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Stupid question about forum etiquette

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I have wondered this for years.  Why do some people not mention names of major supermarkets, websites etc on forums?  Sometimes they just substitute a letter for a number or symbol, or satrise the names slightly (e.g. Trashco or Been and Queued)  It's not universal, only some people do it.  I've wondered if it's the principle of not proving any free advertising (I heard someone once say they turned supermarket carrier bags inside out for this reason) or so they don't get sued for defamation.

What is the real reason?

Comments

  • Barny1979
    Barny1979 Posts: 7,921 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    I presumed it was their "wacky" character......
  • Grumpy_chap
    Grumpy_chap Posts: 18,244 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    I think, maybe, some people use a non-name because they don't want to say that supermarket "X" is really bad for doing something when it is something that all the supermarkets get wrong.
  • coffeehound
    coffeehound Posts: 5,741 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    edited 20 June 2021 at 5:27PM
    I wondered if it was to avoid getting the site sued for libel or whatnot
  • MalMonroe
    MalMonroe Posts: 5,783 Forumite
    Ninth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Sapindus said:
    I have wondered this for years.  Why do some people not mention names of major supermarkets, websites etc on forums?  Sometimes they just substitute a letter for a number or symbol, or satrise the names slightly (e.g. Trashco or Been and Queued)  It's not universal, only some people do it.  I've wondered if it's the principle of not proving any free advertising (I heard someone once say they turned supermarket carrier bags inside out for this reason) or so they don't get sued for defamation.

    What is the real reason?
    The real reason is that the original poster could be sued for defamation.

    If you read the Forum Rules (updated last week), you will find a section about it on there. One of the sentences is "We appreciate emotions can run high should you experience poor service from companies, but we cannot accept active calls to boycott organisations as we are unable to verify the service you received."

    If a company contacts MSE to complain, it is the poster of the comment, not MSE, who could end up in court. 

    So this site recommends caution whenever users post comments. 
     
    Please note - taken from the Forum Rules and amended for my own personal use (with thanks) : It is up to you to investigate, check, double-check and check yet again before you make any decisions or take any action based on any information you glean from any of my posts. Although I do carry out careful research before posting and never intend to mislead or supply out-of-date or incorrect information, please do not rely 100% on what you are reading. Verify everything in order to protect yourself as you are responsible for any action you consequently take.
  • MalMonroe
    MalMonroe Posts: 5,783 Forumite
    Ninth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    I wondered if it was to avoid getting the site sued for libel or whatnot
    It is - but it isn't the site that would be sued. It'd be the poster of the adverse comment. 
    Please note - taken from the Forum Rules and amended for my own personal use (with thanks) : It is up to you to investigate, check, double-check and check yet again before you make any decisions or take any action based on any information you glean from any of my posts. Although I do carry out careful research before posting and never intend to mislead or supply out-of-date or incorrect information, please do not rely 100% on what you are reading. Verify everything in order to protect yourself as you are responsible for any action you consequently take.
  • Sapindus
    Sapindus Posts: 664 Forumite
    500 Posts Fourth Anniversary Name Dropper
    Thanks - that's more or less what I thought then.  Though it still doesn't quite make sense, because I see people posting quite innocuous or even positive comments and using the pseudonyms, as if they're not quite sure why they're doing it either.  And I think if a supermarket really wanted to go to the trouble of suing someone for complaining they'd had a bad experience, a substituted zero is not going to wash in court as a defence!  A bit like that sentence in films that says "any resemblance to real persons whether living or dead is purely co-incidental"! 
    Slightly more likely I suppose that someone in the supermarket is sitting there all day searching the internet for negative mentions to sue people for, and the misplaced zero will stop them finding yours?  Not convinced...
  • MovingForwards
    MovingForwards Posts: 17,149 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Seventh Anniversary Name Dropper Photogenic
    I do it in diaries as I don't want people searching for a particular business and coming across random nattering as that possibly isn't of use to them eg spent £x in (insert shop) today.

    If it's in other sections I just use the name eg picked up some great plants for £x in (insert shop) today, if your after (plant name) go before they sell out.
    Mortgage started 2020, aiming to clear 31/12/2029.
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