@bicycleasshole and @wattagenitro

[Myra]

Strangely enough something true can also be defamation. Defamation law is all about affecting one's reputation by stating, or insinuating, something that detracts from the view of that person before the statement was made.

 

Mostly people who are defamed will not take action as their attempt to defend their good name only brings attention to their dastardly deeds, even if they win the action.

So implying that a cyclist is a doper is not actually defamation because everyone already thinks cyclists are dopers. I would laugh but its sad.

[Tumbleweed]

and how do you know what my intentions were? Perhaps I was genuinely curious

 

I don't know what they were. That would be for a court to decide. Maybe a lawyer/judge would argue that your curiosity could have been directed in a different manner, eg, approaching the athlete/s concerned before posting what could be seem as a leading question on social media rather.

[Wyatt Earp]

I don't know what they were. That would be for a court to decide. Maybe a lawyer/judge would argue that your curiosity could have been directed in a different manner, eg, approaching the athlete/s concerned before posting what could be seem as a leading question on social media rather.

 

What was said ?

[Uni]

I attended a seminar regarding media laws specifically surrounding social media - it's not a fluffy hide behind an avatar world - what you put out there - is as liable as you saying it to someone's face.

That "thoughts are my own" is also about as effective and meaningful as using a serviette to swat a fly - it holds no weight in the courts - point is - it's all fun and jest - but at the end of the day, be prepared to defend what you're saying - or don't say it - at least not on such a public platform.

[Pants Boy]

I guess the question is - how would you feel is someone twatted about you asking if you stole money to buy your car/house or bribed your way into your job?

Caught out?

[Tumbleweed]

 

Strangely enough something true can also be defamation. Defamation law is all about affecting one's reputation by stating, or insinuating, something that detracts from the view of that person before the statement was made.

 

Mostly people who are defamed will not take action as their attempt to defend their good name only brings attention to their dastardly deeds, even if they win the action.

 

Absolutely spot-on. Journalists defame people every day. The trick is to do it lawfully.

 

Many stay away from litigation, for the reason you point out. If a paper/broadcaster gets sued, they'll often run a story saying: "X sued us because we reported A, B, C, etc..." thus reinforcing the damaging report. It's a tactic we were told about in the mid-90s when media laws from the old regime had to be challenged against the new constitution.

[Tumbleweed]

 

What was said ?

 

Something about lack of form following dope positives. It's some pages back, I think. Point is, simply, that it is incumbent upon anyone to make reasonable effort to obtain comment, clarification, etc, before publication on any platform.

[Tumbleweed]

I attended a seminar regarding media laws specifically surrounding social media - it's not a fluffy hide behind an avatar world - what you put out there - is as liable as you saying it to someone's face.

That "thoughts are my own" is also about as effective and meaningful as using a serviette to swat a fly - it holds no weight in the courts - point is - it's all fun and jest - but at the end of the day, be prepared to defend what you're saying - or don't say it - at least not on such a public platform.

 

Exactly. Well said.

[Eldron]

Anyone on Twitter/Facebook/Hub etc should ask this question before vomiting the letters "would I say this to their face?"

[VicanZA]

way to serious for a Tuesday..

[Tumbleweed]

Anyone on Twitter/Facebook/Hub etc should ask this question before vomiting the letters "would I say this to their face?"

 

Now that's muddying things a bit. That strays into the realm of crimen injuria rather than animus injuriandi. :-)

[Tumbleweed]

way to serious for a Tuesday..

 

Dude, Numsa caused me to be home late from work. Am grumpy today...

[Shebeen]

What was said ?

I think this is the tweet not surprised you got some phonecalls. First time I've ever seen four commas in a sentence in a tweet.

 

Zayin Krige @zkrige · Jun 30

So, theres a SA pro, who, since his partner got busted for EPO in 2012, suddenly hasn't been performing. Makes me wonder...

[Tumbleweed]

 

I think this is the tweet not surprised you got some phonecalls. First time I've ever seen four commas in a sentence in a tweet.

 

Zayin Krige @zkrige · Jun 30

So, theres a SA pro, who, since his partner got busted for EPO in 2012, suddenly hasn't been performing. Makes me wonder...

 

Zayin, mate, if you're going to rattle things a bit, get your grammar on...

 

So, there(apostrophe here)s a(n) SA pro, who, since his partner got busted for EPO in 2012, suddenly (can't be suddenly if it's been two years) hasn't been performing. Makes me wonder...

 

:-) Edited for grammar...

[Eldron]

I think this is the tweet not surprised you got some phonecalls. First time I've ever seen four commas in a sentence in a tweet.

 

 

Zayin Krige @zkrige · Jun 30

So, theres a SA pro, who, since his partner got busted for EPO in 2012, suddenly hasn't been performing. Makes me wonder...

 

If someone twatted that about me I wouldn't subcontract the heavies - a personal visit is in order for that kind of malice.

[Myra]

Something about lack of form following dope positives. It's some pages back, I think. Point is, simply, that it is incumbent upon anyone to make reasonable effort to obtain comment, clarification, etc, before publication on any platform.

 

But with twitter its a bit tricky, don't you think? Its not just a publication, its also a means of communicating. You can use it to follow celebrities but also to contact them. So you could use twitter to obtain comment, clarification eg from a celebrity. Just because they do not like the question, doesn't mean you should not be able to ask it.

 

I think we should be able to ask our pros the difficult questions and poke fun at them.