Mini-Muse Monday-Words Carved in Stone

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As some of you may have seen on Facebook last week, I mentioned an incident where someone had libeled and defamed another person with a grossly false post. I’ve since removed my post about the matter, not because I was concerned the contents were in appropriate, but I felt leaving my post up was unfair to viewers and commenters since I couldn’t explain the situation due to pending legal proceedings. Many viewers had expressed concern and worry, and I didn’t want them fretting.

Nonetheless, I’ve done a lot of thinking over the past week about the purpose of social media.

For me, it’s been a venue to build relationships, become acquainted with new people, gain exposure, both for my books and as an author, stay updated on current events, and to learn about readers and authors.

I’ve seen a few justifiable rants (have had my own on occasion) and I’ve also hidden posts because they either offended me, or I wasn’t interested in their content. I’ve even unfriended a few people (several recently over this incident) because by maintaining a friendship with them, it would have reflected poorly on me, and above all else, I want to be a person of integrity. I’ve also seen posts that outraged me at an injustice, and I believe that’s what propelled thousands to share the false post I’ve referred to above.

People want justice and accountability, and when we think someone has been an idiot or deserves consequences for being ignorant, dangerous, or breaking the law, we jump on board to make sure they get their just desserts. Unfortunately, just because something has been posted on Facebook, doesn’t mean it’s factual, especially when the posting party is bent on revenge. 

Without going into details about the situation I referred to in my first paragraph, I think it’s important to realize that before we put anything on social media, we need to remember what we say is essentially carved in stone. The poster wanted to incite outrage and hatred and has succeeded to the point that the falsely accused person’s family doesn’t feel safe, either to stay at home or go into their community.

I’ll admit to being shocked at how readily people assumed the post was factual and responded with so much malice. The defamatory post has been edited and some of the intolerable comments and threats have been removed, but more are added daily, most recently the address of the person libeled and additional false reports and accusations directed at them. 

Why? Just because they can? They think the are protected under Free Speech.

Freedom of speech does not apply in cases of libel, defamation, or slander even on social media. If you knowingly publish, by posting, sharing, or commenting  a lie, be prepared to defend yourself in court.  

I believe the intent in this case is to ruin a person’s reputation and good standing, cause irreparable harm, and instill fear. I’m not sure which is worse; the malicious lies and false accusations of a person bent on destroying someone, or the ignorant respondents without enough education or common sense who eagerly believe and spread the gossip before attempting any verification. It rather reminds me of a mob mentality.

Every single one of the vicious threats that have been deleted can be retrieved, as can every version of the original libelous post. 

However, the post has been shared many, many times (thousands) and the audience that has been reached is immense. Therefore, a great deal of damage has been done. Even if a rebuttal is published, there is absolutely no way every person who views the libelous posts will see the refutation, and therein lies a great deal of the issue. Once “out there” rumors, gossip, false accusations, defamation, libel, and slander can never be retrieved. 

The damages are permanent.

Facebook has been asked by multiple people (not me) to remove the post but they refuse, saying the poster needs to be asked to take the post down. Perhaps their stance will change when an attorney contacts them. 

I’ve always been extremely cautious about what I post and comment on across all social media venues, even when I feel strongly about a subject, especially when it’s an individual’s post and not a reliable source that can be verified. 

Have you ever shared a post or commented on one because the contents touched you deeply, angered you, or you felt justice needed to be done? Did you have any way of knowing if the original post was absolutely factual? Does that make a difference? 

Would you still comment if you knew afterward that the information you responded to was false, and you could never retrieve what you said, perhaps resulting in legal ramifications for you?