Final Curtain

[Wardy]

This is worth a read

Basic UK libel law for idiots by Adam Porter

This part is what we are talking about here

On the web, the writer, the web site owner and the ISP can all be sued just like the writer, the magazine and the distributor in the print field. A link could also be potentially defamatory if you are linking to defamatory material.

 

[Silent Bob]

Nope but that is slander, however if you printed a poster saying a specific person is a pedophile and asked you local shop to put it up and they did, the shop would be committing libel.

But no one asked to put this up. I suppose in the eyes of the law it's up to Bozza to take it down as it is his site.
It's f***ed up that he should have the police knocking on his door because of something someone posted on here though.

This is worth a read

Basic UK libel law for idiots by Adam Porter

It probably is...

 

[Titanic]

I thought moderators were chosen due to the fact that the board can be covered at all times to fit in with working lives. Their was a fella on here recently who said he works nights and could moderate but I dont think anyone repsonded. Is the cover there from this team should anything not get reported ?

The thread in question surely the mods should of been all over it like a hawk ?

From what I can see in the moderation forums.... nobody reported a single post in this thread.

Between us we do cover most hours of the day and days of the week... and I would personally receive an email alert of any reported post, and can 'moderate' from my phone as well as any of the many computers I have access to. So, in most cases I and others would respond very quickly to a reported post (and that does not always mean delete stuff / ban people etc... it can mean engaging in lengthy PM exchange for example).

I can't and don't read every one of the thousands of NSC posts every day... we need everyone to play their part in keeping NSC on the road.

 

[El Presidente]

Without going into personal details, we do spend a disproportionate amount of our time on NSC, but even if we are online we can't read every thread.

A (very) simplified summary of UK libel law is:

A person is defamed if statements in a publication expose him to:
(a) Hatred or ridicule
(b) Cause him to be shunned
(c) Lower him in the estimation in the minds of "right-thinking" members of society
(d) Disparage him in his work

Allowable defence is:

(a) The statement is true
(b) The statement is fair, based on fact, and without malice
(c) Privilege (e.g. said in Parliament, such as the Premiership Footballer case)
(d) The statement is in the public interest.

IMO part of the success of NSC is that it is a board for football fans, and not exclusively about football. The amount of traffic on the board and Darwinism ensures that peripheral threads quickly disappear without trace, when there are big football issues they dominate the board, and when there are few then it's more of a minestrone.

 

[GingerBeerMan]

If you say "In my opinion <insert wild accusation here>" does that still count as free speech or is it still illegal?

 

[ifuhatepalacestandup]

think this should be required reading for anyone on nsc is there no way to have it so that any new signup cannot post untill a reproduced page like this Basic UK libel law for idiots by Adam Porter is visited

 

[fleet]

I had assumed this was an Olympic closing ceremony thread. Sadly it isn't! People need to understand that they are putting things in public on here and it isn't just a chat amongst mates.

 

[Acker79]

If you say "In my opinion <insert wild accusation here>" does that still count as free speech or is it still illegal?

It would, I think, have to be an opinion.

i.e. "In my opinion [name] is an unpleasant person who shouldn't be in charge of [business]" would be ok, whereas "In my opinion [name] likes to fornicate with goats" isn't ok. Because whether or not he fornicates with goats is a factual thing.

 

[Westdene Seagull]

Firstly I support Bozza 100% on whatever decision he takes even if that means shutting NSC down ( although I'd like the opportunity to be given to others to run it and take the risk first ).

It's simple, don't create threads about ongoing police investigations or court cases - if someone does then report them. That way we can keep the variety of NSC that we all love but keep Bozza out of prison. It's exactly how the Argus online works ( although it hurts me to suggest they have it right ! ).

 

[El Presidente]

It's simple, don't create threads about ongoing police investigations or court cases.

That won't necessarily help.

 

[Acker79]

Mods: would it be advisable for users to report threads that have the potential to cross lines? I know it would be more work than actual posts that need reporting, but if we see a thread about the latest big news story with legal ramifications, if we report the thread to say "hey, this thread is discussing X, thought you might want to keep an eye on it" it allows you to keep on top of it rather than waiting for someone else to report it, which may or may not happen.


Admittedly, everythread could, in theory, lead to someone crossing the line, but some are more likely than others.

 

[GingerBeerMan]

Firstly I support Bozza 100% on whatever decision he takes even if that means shutting NSC down ( although I'd like the opportunity to be given to others to run it and take the risk first ).

It's simple, don't create threads about ongoing police investigations or court cases - if someone does then report them. That way we can keep the variety of NSC that we all love but keep Bozza out of prison. It's exactly how the Argus online works ( although it hurts me to suggest they have it right ! ).

I'm pretty sure NSC would continue in some form should Bozza step away from it. He's stated before he's been offered a lot of money for NSC, and i'm sure he would sell it rather than shut it down. That'd be like setting 50k on fire.

 

[Questions]

"In my opinion [name] likes to fornicate with goats"

That would be Catfish or Vegster on here if I had to guess.

 

[Westdene Seagull]

That won't necessarily help.

Which implies it was personal libel in this case meaning it wasn't the Tia thread. I agree my idea doesn't cover every possibility but surely it's a start ?

 

[Titanic]

Mods: would it be advisable for users to report threads that have the potential to cross lines? I know it would be more work than actual posts that need reporting, but if we see a thread about the latest big news story with legal ramifications, if we report the thread to say "hey, this thread is discussing X, thought you might want to keep an eye on it" it allows you to keep on top of it rather than waiting for someone else to report it, which may or may not happen.

Yes - I would be very happy for people to report threads like that.... and it is something mods already do to raise awareness amongst ourselves.

 

[Blackadder]

It would, I think, have to be an opinion.

i.e. "In my opinion [name] is an unpleasant person who shouldn't be in charge of [business]" would be ok, whereas "In my opinion [name] likes to fornicate with goats" isn't ok. Because whether or not he fornicates with goats is a factual thing.

Would you not have to give a reason why the unpleasant person shouldn't be in charge of a business? He/She could argue that you have affected his business by posting your opinion. (I don't know either way).

 

[Fungus]

I shall certainly be reporting dodgy posts in future. I can think of at least one that could have caused this problem, but I ignored it at the time...

 

[El Presidente]

Which implies it was personal libel in this case meaning it wasn't the Tia thread. I agree my idea doesn't cover every possibility but surely it's a start ?

I agree it will help to filter out some issues, which is why we had just the one thread in relation to a footballer(s) related trial on NSC.

However if you name a person (or family) on the board for a non-legal related issue then it could also be deemed a libel.

We get about 4/5 posts reported each week, IMO the vast majority of posters keep things on the right side of the line, irrespective of whether you agree with their views or not.

 

[GoldWithFalmer]

I shall certainly be reporting dodgy posts in future. I can think of at least one that could have caused this problem, but I ignored it at the time...

I was very unhappy with a thread too-i just thought disgrace.....to that end i am guilty too

 

[Bwian]

Bring back Rep

And how would that make a moron engage its brain before posting?

I looked at the (potential) thread in question and saw a pretty tasteless remark-maybe I should have reported it when I saw it. The report button is much more important than 'rep' which only helped stroke egos.