Message Board Postings May Be Used Against You

Parent Cafe
1

<p>There is a law suit in which postings on a “members only” law enforcement web site are at issue. The subject of certain posts is alleging intentional infliction of emotional distress. The poster’s identity and screen name has been posted in the paper. Serves as a good reminder to watch what we post.</p>

<p>[Lawsuit</a> points to social media challenges faced by Dallas police | Dallas-Fort Worth Communities - News for Dallas, Texas - The Dallas Morning News](<a href=“http://www.dallasnews.com/news/community-news/dallas/headlines/20120227-lawsuit-points-to-social-media-challenges-faced-by-dallas-police.ece]Lawsuit”>http://www.dallasnews.com/news/community-news/dallas/headlines/20120227-lawsuit-points-to-social-media-challenges-faced-by-dallas-police.ece)</p>

2

<p>And as a reminder to make sure our kids are aware of this!</p>

3

<p>This suit will fail–it has none of the usual elements required for an “intentional infliction of emotional distress” case. Fortunately, the law does not impose liability for hurting someone’s feelings by saying mean things.</p>

4

<p>It’s not really the merits of the suit that are troublesome to me. It’s the idea of my screen name for a particular message board being made public and people I know logging on to see all the insipid things I have posted.</p>

5

<p>Missypie – me too!</p>

6

<p>Well, maybe it was a good idea to shut down the Elections and Politics subforum.</p>

7

<p>I know- it’s pretty frightening to think about all the things we say online and what sort of history could be built about our views and feelings.</p>