Need_help_in_TX
Junior Member
What is the name of your state?My husband and I live in TX and are members of an internet message board forum much like this one. I got into a debate with another member (who, I believe, lives in VA) who became quite rude, arrogant and condescending toward me. This angered my husband who then got into an argument with this other member; name-calling and foul language ensued. At one point this other member made a long-winded post elaborating on his superiority, and listed degrees, qualifications, and experience in two different fields, to which my husband replied, “so let’s read between the lines here…. You FAILED as a microbiologist, so you bought some phoney legal qualifications on the internet…..” In the same post my husband made the statement, “…and if you use that ****ing smiley once more, I swear I’ll hunt you down and shove it down your scrawny throat!” This member began threatening my husband with legal action via private message, while the argument continued on the forum until the thread was closed by a forum moderator.
Two days later, my husband posted a retraction (of sorts) stating that he has no knowledge of how, where or if this person had obtained his legal qualifications, nor of his success or failure in either field. He also made assurance that he has no intention of hunting him down to shove a computer graphic down his throat. The thread was immediately locked by a moderator at my husband’s request to avoid another slanging match. However, both the original thread and my husband’s retraction were deleted by site administration later in the day.
Now this person is demanding another “unambiguous apology and retraction” to prevent him from pursuing legal action. He states that he is not “anonymous” on the forum because a handful of other members know him or know who he is, and states that for this reason, his professional reputation has been harmed. He also states that my husband’s “threats” to track him down have caused himself and the two other partners at his firm “harm and deep concern”. He says that the previous “partial” retraction was not published long enough.
I would like to add that, through private messages from other members and my own search of this member’s posts, we know of at least two other members who have received similar threats from this person, after statements made in the heat of argument. This person has quite a reputation on the site for inciting such arguments.
Now, before we give in to what we consider bullying by this person, we would like to find answers to the following:
1.Does it appear that this person has a good chance for a successful case against my husband?
2.Does it appear that my husband would have cause to report this person to the bar association for his behaviour on the forum? (i.e. possibly “frivolous?” threats of legal action)
Two days later, my husband posted a retraction (of sorts) stating that he has no knowledge of how, where or if this person had obtained his legal qualifications, nor of his success or failure in either field. He also made assurance that he has no intention of hunting him down to shove a computer graphic down his throat. The thread was immediately locked by a moderator at my husband’s request to avoid another slanging match. However, both the original thread and my husband’s retraction were deleted by site administration later in the day.
Now this person is demanding another “unambiguous apology and retraction” to prevent him from pursuing legal action. He states that he is not “anonymous” on the forum because a handful of other members know him or know who he is, and states that for this reason, his professional reputation has been harmed. He also states that my husband’s “threats” to track him down have caused himself and the two other partners at his firm “harm and deep concern”. He says that the previous “partial” retraction was not published long enough.
I would like to add that, through private messages from other members and my own search of this member’s posts, we know of at least two other members who have received similar threats from this person, after statements made in the heat of argument. This person has quite a reputation on the site for inciting such arguments.
Now, before we give in to what we consider bullying by this person, we would like to find answers to the following:
1.Does it appear that this person has a good chance for a successful case against my husband?
2.Does it appear that my husband would have cause to report this person to the bar association for his behaviour on the forum? (i.e. possibly “frivolous?” threats of legal action)