A recent thread discussed this but was closed. I'm sure Thaivisa has plenty of legal advice (and unsolicited advice like this), but as a 30-year veteran of the newspaper business i would like to point out that slander/libel must be communicated to a third party -- a private PM does not constitute publication nor communication to a third party. Otherwise I suppose it is a personal insult and could be a form of assault.

A well, in the West, slander/libel must also be untrue.Libel is defined as published slander.

So for example someone calling you a racist on a forum could be construed as libelous?

To be honest with you, in as much as I get irritated at times with some of the abuse that flies back and forth on the forums, as long as we have the report button we're okay.

People resorting to legal action should be beyond a last resort, and in particular on the internet, as any troll could jeopardize any discussion forum at any time, in fact they could set out to maliciously destroy competitors. If we ever get to the point where people are running to the courts every time they feel slighted online then we may as well switch the internet off.

The Blether

You are requested to attend Cyber Court on the 22 June 2012.

your present name and address:

the blether

Thai Visa

Cyber Space

Somewhere in the known Universe ( or not, whatever the case may be )

Good Luck with serving that writ

The Blether

You are requested to attend Cyber Court on the 22 June 2012.

your present name and address:

the blether

Thai Visa

Cyber Space

Somewhere in the known Universe ( or not, whatever the case may be )

Good Luck with serving that writ

Luckily I'm a space cadet, I know where that is