Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Language on Mumsnet

34 replies

Guis · 25/02/2023 16:39

Do you sometimes feel Mumsnet guilty of defamation of character or libel ? The language used to slur people under discussion is quite offensive at times. If anyone ever got to know do you think at some point one day someone will sue ?

OP posts:
PalmLady · 25/02/2023 16:42

Mumsnet or individual posters?

Original poster
Guis · 25/02/2023 16:43

PalmLady · 25/02/2023 16:42

Mumsnet or individual posters?

Potentially both.

OP posts:
Hagridy · 25/02/2023 16:44

If someone says something genuinely libellous you can report it and have the post removed. Do I think people could find out who posters are, no, isn’t that the point of this site? It isn’t Facebook.

Original poster
Guis · 25/02/2023 16:58

Hagridy · 25/02/2023 16:44

If someone says something genuinely libellous you can report it and have the post removed. Do I think people could find out who posters are, no, isn’t that the point of this site? It isn’t Facebook.

I think some of the posts are so detailed it is not impossible for others to guess who is being discussed.

OP posts:
Hagridy · 25/02/2023 17:36

Who would they sue though, are you implying mumsnet could be forced to give any details they keep about posters? Even then I think all you need to register is an email address…
If you mean they could sue mumsnet then you perhaps were not around at the time of she who cannot be named.

GoodChat · 25/02/2023 18:07

Are you talking about when people are bitching about celebrities, for example?

TheObstinateHeadstrongGirl · 25/02/2023 18:08

I don’t think you understand quite how libel works.

Southwestten · 25/02/2023 18:11

If you mean they could sue mumsnet then you perhaps were not around at the time of she who cannot be named.

Who was that?

BadNomad · 25/02/2023 18:12

Do you mean the people complaining about their MILs?

If what's said isn't true, people won't recognise themselves. If what's said is true, well people can't be sued for telling the truth.

Southwestten · 25/02/2023 18:14

Do I think people could find out who posters are, no, isn’t that the point of this site? It isn’t Facebook.

The historian* *Robert Figes was exposed for writing very critical reviews on Amazon of other historians’ work so it must be possible somehow to find out posters names.

MasterBeth · 25/02/2023 18:17

Can you libel a pseudonym?

Original poster
Guis · 25/02/2023 18:19

GoodChat · 25/02/2023 18:07

Are you talking about when people are bitching about celebrities, for example?

It could be anything.
People are very explanatory about their AIBU. Many might identify people they know or suspect. Sometimes the OP might leave a computer on and someone could see the thread if so inclined.

People are not mindful or careful how they respond to an issue. People who they don't know get called all sorts. And the advice. Leave him etc.

At some point I just wondered when someone will identify and see it as a slur on their character etc.

Unlikely perhaps but because it is is possible, one day it will happen I guess.

OP posts:
ErrolTheDragon · 25/02/2023 18:23

Southwestten · 25/02/2023 18:11

If you mean they could sue mumsnet then you perhaps were not around at the time of she who cannot be named.

Who was that?

A litigious baby-training expert iirc, she really was She Who Must Not Be Named maybe 15-20 years ago.

Southwestten · 25/02/2023 18:23

So if someone wrote on here ‘Dominic Cummings/John Prescott/Ed Davey/insert famous person of your choice is a paedophile’ could Mumsnet be sued for libel?

Southwestten · 25/02/2023 18:24

Errol - ok, I don’t remember that. Did she threaten to Sue mumsnet?

MrsTerryPratchett · 25/02/2023 18:25

This thread smells a bit.

<steps away>

greenbackers · 25/02/2023 18:26

Southwestten · 25/02/2023 18:24

Errol - ok, I don’t remember that. Did she threaten to Sue mumsnet?

Yes plus individual posters.

It settled out of court and all mention of that particular litigious baby guru was banned.

OhNoNotThatAgain · 25/02/2023 18:28

Southwestten · 25/02/2023 18:23

So if someone wrote on here ‘Dominic Cummings/John Prescott/Ed Davey/insert famous person of your choice is a paedophile’ could Mumsnet be sued for libel?

The individual who posted the comment is the one who has written something libellous.

Barbie222 · 25/02/2023 18:30

MNHQ already have a policy of removing defamatory or libellous posts which refer to named individuals. They also remove posts which are personal attacks.

I don't think libel of individual posters is possible when we're all behind anonymous usernames? How would that damage someone's livelihood and standing?

Hagridy · 25/02/2023 18:30

I think if mumsnet allow such posts to stand they can also be at fault. It is a duty of all who run social media to make sure content isn’t damaging.

Southwestten · 25/02/2023 18:30

greenbackers that’s interesting - were the posters who she claimed libelled her also banned?
There used to be a poster on the Brexit thread who was constantly claiming that Boris was in the pay of Russia and I used to wonder if that was libellous (if it wasn’t true) but the posts were allowed to stand.

Southwestten · 25/02/2023 18:32

I don't think libel of individual posters is possible when we're all behind anonymous usernames? How would that damage someone's livelihood and standing?
I agree about anonymous posters but there’s plenty of criticism of public figures.

BrigitteBond · 25/02/2023 18:39

Barbie222 · 25/02/2023 18:30

MNHQ already have a policy of removing defamatory or libellous posts which refer to named individuals. They also remove posts which are personal attacks.

I don't think libel of individual posters is possible when we're all behind anonymous usernames? How would that damage someone's livelihood and standing?

If someone made a living through an online identity or business that was easily linked to their MN account then you could certainly damage their livelihood.

But wasn't there a case anyway where an anonymous poster 'of good standing' on a platform sued for libel against their username?

I only half-remember the case.

GoodChat · 25/02/2023 18:56

But isn't it only libel if it's untrue @Guis?

Bideshi · 25/02/2023 19:03

Southwestten · 25/02/2023 18:14

Do I think people could find out who posters are, no, isn’t that the point of this site? It isn’t Facebook.

The historian* *Robert Figes was exposed for writing very critical reviews on Amazon of other historians’ work so it must be possible somehow to find out posters names.

Orlando Figes. Pity because he's a very good historian and he understands and writes on Russia which is important in itself. (totally misses point of thread).