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December 17, 2009
TLibel Twitter style

I just had someone libel me on Twitter.

Any good ideas on what I should do about it.

My day job is in marketing, I moonlight on our cattle ranch. Today someone posted a tweet that I'm a #factoryfarmer because she was losing a running debate with me on twitter. If you can't win on facts, you should always resort to name calling.

Our ranch is not that large and it's been in the family since 1867--nothing factory about us. I don't think I'll see any damages from this--so it's not like I'm going to sue, but this user really hacked me off.

I have an attorney who will send her a nasty gram. I have turned them into twitter for abusive and unlawful behavior. Anything else I should do?

Today I'm mad and want to do something. I know I will cool off tomorrow, but I'll still be calling this person names in my head.

If you're intersted in following my tweets on ag issues follow me @agropinon

comments, Post A Comment!

JodyD posted 12/20/2009:

Three days later, I do feel better. I have had a ton of support from people--farmers and non-farm--who saw the running debate. I have realized all along, that I will never change this person's mind about farming practices any more than she will ever change mind. I have issues with anyone lumping all of us together as factory farms when they don't know any of us, or have a basic knowledge of animal husbandry procedures. It obviously makes my blood boil when someone spreads lies about me or my industry. And what pushed me over the edge was when she lied about some of my virtual friends too. Thanks to Allan, I have learned not to type a rant and hit post. I will pull out my AP style, spell and grammar check in the future. And although I wasn't trolling, I do appreciate you #factoryfarming me to your followers too.

lpmorrow posted 12/18/2009:

First, thank you for being a farmer -- for the hard work and the care that's so often underappreciated. I had no idea how hard farmers worked until I met my husband, whose family were Vermont dairy farmers. Here's one possible approach: why not set up a Facebook fan page for your family's farm? A farmer in AL does this, and posts charming video updates from his cell phone every week or so, more often as their herd increases. If his farm weren't' 2000 miles away, I'd be buying my milk from them, just because his videos are so honest and so 'real.' While it's tempting to address a public attack publicly, this might not be the best course of action. Perhsps it might be better just to show and tell the truth, using FB. Especially with its photo and video upload capabilities, this might be a more effective medium for presenting your perspective than Twitter. You can then use Twitter to post links to your FB updates, thereby getting out the info you want, without being drawn into discussions that don't move you closer to your goals. I wish you and your businesses all the best during this Holiday Season, and in the New Year! Yours, Laurie Morrow mADwoman Advertising Montpelier, Vermont

AlanStamm posted 12/18/2009:

Cher's strategy is sound, Jody, so I'll simply suggest -- as you already may have realized -- that you weren't actually libeled or slandered in a literal, legal sense. "Abusive behavior," sure . . . but misplacing your Kansas spread in a larger agribusiness category doesn't say you're doing anything evil, wrong, bad or shameful in the real meaning (rather than the moral one) of those words. To avoid having followers lump you unfairly with Conagra, and possibly becoming a target of Michael Pollan (grin), do as Cher suggests to say the unpleasant name-calling was undeserved. And, though it's easy for me to say, try to develop a hide nearly as thick as that on your cattle.

nunomachadolopes posted 12/18/2009:

I thought that once we got older we were capable of dealing with iliterate folk. I'm sorry but I can't see the problem. Maybe it's because I rank abusive above and beyond this type of behaviour. I think my lawyer would tell me to get a life - but that's here in Portugal where we use lawyers less and in cases that merit the costs involved. I can't help but feel that the title is a little over the top and in search of some juice, whether google, followers, etc. If you feel deeply distressed by this then I don't want to sound obnoxious and thus contribute to you feeling worse. I respect your feelings. However, I have a lot of respect for Mark Ragan and all those involved iin this community and can't help thinking that this doesn't do much justice to the quality of content professionals seek when visiting this site. Good luck in your libel case and I will follow it as I am actually curious as to Twitter's line on abusive behaviour. Have a great week end Nuno

SueJohnston posted 12/18/2009:

I'm with Cher on this one. Breathe. Take the high road. Speak the truth. You'll look like a family rancher steeped in heritage and healthy traditions - and the libeller will look like a jerk. All the best. Cheers - Sue @itsunderstood

allanjenkins posted 12/18/2009:

First, and I'm just freewheeling here, you should learn the difference between "loosing" and "losing," or you could be called, justly, a semi-literate marketer. (While you are at it, you might want to look at "intersted" and "interested" -- an etymological gap there that I simply shudder to contemplate.) Second, you might want to learn the distinction between what twitter (sic) calls "abusive" and what your state (or the state of your Twitter adversary (if the user is even IN the United States) calls "unlawful." Third, suing would be your only redress (if you can make it stick, but I won't go there). But you choose not to sue. But... did your attorney mention this -- claiming "So and So libeled me" without first filing suit can be considered libel against the other party. Since anyone can figure out who you are on Twitter... well, you might want to be more careful. Fourth, I don't think you would find a serious attorney in the world who would send a "nasty gram" over a silly flame war on Twitter, but please let us know who it was. Could make a great story. In total... I think you are trolling here. I don't believe you are a bit offended (if you are, you are simply ignorant). I believe this is pretty much an (incredibly lame) attempt to attract Twitter followers. In short, I think you are pissed off (maybe), lying (for sure), new to the Internet and trolling for followers. I reserve, for you... just for you.. my worst epithet: Lamer. And if that offends you, you can reach me here: http://desirableroastedcoffee.com/

EntreDanno posted 12/18/2009:

Besides the nasty-gram, have the lawyer send about 10 pages of fluff. Maybe half about libel law in the US... You know, enough to scare any of us! :-)

Rich posted 12/18/2009:

I think you ought to waited to take action until tomorrow before you did anything. Everything you did here has the potential to cast you as the villain. So Cher is right. The best recourse would have been to include the facts; before that, it would have been best to avoid the argument. In arguments on Twitter, nobody really ever wins. Here's one example: http://copywriteink.blogspot.com/2009/01/balancing-acts-real-time-communication.html Social media requires communicators to always keep in mind that you cannot control what people say, but you can control how you choose to respond to what they say. Hope that helps in the future. All my best, Rich

alpolito posted 12/18/2009:

Inviting the offending party, as well as any other interested readers, to come out and tour your "factory farm" should silence your critics and perhaps make you a few friends you never knew you had.

Bjorn50 posted 12/18/2009:

Welcome to Social Media. A place where anyone can post anything they want about anyone else, then sign it anonymously. Facts be damned. Responding simply brings out more hate. I'll leave you with this cautionary quote: "The Internet…has also nurtured an “artificial” sense of community among the hateful, says Psychologist Shari Julian. She adds, When you have a venue for ventilating rage, your belief in that rage is ratified. It increases their belief that their behavior is applauded, seconded. In that case, it’s scary. It does seem to roll and escalate. The lack of oversight in some places seems to bring out the worst people, and the worse in people."

redchango posted 12/18/2009:

I vote that you just get over it. It's not even a big deal.

Cher1117 posted 12/17/2009:

Wow, never expected to see drama on Twitter. If a lot of folks are following the discussion, I'd just respond with the facts: "Ranch in the family since 1867 and nothing factory about us!"