There is a really interesting post over on ProBlogger about people who use the commenting facility on blogs to slander. Darren has aked people to contribute their thoughts on what they think on the subject and it raises various legal points but interestingly some people think that it's silly for people to sue based on what has been put in comments.
I think that it's really dependent on the subject matter because suing is costly and time sapping so no-one should become sue-happy over their comments. But if a comment defames the author of the blog or people who have contributed into the comments box, to the point where what has been written could be perceived as something that could damage reputation or cause serious emotional upset, I say go for it, particularly when the offender continues to do it and doesn't take the hint.
Some people (mostly the offenders) seem to think that blogging is exempt from the normal rules of behavior and it really isn't. Yes it's supposed to be fun and community building, but there are people out there that do not know how to draw the line (blog trolls) and everyone has the right to be protected from people who have nothing better to do with their time but harrass and defame.
Monday, September 04, 2006
Friday, September 01, 2006
The Stop Blog Trolls Campaign Terms of Use
These terms have been written with a view to laying out clear guidelines regarding unacceptable behaviour from blog trolls/stalkers/cyberstalkers. Please support the Stop Blog Trolls Campaign by linking to this page or linking to it with the button in the sidebar. See details at the bottom of this post. This is a first draft and input and feedback would be hugely appreciated to ensure that as many aspects of blog trolling are covered to protect bloggers.
As a Supporter of the Stop Blog Trolls campaign, it means that there are certain actions that are unacceptable when you visit my blog. If you are a visitor to my blog, please read these terms before you decide to write something that may not be deemed acceptable. Remember: If you don't like my blog, you can just click 'Next Blog'.
As a Supporter of the Stop Blog Trolls campaign, it means that there are certain actions that are unacceptable when you visit my blog. If you are a visitor to my blog, please read these terms before you decide to write something that may not be deemed acceptable. Remember: If you don't like my blog, you can just click 'Next Blog'.
- Bloggers have a right to be able to maintain their blog with their content without being subject to harrassment from people who like to flame via comments and email.
- Under no circumstances must you post comments that can be perceived to be of a harassing, libelous, defamatory, racist or hateful nature.
- Do not write posts on your own blog of a harrassing, libelous, defamatory, racist or hateful nature regarding my blog or me.
- If you're advised to stop commenting on this blog, cease and desist immediately. Do not continue to comment.
- If you're advised to stop commenting, do not revert to contacting me by email.
- I have the right to anonymity. If I use a nickname and for some reason you manage to discover personal information about me, do not post this information under any circumstances.
- Do not misuse the commenting facility by posting under various guises to harass, libel, or defame.
- Do not post material from my blog such as photos or text with a view to using it as part of content on your own blog or another blog you may have set up with the specific purpose of posting content that is of a harassing, libelous, defamatory, racist or hateful nature.
- Remember that content on my blog is subject to copyright. Do not infringe copyright in order to troll.
- Do not intentionally make false or misleading statements about me in my comments or on your blog, or a blog that has been set up to harass me, or on other peoples blogs.
- Do not under any circumstances set up a blog about me to heighten your blog trolling campaign. This is libel and can be pursued under a civil action.
- I reserve the right to remove comments that violate the terms of use.
- Your IP address, comments, blog address and email address and any other communications from you may be listed as belonging to an offender on www.stopblogtrolls.blogspot.com.
- If you contact me by email, please note that this is a criminal act under the Malicious Communications Act 1988 in England and Wales and varying state laws in America. For all countries, please check your local laws.
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
What is a Blog Troll?
According to urbandictionary, it's "A depraved individual who sits in front of a computer all day and posts flames of an idiotic or pseudo-intellectual nature on public forums and private websites. Many of these people actually become emotional about what is said on the afore-said mediums and feel it is their duty to punish those who disagree with them. They too may pursue this object in an obsessive-compulsive manner."
Often a blog troll is not content with spamming your comments box with their ramblings - They then turn to emailing when their comments get deleted and in some extreme cases create libellous blogs about the blogger that they are fixated on. These people are nuisances that are either extremely stupid to not recognise how extreme their behavior is or edging towards psychotic tendencies. They clearly have no life because if they did, they wouldn't be behaving in this manner.
Think you're the victim of a blog troll? Please email us!
Incidences of people being 'stalked' or 'trolled' by people that they have come into contact with as a result of their blogs are becoming more and more frequent.
Stop Blog Trolls has been set up due to a demand for people to know what or should I say 'who' is out there and because it's safety in numbers. Bloggers are not protected by Google who owns blogger for instance, and they aren't protected by the ISP's of the blog trolls, because, well they just don't care. It's a nightmare to deal with through the police because often an offender can be outside of their jurisdiction or are just plain elusive.
Bloggers have the right to blog without living in fear of a deluded blog trolls ramblings and threats. What Blog Trolls don't seem to recognise is that they are bullying and harrassing. Stop Blog Trolls wants to put together a code of conduct for people to put on their blogs, but will also offer the ability for bloggers to name and shame.
Knowledge is power and whilst we seem to be able to find out information on just about anything and everything, the beauty of being a blog troll is that the internet is so vast that you can troll to your hearts content and then when you've exhausted one victim, move on and start afresh without anyone knowing about your trolling past.
The very act of trolling or stalking via the net means that there is a trail of information that is being left behind by the offenders. This blog seeks to build up evidence of troll activity. It's not about speculating - the evidence speaks for itself.
We are keen to hear of any incidences and you're able to remain anonymous. Be sure to keep your evidence and not only will the blog trolls have to start feeling nervous about being outted, but ISP's and authorities are going to have to start paying attention.
The key thing is that if you are a victim of a blog troll, you are not alone. Please email if you have any questions or would like to inform us about a blog troll.
Often a blog troll is not content with spamming your comments box with their ramblings - They then turn to emailing when their comments get deleted and in some extreme cases create libellous blogs about the blogger that they are fixated on. These people are nuisances that are either extremely stupid to not recognise how extreme their behavior is or edging towards psychotic tendencies. They clearly have no life because if they did, they wouldn't be behaving in this manner.
Think you're the victim of a blog troll? Please email us!
Incidences of people being 'stalked' or 'trolled' by people that they have come into contact with as a result of their blogs are becoming more and more frequent.
Stop Blog Trolls has been set up due to a demand for people to know what or should I say 'who' is out there and because it's safety in numbers. Bloggers are not protected by Google who owns blogger for instance, and they aren't protected by the ISP's of the blog trolls, because, well they just don't care. It's a nightmare to deal with through the police because often an offender can be outside of their jurisdiction or are just plain elusive.
Bloggers have the right to blog without living in fear of a deluded blog trolls ramblings and threats. What Blog Trolls don't seem to recognise is that they are bullying and harrassing. Stop Blog Trolls wants to put together a code of conduct for people to put on their blogs, but will also offer the ability for bloggers to name and shame.
Knowledge is power and whilst we seem to be able to find out information on just about anything and everything, the beauty of being a blog troll is that the internet is so vast that you can troll to your hearts content and then when you've exhausted one victim, move on and start afresh without anyone knowing about your trolling past.
The very act of trolling or stalking via the net means that there is a trail of information that is being left behind by the offenders. This blog seeks to build up evidence of troll activity. It's not about speculating - the evidence speaks for itself.
We are keen to hear of any incidences and you're able to remain anonymous. Be sure to keep your evidence and not only will the blog trolls have to start feeling nervous about being outted, but ISP's and authorities are going to have to start paying attention.
The key thing is that if you are a victim of a blog troll, you are not alone. Please email if you have any questions or would like to inform us about a blog troll.
Welcome To The Stop Blog Trolls Campaign
Incidences of people being 'stalked' or 'trolled' by people that they have come into contact with as a result of their blogs are becoming more and more frequent.
Stop Blog Trolls has been set up due to a demand for people to know what or should I say 'who' is out there and because it's safety in numbers. Bloggers are not protected by Google who owns blogger for instance, and they aren't protected by the ISP's of the blog trolls, because, well they just don't care. It's a nightmare to deal with through the police because often an offender can be outside of their jurisdiction or are just plain elusive.
Bloggers have the right to blog without living in fear of a deluded blog trolls ramblings and threats. What Blog Trolls don't seem to recognise is that they are bullying and harrassing. Stop Blog Trolls wants to put together a code of conduct for people to put on their blogs, but will also offer the ability for bloggers to name and shame.
Knowledge is power and whilst we seem to be able to find out information on just about anything and everything, the beauty of being a blog troll is that the internet is so vast that you can troll to your hearts content and then when you've exhausted one victim, move on and start afresh without anyone knowing about your trolling past.
The very act of trolling or stalking via the net means that there is a trail of information that is being left behind by the offenders. This blog seeks to build up evidence of troll activity. It's not about speculating - the evidence speaks for itself.
We are keen to hear of any incidences and you're able to remain anonymous. Be sure to keep your evidence and not only will the blog trolls have to start feeling nervous about being outted, but ISP's and authorities are going to have to start paying attention.
The key thing is that if you are a victim of a blog troll, you are not alone. Please email if you have any questions or would like to inform us about a blog troll.
Stop Blog Trolls has been set up due to a demand for people to know what or should I say 'who' is out there and because it's safety in numbers. Bloggers are not protected by Google who owns blogger for instance, and they aren't protected by the ISP's of the blog trolls, because, well they just don't care. It's a nightmare to deal with through the police because often an offender can be outside of their jurisdiction or are just plain elusive.
Bloggers have the right to blog without living in fear of a deluded blog trolls ramblings and threats. What Blog Trolls don't seem to recognise is that they are bullying and harrassing. Stop Blog Trolls wants to put together a code of conduct for people to put on their blogs, but will also offer the ability for bloggers to name and shame.
Knowledge is power and whilst we seem to be able to find out information on just about anything and everything, the beauty of being a blog troll is that the internet is so vast that you can troll to your hearts content and then when you've exhausted one victim, move on and start afresh without anyone knowing about your trolling past.
The very act of trolling or stalking via the net means that there is a trail of information that is being left behind by the offenders. This blog seeks to build up evidence of troll activity. It's not about speculating - the evidence speaks for itself.
We are keen to hear of any incidences and you're able to remain anonymous. Be sure to keep your evidence and not only will the blog trolls have to start feeling nervous about being outted, but ISP's and authorities are going to have to start paying attention.
The key thing is that if you are a victim of a blog troll, you are not alone. Please email if you have any questions or would like to inform us about a blog troll.
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