to draw your attention to MN'ers being threatened with court for posting

[gordyslovesheep]

By Samaritan's Purse

I know I'm not the only one

who else have they decided to silence?

It's quite interesting that they dislike criticism so much

[PetulaGordino]

i expect MNHQ are doing what they can to avoid legal action. i doubt they have the resources for a protracted legal battle. any criticisms should be of SP IMO

[Rainbunny]

Suffolk - Thanks, I didn't realise. That's even more strange, did MNHQ just forward the email with no added explanation/advice etc...?

[CalamitouslyWrong]

Clearly tbeir head of communications hasn't properly thought through quite what bad publicity taking people to court for posting about stuff that's all over the Internet on a message board. How to look like a bunch of total bastards in one quick step.

Anyone who feels the need to do a shoebox would be much better to donate to one of the organisations that are simply doing it for charitable reasons.

[Rusticated]

What are MNHQ saying, other than passing on the threats?

The SP website is mind-boggling. How monumentally insensitive would you need to be to use the word 'crusades' prominently on your blurb about Franklin Graham?

[DownByTheRiverside]

Wasn't that why Franklin Graham had to choose between salaries, from Billy Graham's lot or SP?
He really didn't want to, but dammit people kept quoting that bible verse at him and there was no wiggle room.

[Sabrinnnnnnnna]

When stuff has come up like this before, HQ normally just delete the comment, and that's an end to it. I've never heard of them forwarding an email like this to a poster before

[Moghedien]

Can you imagine the court coverage, woman shares quote from news article with other women shocker! (and I am just imagining - this is of course a fictitious 'what if' parody and does in no way reflect real events that have or may have occurred)

50 year sentence for sourcing arguments with credible news source.

Leader of religious charity thrilled with outcome. 'They're worse than Satan!'

[Idontseeanysontarans]

There is an upside to this...
If Mog is tweeting it all and the journo lurkers are doing their jobs properly this will be picked up by the media soon enough, might lead to some interesting investigations of SP by a intrepid journalist?
It will also lead to a few less members of MN mind, I know if HQ are just going to sit back and let members be bullied I'm off for one!

[Rusticated]

I appreciate MNHQ are in a difficult position, but surely SP, no matter how bone-headed its senior personnel, realises it's creating the seeds of a huge media shit storm that is in no possible sense going to grow their coffers or make them look anything other than threatening, litigation-happy god botherers?

[gordyslovesheep]

HQ don't have a choice - it's not their fault

People may want to check their junk folders for emails though

[LiverpoolLou]

I wonder what jurisdiction applies. I'm not in the UK and where I am the constitution allows me to say whatever I like on the internet even if it's total bollocks.

[RowanMumsnet]

Hello

We ask for posters' contact details in these circumstances because the law (the 2013 Defamation Act) requires us to

We do NOT pass on these details to the complaining party unless you give us permission to do so

And there is certainly no question of us 'publishing' them anywhere.

We're sorry if the mails we sent were at all unclear on that point - we had thought we had included something saying that we would NOT pass on your details without your permission, but we will check.

[bobbywash]

Also they don't have to show a specified loss, they just have to show damage to reputation, in the eyes of the public.

I would do an internet search on quotes from them or attributed to them that support your assertion, if after all that you can show what you stated is a reasonably held belief then that would be a defence

[Bambambini]

I better check my emails as I've spoken to the lovely man in the past!

[CalamitouslyWrong]

it is an excellent illustration of why the libel laws in this country are utterly stupid.

I'm sure I'm not alone in hoping this end with the samaritan's purse being torn to shreds in the press, based entirely on the facts about their organisation.

[Rusticated]

Rowan, but are you saying that posts will be deleted if a poster like Gordy or Suffolk doesn't give permission for you to forward their details to SP?

[PacificDogwood]

gordy, I'm just posting in support of your original opinion and hope this all blows over.

SP - defensive, much??

[bobbywash]

LiverpoolLou The law of England and wales would apply here as that would be where it would be deemed to be published.

[VenusRising]

I think MN are being a bit two faced about this actually.

First of all they publish books with our content, which they claim copyright over, and then they disown you whenever someone complains.

Either you own the copyright, and don't pay us royalties for publishing our words MN, or you don't, and let people who deny us free speech, sue us individually.

If its the latter, you should pay royalties for our work!

[Rainbunny]

Well I certainly don't blame you for not passing along your personal information OP, I know I wouldn't.

Ironically I had never heard of this group before (I live in the States - even stranger perhaps since they're an American group). Just goes to show how depending upon where in the States you live, it's almost like living in different countries with totally different cultures and attitudes.