What is the name of your state? South Carolina
I have an online business that is a part of an online community. I make over $90K a year operating this business. As a functional member of the community I also post in various forums that are associated with the business platform. I post as my screen name (some people know the real names of some business owners, but not mine yet). Recently, another member of one of the "un-moderated" forums that I often post to has begun posting some serious lies about me that could never be proven. They couldn't be proven because they never occurred.
I contacted the site owner who I consider to be a very close friend. She removed the threads in question after I explained that I would not tolerate anyone making up lies about me. The other person is somewhat anonymous and does not run a business so no one knows who that person is. Everyone knows who I am and knows my business and I cannot risk some anonymous person putting my livelihood in danger.
So I explained to the forum admin that if I had to do anything at all I would file suit for libel and that he may be subpoenaed for information regarding the perpetrators forum account. She removed the threads because she wants to avoid any legal battles at all.
However, this did not stop the harassment. The person continues to post up lies and such. I have even tried making a public statement on the matter explaining that the person is lying on me and harassing me and that I wish to be left alone. The person just replies with more lies and name calling.
I have tried to just step away from the situation altogether and "not post" but the more I stay quiet, the more the individual rallies others to assist her in damaging my reputation by posting up things that are not true about me.
I have had to sit here all weekend literally monitoring these forums and trying to dissolve the issue. I don't know what else to do.
What can I do?
I have an online business that is a part of an online community. I make over $90K a year operating this business. As a functional member of the community I also post in various forums that are associated with the business platform. I post as my screen name (some people know the real names of some business owners, but not mine yet). Recently, another member of one of the "un-moderated" forums that I often post to has begun posting some serious lies about me that could never be proven. They couldn't be proven because they never occurred.
I contacted the site owner who I consider to be a very close friend. She removed the threads in question after I explained that I would not tolerate anyone making up lies about me. The other person is somewhat anonymous and does not run a business so no one knows who that person is. Everyone knows who I am and knows my business and I cannot risk some anonymous person putting my livelihood in danger.
So I explained to the forum admin that if I had to do anything at all I would file suit for libel and that he may be subpoenaed for information regarding the perpetrators forum account. She removed the threads because she wants to avoid any legal battles at all.
However, this did not stop the harassment. The person continues to post up lies and such. I have even tried making a public statement on the matter explaining that the person is lying on me and harassing me and that I wish to be left alone. The person just replies with more lies and name calling.
I have tried to just step away from the situation altogether and "not post" but the more I stay quiet, the more the individual rallies others to assist her in damaging my reputation by posting up things that are not true about me.
I have had to sit here all weekend literally monitoring these forums and trying to dissolve the issue. I don't know what else to do.
What can I do?
