Libel/Slander in SL?

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In my perfect world, these defamatory posts would disappear from the forums altogether. I know, I know, dare to dream right? But consider this: if you were a person new to SL, or perhaps looking around the website to decide whether or not to join, and you saw residents attacking and flaming each other in every third forum post, would you want to subject yourself to that? Or would you move on to other virtual worlds?

It seems to me that it would make more sense for a person being accused, rather than rambling and bickering in the forums where they will find no recourse, to take the matter to LL and say "enforce this."

It would require people to look up the words, realize their meaning, and the difference between libel and slander.

At the moment they use the 'new and improved internet definition' which is 'anything I don't agree with'

slander is when it is spoken and libel is when it is written. Wonder if chat is considered speech?

As far as my experience shows the Lindens are not opressive about censoring messages. No names unless it is for nice messages. No racial, threating and other such nonsense.

This would be a good idea if LL listened to pleas of "enforce this". Historically speaking, they rarely do; indeed, they've said in multiple ways that they really aren't into the enforcement thing unless it threatens their corporate interests and player disputes don't often qualify.

I was accused of libel and slander just for wearing the inworld title "Banned by Gigas/Azure" by Gigas members and officers. My title was just a statement of fact (i.e. myself being banned from Azure Islands, fromGigas related groups and outworld IRC #secondlife chat room run by Gigas folks), but it doesn't stop others from threatening RL legal and SL TOS action. Anything you say or do can result in RL lawsuits or SL backroom shenanigans by other members.

It would definitely not be libel, as it is true, though the IRC channel is not operated by Gigas (Adam is personally an op). It is verifiable that your name is on the ban lists on land, so the truth defense would stand up.

Some of the other allegations you have made are more of a grey area.

TOS is another story - it could be consistituted as harassment for you to walk around with that title, which would violate the TOS.

It would definitely not be libel, as it is true, though the IRC channel is not operated by Gigas (Adam is personally an op). It is verifiable that your name is on the ban lists on land, so the truth defense would stand up. ...

... it could be consistituted as harassment for you to walk around with that title, which would violate the TOS....

This is true and a good point.
This bit...
I dont think so becasue this is the exact interpretation that most want LL to apply to the Bush sign guy. If he gets a pass, then any factually based statement no matter how damaging to the group named would seem to qualify for a pass as well.

All of the ops in that channel are friends or are members of the Gigas Group. Even various Lindens are or have been officers/members of the Gigas Group and have been involved with their schenanigans.

Well, my allegations are truthful. But truth is only believed by those with the most vocal friends or how much power they wield.

There is a difference between "Impeach Bush" and "Impeach Anshe" in terms of harassment. The harassment in this case is the specific "naming of names" if you will of a resident. The Impeach Bush signs do not target a particular resident or group of residents. Truth may be a defense for libel, but it is not a defense for harassment - different standards, especially when talking about LL's vague TOS on the matter. Some have tried to argue that the Bush signs are harassing them personally, but that is hard to show.

Ah well there was nothing in this thread to indicate that names were named in Hanks titler other than the Gigas group, (no mention of Anshe in particular). If this is true you have a point, but otherwise not.

There is a difference between "Impeach Bush" and "Impeach Anshe" in terms of harassment. The harassment in this case is the specific "naming of names" if you will of a resident. The Impeach Bush signs do not target a particular resident or group of residents. Truth may be a defense for libel, but it is not a defense for harassment - different standards, especially when talking about LL's vague TOS on the matter. Some have tried to argue that the Bush signs are harassing them personally, but that is hard to show.

The naming of names thing applies to groups as well as individuals. I just used Anshe as an example regarding signs. If Hank is going around with the title of a group, it would apply the same as if he were going around with an individual's name in his title (Banned by Gigas/Banned by Adam).