Legal Advice: Posting Hate Mail (sent to me) on a Public Website

Senusret I · #1 01-26-2007, 09:40 AM

For those of you who are lawyers and law students, I know there are ethical issues involving how and when you can provide advice, so I understand if you can't give me "official legal advice" but I would appreciate some guidance.

A member of my fraternity sent me a piece of hate mail. Clearly unwanted. Not as strongly worded as it could have been, but definitely an unwanted piece of mail that was meant to criticize my work, belittle my sexual orientation, and question my membership in the fraternity.

I posted the email, along with his name and email address in my blog.

He is now threatening legal action.

What is your opinion on the legality of posting hate mail on a public website?

ColorfulCre8ion · #2 01-26-2007, 10:25 AM

That's ashame! If he sent you hate mail then I think it is up to you to do whatever you want with it. I know a guy who runs a website named Maddox and he always posts his hate mail up on his website. I think because if people sent it to him and its his personal website then its cool. Same way when people send fan mail. Anyway, I am not a lawyer but i thinks its wrong for what you are going through. Stay up bruh!

33girl · #3 01-26-2007, 10:53 AM

Is he objecting more to his name and email being there, or because you put the letter up and he thinks it should be private?

Either way, if he didn't want you to have that info, he shouldn't volunteer it. I sent an email to a conservative paper that I didn't think they would publish at ALL, but they did. You can now find it if you google me. I can't complain that my name's affiliated with this - I sent the email to them, with my name and email address as they required.

Senusret I · #4 01-26-2007, 11:00 AM

His complaint is that his name and email address are on my site.

I agree with your rationale.

The sad thing is that other than his homophobia, he has a lot going for him.

(I'm hotter, though.)

Colorful: Thanks for the support.

AlexMack · #5 01-26-2007, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ColorfulCre8ion

That's ashame! If he sent you hate mail then I think it is up to you to do whatever you want with it. I know a guy who runs a website named Maddox and he always posts his hate mail up on his website. I think because if people sent it to him and its his personal website then its cool. Same way when people send fan mail. Anyway, I am not a lawyer but i thinks its wrong for what you are going through. Stay up bruh!

I'm pretty sure you don't actually know Maddox...

Anyway, once he sent that email to you, it became your property to do what you want with it. Perhaps he will think twice before sending such inflammatory, hateful letters in the future.
Besides, the lawsuit would be a civil case and I truly wonder whether he has the money or time to go through all that to get you to take down an email.

KSig RC · #6 01-26-2007, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by centaur532

Anyway, once he sent that email to you, it became your property to do what you want with it.

I'm pretty sure this isn't the legal standard.

Regardless of whether something is your property, you're not given completely free reign to do with it what you will.

I would consider checking on the applicable defamation and right-to-privacy laws governing your area - past that, I'm not sure what 'legal action' he would be entitled to, but obviously IANAL.

DSTCHAOS · #7 01-26-2007, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Senusret I

A member of my fraternity sent me a piece of hate mail. Clearly unwanted. Not as strongly worded as it could have been, but definitely an unwanted piece of mail that was meant to criticize my work, belittle my sexual orientation, and question my membership in the fraternity.

When will folks get over you? Good grief. Folks are welcome to disagree or hate you if they have that much time on their hands--but they need to leave you the hell alone.

I'm sure he does have a lot going for him other than his homophobia--that's all the more reason for him to get over you. LOL @ you being hotter.

Drolefille · #8 01-26-2007, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KSig RC

I'm pretty sure this isn't the legal standard.

Regardless of whether something is your property, you're not given completely free reign to do with it what you will.

I would consider checking on the applicable defamation and right-to-privacy laws governing your area - past that, I'm not sure what 'legal action' he would be entitled to, but obviously IANAL.

I wouldn't think it would fall under defamation unless the guy claims he didn't send it. Right to Privacy is iffy when you send something to someone else...

IA(also)NAL though... where are they anyway, studying or working or something?

DSTCHAOS · #9 01-26-2007, 12:10 PM

I actually suggest taking his name and email out despite the legality of it all. My friend who knows "internet law stuff" is unavailable right now. So I'd say above the legality of it all, make your life easier by removing identifiers.

Are you trying to embarass him or teach him a lesson? Are you trying to get him to receive hate mail (and congratulatory mail from folks who agree with him)?

Figure out what your motives are and go from there. You can highlight ignorance without identifying the ignorant.

MysticCat · #10 01-26-2007, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DSTCHAOS

I actually suggest taking his name and email out despite the legality of it all. My friend who knows "internet law stuff" is unavailable right now. So I'd say above the legality of it all, make your life easier by removing identifiers.

Bearing in mind that this is outside my area and this is not intended as legal advice [disclaimer, disclaimer, disclaimer], I would agree, if nothing else than for the sake of making your life easier.

I'd maybe leave his first name in there, but leave it at that.

BTW, what's the link for your blog, Senusret?

adpiucf · #11 01-26-2007, 12:20 PM

I would threaten a counter-suit-- he initiated the harrassment. Get the local GLBT lobbying group involved to send him a letter.

ColorfulCre8ion · #12 01-26-2007, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by centaur532

I'm pretty sure you don't actually know Maddox...
.

LOL...Um actually I do.

And by know him I mean I've met him and had a conversation with him and I continue to converse with him. In my opinion that states as knowing someone. (don't assume)

Kevin · #13 01-26-2007, 01:01 PM

Is it really that big a deal? You've made your point. It's going to be cheaper at this point to just be the bigger man and take down the guy's private information than it is to leave it up.

It's probably not worth defending yourself from legal action about (even if that action is frivolous and ultimately unsuccessful).

valkyrie · #14 01-26-2007, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevin

Is it really that big a deal? You've made your point. It's going to be cheaper at this point to just be the bigger man and take down the guy's private information than it is to leave it up.

It's probably not worth defending yourself from legal action about (even if that action is frivolous and ultimately unsuccessful).

I disagree with this -- by taking down the letter, he's giving in to some asshole's threatening behavior. Sometimes, it's worth it to fight the good fight and not let the assholes control you.

AlphaFrog · #15 01-26-2007, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sock Puppet2

I'm pretty sure that you are a trifling person.