Website liable?

[adamman]

What is the name of your state? New York.

Hello. Would a person who owns a message board forum located in New York City area be liable for comments left on the message boards that are harassing and/or slanderous towards myself?

Could a Police report in my local town be filed (as in the owner of the site, who is an individual man in his mid-late 30's, be arrested)? I am under the age of 18 if that matters. Where I live is like 4 hours away from where this person lives. Would my local PD contact the NYPD or wherever he actually is? Or do I need to do something else?

Thanks.

 

[racer72]

You ever hear of the 1st Amendment to the Constitution? And in what way have these comments caused permanant harm or cost you financially?

 

[adamman]

They have caused anxiety and stress.

Comments like, a whole post and I quote:

" actually.. hockey you are wrong.. it's 8Mbit down.. and 6Mbit up.. and do you think i would be such a moron and go with cable modems if there was an affordable alternative?
you are the biggest.. douche bag..(excuse the language)
you don't even live near me.. nor are you on my node. when i send packets out they go to NJ.. and there is always this slowdown there.. i don't know why.. but i think i finally figured it out.. MAYBE you should stop running your porno server.. and get over that some people don't have 2600.00 setup and first month's fee for a T1!
T1's suck anyway.. i've been looking at DSL.. but thats a big gouge.. why the hell would i stay on cable modem?!
as soon as i can find an alternative i will be off your cable.. and then you can go back to giving yourself BJ's while watching richard simmons.
(my above post was directed against hockey) "

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Here is one from another post:

" actually.. hockey the "forum whore" states this in his profile.. "

 

[racer72]

2 comments and a suggestion.

1. The comments you posted would hardly qualify as slander. Not even close.

2. If you find the post at the forum upsetting, do not visit the forum anymore.

And my suggestion, you have a lot more problems if childish comments are causing you anxiety and stress. See #2 above.

 

[adamman]

I am not looking to sue. I am just looking to see if I can file a police report with them actually doing something. Thanks.

 

[stephenk]

Hello, 911. I want to have a police officer come to my house so a criminal report can be prepared.

Operator: What is the nature of the crime?

Some guy on a web message board called me a douche bag. He also told me to give myself BJs while I watch Richard Simmons.

Operator: You're kidding, right?

No, I am serious. Those comments have caused me anxiety and stress. I demand a report be prepared so the poster on the board can be arrested! Now everytime I play with myself, I keep picturing Richard Simmons. It's criminal I tell you!

Operator: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Hold on, do you mind if I let the other operators listen in to your call. We have been dealing with real crimes and real victims. It's always a relief to get a funny call every now and then.

 

[adamman]

Yeah, haha. Why can't the owner of the site be liable? This is America. You can get sued for things like that, just like you can sue McDonalds for the hot coffee.