My article last month on Facebook shaming generated feedback by readers wishing to know what to do if they defamed, or might have defamed, someone on Facebook or online. They wondered if anything could be done to eliminate or reduce the risk of legal liability. If the aggrieved person raises an objection about the published…
A growing number of horse sellers contact me over Facebook posts by disgruntled buyers whose expectations are disappointed through no fault of the sellers. When a request to return a horse for a refund is rejected, these buyers have turned to Facebook for comeuppance by posting damaging comments about the sellers. Resorting to social…
Outrageous and destructive comments and opinions are published sometimes on social media about judges and competitors. Plain disrespect, self-aggrandisement, simple jealousy or ignorance of what’s correct are some factors that motivate attacks. When do these self appointed critics and amateur online publishers (let’s call them the disgruntled) go a step too far and expose…
There is a growing incidence of disgruntled buyers resorting to social media platforms like Facebook and online media forums to criticize their seller over a bad horse deal. If a request to return the horse for a refund is rejected, these buyers turn to such platforms and forums in an attempt to get redress outside…
The publication of defamatory material on social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook and hosted internet forums, is a growing problem. People with high profiles such as elite competitors and senior judges and participants at lower levels are attacked for performances and decisions made. The instantaneous and often anonymous nature of communications in the electronic media,…
With every purchase of a horse, the buyer hopes that it will be everything hoped for and more. This is particularly the case with buying a horse sight unseen because there will be no live experience of the horse to reveal faults which pictures and video of the horse can conceal. A buyer will often…
When you express something, in writing or by word of mouth, to another person or people that harms a third person’s reputation it is defamatory. You can be held liable for defamation unless you have a legal defence. Some statements clearly defame, such as Jack Citizen is dishonest. The meaning of other statements can be…