What about blogs??

[nursetj]

What is the name of your state? Alabama
Confused and curious about these blog things?!?!?!?! Can someone use what you write in a blog on MySpace against you?? A girl at my school said she wsa skipping repeatedly becuase she was "threatened" by a blog on MySpace. I was under the impression that you could write anything you wanted to in a blog becuase it wsa your own personal thoughts. I'm not sure if you know how MySpace works, but this girl could not have gotten a copy of the blog directly unless she was a "friend" of the person who wrote it. She had to have someone else get her a copy of it. Could the person who wrote the blog be sued??What is the name of your state?

 

[tigger22472]

What is the name of your state? Alabama
Confused and curious about these blog things?!?!?!?! Can someone use what you write in a blog on MySpace against you?? A girl at my school said she wsa skipping repeatedly becuase she was "threatened" by a blog on MySpace. I was under the impression that you could write anything you wanted to in a blog becuase it wsa your own personal thoughts. I'm not sure if you know how MySpace works, but this girl could not have gotten a copy of the blog directly unless she was a "friend" of the person who wrote it. She had to have someone else get her a copy of it. Could the person who wrote the blog be sued??What is the name of your state?

um.. that's not true about My Space. You can get copies of blogs without being a friend or having someone else get them..

And the content of the blog is generally what's more important than anything. There's a lot of information not here in order to make a reasonable answer.

 

[nursetj]

Well what information would you like to have in order to make "a reasonable answer"??? The blog does call this person a few names, but does not threaten her in any way.

 

[tigger22472]

Well what information would you like to have in order to make "a reasonable answer"??? The blog does call this person a few names, but does not threaten her in any way.

Are the things causing 'damage' to the person? Are they stated as opinions or facts? Are these things true or false? And HOW is the person damaged?

 

[nursetj]

All the things posted in this blog are true, even though the person they are written about may not have liked them. I am just basically trying to find out if things written in a blog are able to be used against you.

 

[The Occultist]

YES! It's not like the diary you keep under your bed where nobody else will read them. No, blogs are intended for other people to read. If it's your own diary, you're writing for yourself. But no matter what you tell yourself, writing in a blog is writing for others; you are intending for other people to read it. You are publishing this crap online for others to read. It is no different from, say, an online newsletter. Yes, things you put in a blog may be used against you.

 

[tessa]

Yes! Depending on exactly what you wrote about another person on your Blog. You can possibly be sued in a case where you might have written false or demeaning statements about another person. You really do have to be careful about anything you write or place on the internet. A Blog shouldn't be used to spread rumors about another weather true or false. Publishing material on the Internet can be risky in many ways. Some people are under the misconception that the only people who view their Blog are those who you authorized "in a sence". What i mean is, even if your Blog is under a screen name (not a real name), people can still find it and once it is found, it can be viewed. Many people are unaware of this. In the future I wouldn't write anything in your Blog that may come back to haunt you. Even if you delete the information, it can be obtained through myspace if necessary.

 

[nursetj]

Thank you tessa for your very nicely written and informative answer to my question about blogs. This is a subject I do not know alot about and your answer was very helpful. I guess I thought that if you wrote something on your own space and did not allow some to view it, it would be okay. But, your answer was most helpful!!

As you for your occultist, your answer was most demeaning in saying that I "posted my crap" online for everyone to read. You don't have to be so nasty in the way you post your answers. The reason people ask questions on here is becuase they don't know the answer to something and they don't want to be talked down to just to get it!! Thanks for nothing!!

 

[tessa]

nurstej.

Hope my information helps. I agree there is no need for sarcasm from others in this forum. Be careful in the future. Here are some helpful suggestions:

1. Do not publish demeaning or false statements on any open forum, including Blog's.
(a Blog is not really private).

2. If the screen name of a Blog is discovered, any one can register and log on to your Blog.

3. Never use real names first, middle or last when posting on any internet forum. especially if you are talking about another person.

4. Do not use screen names that could be interupted as "using" a real persons names other than yourself). It is bad business and can end up in "Major Litigation". if an IP address or location can be linked to a particular person and defamatory comments are made about another, you have BIG TROUBLE. Courts have no tolerance for Internet abuse and Slander.

5. Sometimes internet misuse and libel can be Criminally charged. Depending on the seriouness and the state in which you live.

Hope this helps
tess.

 

[nursetj]

Thanks again tessa!! I am sure my kids know more about the internet than I do, but even they don't know everything!! In fact, it was one of my daughter's friends (I am sure everyone always says "it wsa someone else"!!, but it really was) who posted a blog about another girl at school. She was also under the misconception that it was "her blog" and no one could get her into trouble over it. I am also sure she is not the only kid who does this and they just do not understand. Thanks again for your help!! I'll pass this on to my daughter and her friends to be more careful!!

 

[The Occultist]

As you for your occultist, your answer was most demeaning in saying that I "posted my crap" online for everyone to read. You don't have to be so nasty in the way you post your answers. The reason people ask questions on here is becuase they don't know the answer to something and they don't want to be talked down to just to get it!! Thanks for nothing!!

I only used the word "crap" to get a point across. Besides, if you're afraid of what you're posting being held against you, then it probably does equate to crap. Sorry to destroy your world.

 

[nursetj]

Oh sweetie you didn't destroy my world, but you must be living in your own little one!!!!! You obviously didn't even read very closely what I had written anyway, you must LIVE to talk down to people on here. I bet that makes you feel good. As for the "crap" that was posted (again, you didn't bother to read my entire post) I said it was being done by some kids and they needed to understand that they might get in trouble for it and that was the only reason I was asking. But again, thanks for nothing from you but sarcasm. Now go back to your own little world alone!!

 

[Mister Darcy]

Oh sweetie you didn't destroy my world, but you must be living in your own little one!!!!! You obviously didn't even read very closely what I had written anyway, you must LIVE to talk down to people on here. I bet that makes you feel good. As for the "crap" that was posted (again, you didn't bother to read my entire post) I said it was being done by some kids and they needed to understand that they might get in trouble for it and that was the only reason I was asking. But again, thanks for nothing from you but sarcasm. Now go back to your own little world alone!!

Just one thing, though. Tessa's advice, from a legal standpoint, was totally wrong.

 

[nursetj]

So now I am really confused. What is legally right then?? I have also seen things posted on other pages here that say if what you posted was "opinion" that it could not be held against you. What is your take on all this??

 

[The Occultist]

It has to truly be an opinion, like "I think he's rude" or "I just plain don't like him" in order for it to be acceptable. But be wary of what an opinion actually constitutes. You can't say "I think he touches children" and claim it's an opinion because you threw the word "think" in there, for you can still be held in a defamation suit. If you do post facts, make sure they are completely accurate, or else you will be held for libel. Even then, however, you might still get charged for defamation.