Why Does Online Defamation Hurt?

[investigator]

Basically, online defamation involves writing a post that involves someone's full name, and writing lies about that person using their full name.

I've also learned that it is considered a crime in some areas, and the victim can actually sue.

Out of curiosity, why was it made a crime? What makes it so serious that someone can legally sue for it?

I've known someone who was a victim of this, and he was so troubled by it that he apparently lost weight, lost sleep, and lost his appetite. He even had to go see a doctor. The lies made about him were stuff like being a child molester or a pedophile or something like that. It's weird because it didn't physically hurt him at all. Sometimes I feel as though he simply overreacted, but then I also feel that I'm just being ignorant.

Why is online defamation so emotionally damaging? Why couldn't he just ignore it?

[Mamyalynne]

Abuse in that way can be very bit as damaging to a person's life as being attacked in the street can.

If the allegations were asnasty as you say it could affect everything in that person's life, from family to employment and more.

I agree that it's best to ignore small stuff like, your'e a fat so and so or you stink but accusations such as you outline are vile.

[Jackdaw33]

Because others might believe it to the detriment of the person libelled. Nothing to do with whether on-line or not; it is a slanderous statement in permanent form which makes it libel. Nothing new about libel at all, although if you want to sue you need money as legal aid is not available.

[pixie374]

You sound just like someone else who posted here. Libel is illegal- it affects relationships, jobs, career prospects etc. Why should anyone ignore lies?

[Ringlet]

You say that you sometimes feels you are just being ignorant.
I think this is the heart of the matter.
You appear to lack insight into the emotions of others, and have no idea of the effect on people of emotional trauma.
Indeed, you appear not to recognise what causes emotional trauma.
I have no suggestion as to how you could begin to recognise, or empathose with, emotional trauma. People who lack empathy for others are notoriously difficult to change.
I think the best you can hope for is that you recognise that people are hurt, and even though you don't understand that hurt, you can avoid adding to it by trivialising or minimising it.

[Canary42]

Forget emotional trauma for the moment, although the responses so far are totally valid - but consider the vigilante gangs burning his house down - it has happened to real (and mistaken) pedos.

[investigator]

In this context, anyone who sees them know it's false. Plus, one thing I've heard is that HR is not stupid, so they know when someone's been defamed. That's why I don't think it's a big deal, because HR knows that defamation happens all the time. Right?

[Mamyalynne]

You seem very eager to play this down, is there a reason for that?

[jackthehat]

Why have you changed your name albertbucky?

You have received numerous responses about this, I suggest you go back and read them.

[pastafreak]

Glad I'm not the only one experiencing deja vu.
This is getting repetitive.

[cashier]

You try getting a job if someone has put your full details on line then added that you are a paedophile and child molester. See how it feels for yourself. You are constantly seeking approbation for the vile things you did and don't seem to grasp the fact you are not going to get it.

[investigator]

He took and spread pictures of me around, and I have trouble forgiving him for those actions. One such photo ended up causing a girl I like, as well as her friends, to block me.

[calmck]

Definate name change from albertbucky otherwise too much of a coincidence

[Mamyalynne]

Read what we have said already.

https://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/members/albertbucky/

[investigator]

I told a friend of mine about the whole situation, and he told me that I was "bullied severely" by that kid. You don't agree with that?