this post was submitted on 06 Apr 2024
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108
Man sues 27 women in an 'Are We Dating the Same Guy' Facebook group (web.archive.org)
submitted 7 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
20 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

Nick Canon, is that you?

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[–] [email protected] 25 points 7 months ago (3 children)

"says the women who use these groups aren't doing anything wrong as long as what they're sharing is their opinion or the truth" what possibly could go wrong with that?

I understand the sentiment, creating a space where women could feel more safe when meeting with complete strangers by asking other woman. But this has so much potential for abuse that I cannot really see how it could have a positive impact. A crazy ex can already ruin the social life of a person by spreading lies to your inner circle (people of all genders are perfectly capable of this), but if this kind of things gain traction, they would be capable to remotely ruin any new attempt of creating a new life far away.

[–] [email protected] 30 points 7 months ago (3 children)

Lies would qualify as defamatory. But most guys talked about in groups like this are not added on a whim. And to have that many women mentioning him, there isn't much chance of all 27 lying. Hell, the fact that there even is 27 women that dated him that found the page... says alot.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 7 months ago (2 children)

Why? Just because a lot of people are saying bad stuff about you, doesn't mean it is true. Seeing how they mentioned verifiable things, like "he has an STD", they could easily be proven in court. The lawsuit exists because he didn't know those women, who were defaming him, to a group of 100k women. 27 out of 100k randos lying, especially moderators of the group? That doesn't seem unlikely, especially if you try to get a post "moving" so there isn't empty space for people who are asking about a dude.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 7 months ago (1 children)

The lawsuit exists because he didn't know those women, who were defaming him, to a group of 100k women.

Where did you see that?

[–] [email protected] -4 points 7 months ago (1 children)

It's in the article. The Facebook group was nationwide, not just local people.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 7 months ago

The article says the facebook group was local. It also says there is a nationwide network of similar groups. It doesn't say he didn't know the women and there is no evidence either way of who is lying. Given that facebook was made for men to judge and talk about women online i think it's high time it went the other way too.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Just because a lot of people are saying bad stuff about you, doesn't mean it is true.

It actually does. 27 people, chances are almost zero they are all randomly lying without any clear motive.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

Guy seems questionable, but I dunno man, Internet's weird. Snape Wives was a thing.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 7 months ago

Oh absolutely. The article is very vague, but his behaviour seems quite fishy, based on the little information we have...

[–] [email protected] 2 points 7 months ago

But most guys talked about in groups like this are not added on a whim

Most women are probably not posting on a whim, but there are certainly people out there who thrive on drama and enjoy lying about people just to get a thrill out of it.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 7 months ago (1 children)

This makes question though, where is the line between private conversation and public defamation?

We probably all agree talking smack between friends is ok, and defaming someone on xitter is not. The hard bit for me is where is the line between the two?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 7 months ago (1 children)

I believe the line is drawn based on intent. Talking behind a person's back to vent out some frustration is not considering defamation. Spreading lies with the intent of ruining the reputation (both on social media or in person), or in general causing harm is defamation.

But I am in no way qualified to give that answer, so I hope someone more knowledgeable could correct me.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 7 months ago (3 children)

It seems this instance was neither one of those, it was to inform others of their experiences with the person. What do you think this falls under? If I can say true but defaming things about a restaurant, can I also about a person? It’s a tough grey area.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 7 months ago

If it's true it isn't defamation. It isn't defamation if you reasonably believe it to be true, I'm fact (at least here in the UK).

[–] [email protected] 2 points 7 months ago

The question would probably come down to "valid criticism" vs "harassment". 1A does get into some thorny issues about when protected free speech crosses a line. I would expect that something that is objectively true (i.e. factual) would have more leeway than a subjective opinion.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 7 months ago (1 children)

The actual lawsuit puts up an example of a woman who posted an article about a sexual assault (iirc?) in a discussion aboht him, implying he's the perp and the lawyer is playing those types of things as what becomes defamation.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

Yeah, that’s pretty clear, but unless all 27 were also saying that the perp was him, saying other things like their opinions of him, etc aren’t really meeting that mark.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 7 months ago

Also these social avenues of reputation attack disproportionately affect the socially disabled and disadvantaged. Basically this is a really dangerous weapon against autistic and queer people.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Oh, that sly Nick Canon.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 7 months ago

You'd know you're dating Nick Canon because the child-support payments would start immediately