Anonymous Postings & Possible Consequences
Thu, 25 Feb 2010, 05:46 pmGreg Ross19 posts in thread
Anonymous Postings & Possible Consequences
Thu, 25 Feb 2010, 05:46 pmPerhaps I'm too old to 'get' the joke, however I've been horrified to read what I hope are supposed to be tongue in cheek comments about Grant Watson. And even if there was any truth to the rumours, we don't have the French justice system - here in Australia there is a presumption of innocence.
The hideous reality of people publicly making such comments, whether in jest or not, is that some mud always sticks, no matter how innocent / exonerated a person may be. The courts are starting to get very serious about such postings, anyone doubting this would do well to read page 17 of today's West Australian newspaper (Thursday 25 February 2010) - it's just cost a coward - sorry - anonymous blogger, $30,000 plus costs in the WA Supreme Court.
My dear Watson
Fri, 26 Feb 2010, 01:19 amWhile I'm sure Grant Watson is appreciative of the vocal support from Greg Ross and Maljo, he perhaps won't be thrilled to have his name linked to the scurrilous posts made about another Grant entirely.
Nor am I particularly enamored of Greg's suggestion that mud sticks - a truism for feeble minds that resist change in the face of obvious facts. ...and perhaps an adequate description of Google, as it indexed the messages in the few hours they were prominent and they are now recorded there for posterity. But I'll bear it in mind if I ever decide to sue the bastard.
;-)
With regard to the case reported in the local rag (thanks for the tip Greg), this appears to confirms the long standing policy of this site:
Comments posted in the various forums are wholly the responsibility of the person posting the information.
- If you post libelous comments you may be sued.
- If you cause to be published material you are not authorised to publish (e.g. infringement of copyright) you may be subject to court action.
- If you cause to be published material that is illegal (e.g. child pornography), you may be prosecuted.
Note that there is no mention of whether or not the poster is identified when posting. Anonymous or no, you are wholly responsible for what you post. And as this recent case makes clear, in the event of legal action you can be sued.
Finally, Na's description is entirely accurate. I had the same problem as you, Robert. People were in touch with me directly expressing their outrage, but when I arrived at the site I couldn't see what the fuss was about. Thanks Kim, Jeff, MusicalMum and many others who promptly gave a deserving thumbs down to the rubbish. Where members vote a post down, it disappears from view. Where an individual makes particular complaint about a post, it is replaced with a notice in line with the practice described by Robert above.
Personally, too much time and effort wasted on this matter when I should be attempting a witty rebuttal to that cocky windbag crgwllms.
;-)
Cheers
Grant
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Director, actor and administrator of this website