If the statement is false, if the Facebook troll showed malice of intent, and if it caused real harm to the mayor-elect's reputation, career or family life, then it would constitute libel, in my opinion. Taking the troll to court would be a challenge, as the mayor-elect would have to prove all three criteria - false statement, malice of intent and harm caused. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edhunter Posted September 21, 2017 Share Posted September 21, 2017 Every response has been useless. KYS Kiss Your Sister? Knead Yeast Slowly? Keep Yanni Single? Kill Yoda's Seagulls? (Stop it now!) 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnnyBlaze Posted September 21, 2017 Share Posted September 21, 2017 Every response has been useless. http://news-entertainment.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/wpid-150409_CBOX_CatholicDaredevil2.jpg.CROP_.promo-mediumlarge2.jpg Don't worry. He's a lawyer. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnnyBlaze Posted September 21, 2017 Share Posted September 21, 2017 Every response has been useless. KYS Kiss Your Sister? Knead Yeast Slowly? Keep Yanni Single? Kill Yoda's Seagulls? (Stop it now!) Just in case... http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=kys 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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