About Me

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Delta, British Columbia, Canada
I took very early retirement from teaching in '06 and did some traveling in Europe and the UK before settling down to do some private tutoring. As a voracious reader, I have many books waiting in line for me to read. Tell me I shouldn't read something, and I will. I'm a happy, optimistic person and I love to travel and through that believe that life can be a continuous learning experience. I'm looking forward to traveling more some day. I enjoy walking, cycling, water aerobics & and sports like tennis, volleyball, and fastpitch/baseball. I'm just getting into photography as a hobby and I'm enjoying learning all the bits and bobs of my digital camera. My family is everything to me and I'm delighted to be the mother of two girls and the Gramma of a boy and a girl. I may be a Gramma, but I'm at heart just a girl who wants to have fun.

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Defamation

In law, defamation (also called vilification, slander, and libel) is the communication of a statement that makes a false claim, expressively stated or implied to be factual, that may harm the reputation of an individual, business, product, group, government or nation. Most jurisdictions allow legal actions, civil and/or criminal, to deter various kinds of defamation and retaliate against groundless criticism.

Someone in cyber space is writing defamatory posts about a certain person and linking to that person's site . This person is also going around to bloggers and making comments that are defamatory and slanderous about other bloggers. There are laws about this, even on the internet. If in doubt, check here.

I urge everyone NOT to take this lightly. Blogging is/can be a fun pastime and a way of meeting others with similar interests. When you go to a blog site, consider it the same as if you are entering someone's home. Be polite. If nothing interests you or if you dislike what the owner is writing about, quietly leave. If you come upon a site where the site owner is defaming or slandering another person, I suggest you leave there quietly as well. Do not comment or argue back. Ask yourself, "Would I stay in this person's home and listen or argue with them?" If someone comes on your site and makes rude, insulting, or slanderous comments about you or anyone else, simply delete them. Ask yourself, "Would I welcome someone like that into my home?"

Inaction could be considered the same as condoning the actions of those who slander. However, in cases like this it's better to move on and hopefully, in time, this person will get the message that they are not welcome. Don't allow this person to ruin our enjoyment.

True story: "Parent advocate, Sue Scheff™, was recently featured on i-Caught in an ABC News sponsored podcast, as well as the Mike and Juliet Morning Show, which is broadcast from Fox studios. Both productions feature segments on internet defamation and slander, and discuss the incredible ordeal Sue Scheff experienced when faced with vicious online attacks from a disgruntled parent seeking revenge. The media has notoriously dubbed this: e-venge."

This is a serious issue and needs to be taken seriously. Read more on Sue Scheff's successful lawsuit HERE. Click where it says Click here and read the two posts on this page. It talks about an organisation called Reputation Defender.

20 comments:

enigma4ever said...

great post...and really valid point...and one that More Bloggers need to KNOW about....there are Bloggers that think throwing Insults at Women is sport- and they need to learn that ALL Writing is to be respected and honored.....
You have a wonderful Blog and are a wonderful writer....

Keep up the great work.....

( Sometimes when one finds a large ugly bug stuck to one's shoe- it is best to step on it....and just keep walking -with your head held high....)

many many hugs...

Jo said...

Leslie, when Enigma says "(Sometimes when one finds a large ugly bug stuck to one's shoe- it is best to step on it....and just keep walking -with your head held high....)" ... first you have to walk over to the curb and scrape the ugly, dead bug off your shoe... :-)

Susan said...

Sadly this form of bulllying is not uncommon. It is especially prevailant amongst teenage girls. I hope your friend can shake this spiteful visitor away. Why do peaople feel a need to spread dirt?

Outhouse Capital of Canada said...

E for everyone... everyone should read this and respect blogequet?
hello there, my first visit here.
My daughter is Maple Ridge Daily Photo blog

geewits said...

There is no reason for people to leave bilious remarks on blogs. I've been attacked in a third party way and the blog owner did not defend me even AFTER Josie made a comment to that effect. Josie is the White Knight of the blogosphere. I'm still "friends" with the blog owner, but that blog owner has lost my respect. Good for you for this post!

Brit. (lille meg) said...

Hi! I found your blog today. I like to visit other bloggers.
I haven't read all in your site, but I'll be back.
I can see that it is very early morning where you live now, so i guess that you are sleeping yet.

Have a nice day!

Country Girl said...

I should never have responded to him when I suggested that he sounded angry.

Leslie, you've got a great site here and a lot of good, caring friends. I plan on visiting for a good long time to come!

~C.G.

Lone Grey Squirrel said...

Sorry about this bad experience. You want that I round up the boys and pelt him with nuts?

Tai said...

Bah!
It's such a shame that some feel the need to go into other people's 'homes' and be rude or argumentative.
There's no need. Ever. If you don't like what someone has said or thinks, LEAVE!
Glad that there's a strong call against that kind of behaviour...don't mess with the West!

Russell said...

I posted a response on Josie's blog but wanted to tell you directly that the individual in question is not worth two seconds of your time!

You are a lovely person, the very definition of goodness and decency and for any person to defame you with ignorant and stupid remarks only reflects on his level of insignificance.

You are an extremely highly respected member of our blogging community and you can tell by the comments that are flowing in what people think of you and what they think of the person who made the silly comments about you.

Focus on the good thingg that people who know you say and think about you. Don't let yourself give this person who does not know you upset you - though I know any time a person says stupid things it is hard to put it out of your mind and all of us are human so it bothers us.

I just hope you always remember the people who KNOW you think the world of you.

The person who wrote the things about you is not worthy to carry your shoes much less stand in them.

Take care and remember, again, the people who know you think you are the best....

Leslie: said...

Thanks everyone! I was really annoyed about his writing and linking to my site on his own blog. I thought "what an idiot!" But when he went to my friend's site and disparaged me over there, then I got MAD! And started wondering if there are laws about it re the internet. And I found out that there ARE laws and that this idiot doesn't have a leg to stand on IF I decided to pursue it. We shall still hold onto that possibility if he persists. I'd rather ignore him, though. Apparently, he's done this to many many women and that tells a story itself, right?

Leslie: said...

Hi LGS Yes by all means pelt him with the biggest nuts you can find. A nut for a nut, I say! ;D

Paulie said...

I agree completely!

BTW, I finally left a comment on ABD Wed --don't know how I missed it before.

Linda said...

Good post for everyone. I think your blog is great and funny. Sad thing about this world we live in, there are always those around who would like to ruin your day.
Keep up the good work!

meggie said...

I must have missed the nastiness. Glad I did.
Keep your lovely blog going. You inspire others to be just as lovely as you are!

Janice Thomson said...

Hi Leslie!
Sorry to read about what happened and hope this person does not bother you again.
Looks like I missed some really nifty posts as I went through your older ones. It's good to be back and reading you again.

Welshcakes Limoncello said...

Frightening and you are right to draw our attention to this, Leslie.

Shrinky said...

Hi Leslie, I know of whom you write, and I am so sorry he has targeted you. He is (I believe) mentally ill, and he randomly selects only women as far as I know. Sadly,there are nutters everywhere, and blogland is a perfect place for them to hide in. I am glad you can rise above him, so are soooooooooo much better than this sad, slimy toad. x

Anonymous said...

I've had a few visits from that lonely, unfeeling, clueless, sad man.
1. Delete any comments he leaves.
2. Don't return any emails, block them.
3. Don't visit his blog.

new audi said...

Nice post. That was exacty i was looking for today.