# Defamation etc. **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [January 21, 2016, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defamation-etc/743754 "2016-01-21T03:33:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2016, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defamation-etc/743754/21 "2016-01-21T05:24:49Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > The pic is recognizable. That’s not quit the same thing as the person in the pic being recognizable. Nobody looked at that picture and immediately went, “Hey, that’s Stephanie Smith!” One person vaguely thought they’d seen it before, but couldn’t connect a name to it. Another person was able to find the original picture using image search software. That’s a pretty far cry from someone running into the woman on the street, or in a professional setting, and assuming they’re a prostitute because they saw that thread on the SDMB. So then what “she” did is allowed within the rules? ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2016, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defamation-etc/743754/22 "2016-01-21T05:31:46Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > The pic is recognizable. That’s not quit the same thing as the person in the pic being recognizable. Nobody looked at that picture and immediately went, “Hey, that’s Stephanie Smith!” One person vaguely thought they’d seen it before, but couldn’t connect a name to it. Another person was able to find the original picture using image search software. That’s a pretty far cry from someone running into the woman on the street, or in a professional setting, and assuming they’re a prostitute because they saw that thread on the SDMB. Try looking at it from the other direction: someone, perhaps a fan or competitor, sees the pic on the bodybuilder’s website, and then comes across the prostitute posts, either accidentally by directly reading the SDMB or by googling the image. Shazam – defamation etc. made possible through the SDMB. The question now is whether or not such defamation should be prohibited, supported, or ignored. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2016, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defamation-etc/743754/23 "2016-01-21T05:33:54Z")
> [@Muffin](#): > > Try looking at it from the other direction: someone, perhaps a fan or competitor, sees the pic on the bodybuilder’s website, and then comes across the prostitute posts, either accidentally by directly reading the SDMB or accidentally indirectly by googling the bodybuilder’s name and selecting images. Shazam – defamation etc. made possible through the SDMB. The question now is whether or not such defamation should be prohibited, supported, or ignored. Whether or not it is defamation, I am curious if the behavior is allowed. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2016, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defamation-etc/743754/24 "2016-01-21T05:44:19Z")
> [@Muffin](#): > > Try looking at it from the other direction: someone, perhaps a fan or competitor, sees the pic on the bodybuilder’s website, and then comes across the prostitute posts, either accidentally by directly reading the SDMB or by googling the image. Shazam – defamation etc. made possible through the SDMB. The question now is whether or not such defamation should be prohibited, supported, or ignored. And you think that person is going to assume, “Hey, turns out she’s a prostitute!” and not, “Looks like someone grabbed one of her public photos off of Google”? ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2016, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defamation-etc/743754/25 "2016-01-21T05:54:27Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > And you think that person is going to assume, “Hey, turns out she’s a prostitute!” and not, “Looks like someone grabbed one of her public photos off of Google”? Some will, and some will not. Do I really need to point out examples to you of people jumping to the wrong conclusion, finding scandals where none exist? ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2016, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defamation-etc/743754/26 "2016-01-21T05:58:03Z")
Dammit. I always miss the good threads, insomuch as the pics are already removed or the links were broken. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2016, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defamation-etc/743754/27 "2016-01-21T05:59:18Z")
I really would like an answer to my question about the rules here in the forum for asking questions about the rules. Was **kinkyescort** in violation of any SDMB rules in that thread? Can anyone else do what she did with regards to someone else’s picture? ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2016, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defamation-etc/743754/28 "2016-01-21T06:01:20Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > Dammit. I always miss the good threads, insomuch as the pics are already removed or the links were broken. #232 ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2016, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defamation-etc/743754/29 "2016-01-21T06:03:03Z")
> [@Muffin](#): > > Some will, and some will not. Do I really need to point out examples to you of people jumping to the wrong conclusion, finding scandals where none exist? To what extent should the moderation of this board cater to the misapprehensions of imbeciles? ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2016, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defamation-etc/743754/30 "2016-01-21T06:06:12Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > To what extent should the moderation of this board cater to the misapprehensions of imbeciles? To the extent of protecting innocents by prohibiting the fraudulent and defamatory impersonation of an innocent outside of parody or satire. Now how about a straight answer to Haj’s very clear question: > [@hajario](#): > > Was **kinkyescort** in violation of any SDMB rules in that thread? Can anyone else do what she did with regards to someone else’s picture? ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2016, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defamation-etc/743754/31 "2016-01-21T06:06:24Z")
> [@Muffin](#): > > #232 Thanks. I just hadn’t read far enough. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2016, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defamation-etc/743754/32 "2016-01-21T06:06:30Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > To what extent should the moderation of this board cater to the misapprehensions of imbeciles? Not at all in my opinion. But we do have a couple of other rules that catered to such when they were created. So it’s a reasonable question to wonder what is the rule in this case. Why is my question being ignored? ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2016, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defamation-etc/743754/33 "2016-01-21T06:10:57Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > I really would like an answer to my question about the rules here in the forum for asking questions about the rules. I’d really like a BLT where the bacon is really crunchy, and the lettuce nice and crisp. Unfortunately, like your answer, one isn’t available right now. We’re discussing it in the mod loop. When we reach a consensus, we’ll let you know. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2016, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defamation-etc/743754/34 "2016-01-21T06:11:25Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > Why is my question being ignored? Because you have not produced photo ID. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2016, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defamation-etc/743754/35 "2016-01-21T06:12:31Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > I’d really like a BLT where the bacon is really crunchy, and the lettuce nice and crisp. Unfortunately, like your answer, one isn’t available right now. We’re discussing it in the mod loop. When we reach a consensus, we’ll let you know. Fair enough. Thanks. If you’re ever in Santa Barbara, the BLT is on me. ---
**Author:** ![spinky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@spinky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spinky)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2016, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defamation-etc/743754/36 "2016-01-21T06:21:25Z")
I would appreciate a ruling as to whether it is better to call [name removed] a prostitute than it is to call [name removed] an asshole and a hack. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2016, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defamation-etc/743754/37 "2016-01-21T06:21:36Z")
> [@Muffin](#): > > To the extent of protecting innocents by prohibiting the fraudulent and defamatory impersonation of an innocent outside of parody or satire. Well, then I guess we’re good here, because there’s zero chance of any sort of harm befalling whatsherface because someone on the internet stole a picture of her torso. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2016, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defamation-etc/743754/38 "2016-01-21T06:29:50Z")
I wonder how the rules would be applied if one were to insist that one’s self was a male prostitute, go into the Santorish details, and then link to a pic of Ed with his eyes and forehead covered while asserting that the pic is of oneself? Methinks that the reluctance to declare that kinkyescort’s behaviour is not acceptable is based on the probability of real world consequences being de minimus, and that such reluctance would change if the defamed person was closer to home. I do not think that is a sound basis for a decision on this issue. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2016, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defamation-etc/743754/39 "2016-01-21T06:33:05Z")
> [@Muffin](#): > > What a nonsensical allegation for you to make. Try for some grounding in rationality next time please. Quite the contrary. You appear to be far too invested in persuading the mods to accept your rational and logic. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2016, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defamation-etc/743754/40 "2016-01-21T06:45:12Z")
A PM arrived just now following the thread closure: [QUOTE=Kinkyescort] But let me make it very clear. If you continue to post links to my private profile, private information or pictures, i will have to escalate this matter. It is all fun and games until my private information is exposed. I took my picture down when i realized it can link to my private life, you brought it up in a very violent way. Not sure what you are getting from it [/QUOTE] Mods, are there any rules about threatening litigation? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defamation-etc/743754.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defamation-etc/743754.md?page=3)