Banned members and anti-social behaviour

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Shadow Leader

Shadow Leader

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I'd be interested to know what the legalities are surrounding banned [or even current] members and continuing anti-social behaviour. I mainly say banned members since it is a given that they have transgressed rules severely enough to earn a ban in the first place so any attempts at continuation of old fallouts and feuds would almost certainly be trouble making and sought for inappropriate reasons.

For instance, say a banned member, maybe one who keeps trying to reappear like the many-headed hydra, tries their best to elicit private and personal information about a specific forum member from another poster on the forum. Now, if the banned person enters into correspondence with [for reasons of simplicity we'll call them] forumite A in order to try and extract private information about forumite X, where does forumite A stand legally knowing they have supplied said guilty party with real names, places of work, knowledge of employment capacity, former jobs, details of personal relationships and any other personal and private information that forumite X doesn't necessarily want banned member (or the entire forum, for that matter!) to know and which information could, ultimately be used in order to threaten the personal safety of forumite X? If this banned member makes prolonged and continued attempts to harrass, stalk and threaten forumite X whilst trying to intimidate them by revealing they know said personal information which they obtained from forumite A, could forumite A legally be held responsible for any aiding and abetting for stalking purposes? This may especially be the case if the identity of forumite A is known yet the identity of the banned member is not - could forumite A be questioned officially in order to try to reveal the identity of the banned member and curtail their behaviour or take further legal action against them?

I'd be very interested to hear Ardross' take on this since I know that nowadays stalking, even cyber-stalking, is a matter which the police take very seriously.
 
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Just thought I'd remind us all of the relevant T&Cs; this thread needs some context although I'm reluctant to get involved at this stage. Suffice it to say that there is a serious issue at stake here where the line between crossed words on forums and personal harrassment has become dangerously blurred. Discussion with mods, both here and elsewhere would probably be advisable.
 
When someone decides to air the issue in such a public manner, one would get the impression that they are more interested in starting a good ol' row, rather than being seriously aggrieved.

Very childish.
 
I'm not sure Dom's question owes anything to forum rules in fairness Rory, as clearly the law of the land superceeds our own T&C's
 
Trust me, there is nothing childish about this nor any intentions to start rows, Melendez.

I am very much interested in Ardross' legal opinion on this and thought it mightn't be such a bad idea to have it posted on the public forum for everyone to see.
 
Melendez said:
When someone decides to air the issue in such a public manner, one would get the impression that they are more interested in starting a good ol' row, rather than being seriously aggrieved.

Very childish.
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This isn't a "wind-up" scenario. I'd hope it's a case of someone lashing out without really thinking and that it is nothing to be worried about. However, it looks like the workings of a genuinely disturbed mind.
 
If you want Ardross's opinion - ask Ardross, he can be contacted
If you want the site owner's or representatives view ask them.
If you feel threatened or endangered, go to the police.
If you want a good ol' row, make a public threateningish statement on a forum and hope the person will bite.

Immature is a better word than childish.
 
Warbler said:
I'm not sure Dom's question owes anything to forum rules in fairness Rory, as clearly the law of the land superceeds our own T&C's
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Warbler,

if we all took the T&C's seriously, then situations like this wouldn't develop in the first place. Should someone innocently pass on information of a personal nature to a third party about another forumite, it could lead to to that third party using said information negatively, as seems the case here. Hence my mention of them.

I hasten to add that this is not necessarily a Talking Horses issue, but it seems a sensible place to seek clarification on legal issues.

Melendez ~ you are massively off beam on this and would apologise if you knew the actual issue. Shadow Leader isn't even vaguely trying to stir in this instance.
 
Of course, only a select few actually know what has actually happened and it has obviously been well discussed within that circle, so whose benefit could the initial post be for, I wonder.
 
rorydelargy said:
Melendez ~ you are massively off beam on this and would apologise if you knew the actual issue. Shadow Leader isn't even vaguely trying to stir in this instance.
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Rory, since none of us know the "actual issue," then there's very little we can comment on, is there? Hence, a PM is probably the best option.

Shads is more than welcome to PM me if she wishes - though I am no legal expert, I have a feeling I've dealt with the particular character before.
 
trackside528 said:
Perhaps it would have been best to PM Ardross in this case?
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Quite possibly, although there is merit in discussing the possibility of having to deal with banter on forums turning into harrassment off them. It shouldn't need to be said, but this is not in any way aimed at a current member of TH. It is also fundamentally my issue, rather than Shadow Leader's, but it may have ramifications which would genuinely concern her.
 
I have PMd admin on here to appraise them of the situation; I will happily forward that onto all mods.

I could have PMd Ardross but as I said not only did I want his opinion I thought it would best serve interests to have it said on the open forum so everyone can take note.

Melendez, if anyone is on a windup it's you. Grow up and don't bother commenting if you feel that offended.
 
I could have PMd Ardross but as I said not only did I want his opinion I thought it would best serve interests to have it said on the open forum so everyone can take note.
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You have said nothing, just talked in riddles that only a select few can know the meaning of. If this is a serious situation, this is an incredibly poor way to manage it IMO.
 
I have forwarded on the PM I sent to ALL mods and admin. After they have read it they will surely understand the potential concern of the situation and why for obvious reasons full details should not be aired on the public forum, whereas there is some merit in believing the potential scenario should be aired.
 
You could PM the Mods, Shadz but if their response time is anything like my experience with the report post comment I made last week and am still awaiting a reply over (as, I believe is another member), then don't hold your breath.

Even a reply disagreeing with my point of view would have been courteous !
 
Songsheet said:
You could PM the Mods, Shadz but if their response time is anything like my experience with the report post comment I made last week and am still awaiting a reply over (as, I believe is another member), then don't hold your breath.

Even a reply disagreeing with my point of view would have been courteous !
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Appologies, Songsheet. Have now replied to you both.
 
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