Defamation

Ppardon

Hi all

I have been subject to a slew of defamatory posts on Reddit.

I have tried reporting all these posts with no response, and Reddit seems to be a community run website so contacting anyone human seems impossible.

Ideally I would like these defamatory posts removed, but I am also considering changing my name by deedpoll.

I'm hoping that there are some people here that have been through something similar, or people who would know the best course of action. The thing is that I am applying for jobs at the moment, and they can just Google my name and find all this libellous stuff.

Thanks

Ppardon

Bradden

Unless your name is uniquely identifiable I wouldn't worry.

Ppardon

Bradden said:

Unless your name is uniquely identifiable I wouldn't worry.

It's uniquely identifiable, I have a rare middle name that they are using.

LeafGreen

Changing your name sounds incredibly drastic.  Surely whoever is making the posts would find out your new name soon enough and start making posts using that instead.   

Why do you think the person is doing such a thing?

Why not just omit your middle name from job applications?

74jax

grahamgoo said:

Changing your name sounds incredibly drastic.  Surely whoever is making the posts would find out your new name soon enough and start making posts using that instead.   

Why do you think the person is doing such a thing?

Why not just omit your middle name from job applications?

I was going to say the same.  

Ppardon

grahamgoo said:

Changing your name sounds incredibly drastic.  Surely whoever is making the posts would find out your new name soon enough and start making posts using that instead.   

Why do you think the person is doing such a thing?

Why not just omit your middle name from job applications?

Yes, I would rather not have to.

But it seems that anyone can write anything about anyone these days on sites like Reddit and so far there seems little someone can do about it.

It's an online hate group where they are digging up dirt on a certain celebrity, and for me it's a case of 'guilty by association', and the 'Moderators' are the main perpetrators.

Yes I though about, although I haven't applied for a job in many years but as I recall in the past you have to show proof of being able to work in the UK?

Also, it's tricky because I am known my my middle name, but my first name is my official name, so it won't take long before my new employer knows all three names.

Ppardon

Bump......

pinkshoes

Ppardon said:

grahamgoo said:

Changing your name sounds incredibly drastic.  Surely whoever is making the posts would find out your new name soon enough and start making posts using that instead.   

Why do you think the person is doing such a thing?

Why not just omit your middle name from job applications?

Yes, I would rather not have to.

But it seems that anyone can write anything about anyone these days on sites like Reddit and so far there seems little someone can do about it.

It's an online hate group where they are digging up dirt on a certain celebrity, and for me it's a case of 'guilty by association', and the 'Moderators' are the main perpetrators.

Yes I though about, although I haven't applied for a job in many years but as I recall in the past you have to show proof of being able to work in the UK?

Also, it's tricky because I am known my my middle name, but my first name is my official name, so it won't take long before my new employer knows all three names.

So you're saying these hate posts are from people who you have never met before, and they're just posting them purely due to you being associated with another person that they do know?

The police would be your first port of call. Screen shot what you believe to be defamatory and contact your local police for advice.

Changing your name is a bit extreme. What do the messages actually say? Is an employer really going to care about some stupid comments on a trashy website?

Marcon

Ppardon said:

Bump......

See a solicitor if you're that bothered (and you clearly are).

Undervalued

Ppardon said:

Hi all

I have been subject to a slew of defamatory posts on Reddit.

I have tried reporting all these posts with no response, and Reddit seems to be a community run website so contacting anyone human seems impossible.

Ideally I would like these defamatory posts removed, but I am also considering changing my name by deedpoll.

I'm hoping that there are some people here that have been through something similar, or people who would know the best course of action. The thing is that I am applying for jobs at the moment, and they can just Google my name and find all this libellous stuff.

Thanks

Ppardon

The problem is if contacting the website / forum / community doesn't achieve what you want then doing anything about this is going to be very expensive.

Claims for libel / deformation / breach of privacy / seeking injunctions etc are, to be honest, only open to the wealthy. So, unless you have significant resources that you are prepared to risk (and I assume you don't as you are asking here rather than an expensive firm of specialist solicitors) your options are limited. What is the "certain celebrity" likely to do about this? Although "celebrity" and wealthy are not always one and the same thing!

There are also firms that specialise in cleaning up people's online reputation by a variety of legal means. Some are highly reputable but I imagine their services don't come cheap as they tend to operate for the same market.

How unusual is your name, particularly if you are normally known by a middle name? Unless the jobs you are applying for require detailed background check is an average employer really likely to make the connection and be bothered about it?

penners324

No employer checks Reddit. They might look at LinkedIn.