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

[AlexMack]

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]

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.

[Drolefille]

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?

[ColorfulCre8ion]

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]

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]

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.

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by valkyrie

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.

V -- you're definitely right. To him, it might be worth ponying up the money to fight this asshole. If it were me, I probably would just let bygones be bygones. There are always going to be assholes out there. Facing the choice of either hiring a lawyer to put this asshole in his place or buying a new plasma TV, I'm going for choice B.

That's just me.. and that's not legal advice, that's practical advice. If I can do something to avoid a lawsuit and not cost myself a dime, I'm doing it.

[lovelyivy84]

Unless this man has unlimited financial resources, what are the chances of him pursuing legal action against you really? I like the suggestion a few posts up of taking the @email part out of the message, but leaving the rest. If he didn't want his opinion out there then he shouldn't have sent you the message.

Rashid, I went to your blog and read the email.

I agree with the others -- unless he has lots of money, I doubt he'll take legal action just to hide the fact that he's an asshole. The email itself wasn't even THAT bad, and it could have been worse. Shit, I've read worse things on GC.

I say keep the name but maybe lose/edit the email address. That way, if anyone Googles his name, they'll still know that he's an asshole.

[ΑΓΔSquirrelGirl]

Originally Posted by valkyrie

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.

You gotta pick your battles. I'm one of those people inclined to never "give in". Sometimes this is called stubborn. Sometimes it's called pride. Sometimes it's called obnoxious. In this case, though, I think it's a worthy cause. People would automatically say he's got it coming to him for writing a threatening letter if the discussion were about race or religion. Personally I think sexual orientation is just as personal and just as "untouchable". Just ask yourself what this will do in your organization, because I bet it'll end up involving the other guys, and maybe even "sides". I know in a "girl fight" it's best to be the bigger man and not talk about it, so that the entire sorority doesn't get involved. But guys are different. You know your brothers...take that into consideration.

I'm not a lawyer, so I don't know what to do from that standpoint. I bet, though, even if he were really willing to waste his money, drag his own name through the mud by drawing even more attention to the letter, and possibly cause problems within the fraternity, he'd lose the battle. Of course, you don't want to spend the money to defend yourself. Maybe countersue for the cost of court fees and add a little for mental anguish?
I would edit or Photoshop out his email address and last name, but leave the letter up.

I think this letter worth posting, not to give in. If he was truly threatening in the letter, then his threats need to discontinue. And if you have exhausted all other ways of dealing with him, and this is what's left, then so be it. If he continues to make noise and draw attention to the situation I assume (and hope) that most people will not only not agree with him, but will express disdain for his behavior.

My momma always said NEVER write down something you might regret having said later...and if I was stupid enough to do so, then I would get what I deserved when someone who shouldn't see it stumbled upon it. And it's true...he shouldn't have written that.