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Post by HMARK Center on Jul 17, 2021 20:33:16 GMT -5
So the news broke in the last couple of days that the sexual assault suit against Matt Riddle has been dropped.
Obviously, a lawsuit being ended doesn't bring the matter to a close for many and doesn't fully answer if something untoward did or did not happen.
However, as it pertains to the legalities of the situation? Different story. There are certain things as a publicly viewable forum that we simply cannot say without risking legal issues or trouble for ProBoards, and thus we need to clarify what can't be posted on the matter.
We've had to move a few posts of late that discuss Riddle himself. Some of these posts have been people labeling Riddle a "rapist" or otherwise assigning a criminal label to him. I need to be clear: whatever your thoughts are about the story and the accusations involved, we legally cannot post like this. There has been no trial, there has been no ruling, and assigning a label like that, or even "criminal" or what have you, can be seen as defamatory or libelous, something that's way up high on the list of stuff ProBoards does not allow.
Again, this doesn't mean you have to like Matt Riddle; you may well believe he did something awful based on what public information is available at this time. If you wish to express that, though, be mindful of the language you use; avoid the use of labels, as Riddle has not been found guilty in a court of law, which is why such labels could cause us administrative headaches or, worse, legal issues for ProBoards.
Posts that utilize such labels in a declarative manner will be removed. Should that happen to a post of yours, please take heed, as repeated removed posts on this matter will result in a warning. Once again, this is not us telling you what to think about the issue, it's straight up a legal matter we have to take seriously.
Needless to say, your cooperation on this topic is highly appreciated.
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bob
Salacious Crumb
The "other" Bob. FOC COURSE!
started the Madness Wars, Proudly the #1 Nana Hater on FAN
Posts: 78,179
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Post by bob on Jul 17, 2021 21:43:45 GMT -5
HMARK CenterI'm assuming you want the first word in the post title to say "How" not "Hot"
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The Ichi
Patti Mayonnaise
AGGRESSIVE Executive Janitor of the Third Floor Manager's Bathroom
Posts: 37,268 
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Post by The Ichi on Jul 17, 2021 23:35:25 GMT -5
HMARK CenterI'm assuming you want the first word in the post title to say "How" not "Hot" This is bothering me so much more than it should. Justice please. |
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Sam Punk
Hank Scorpio
Own Nothing, Be Happy
Posts: 6,302
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Post by Sam Punk on Jul 17, 2021 23:53:51 GMT -5
Thanks for the information.
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BlackoutCreature
Grimlock
The Ultimate Popcorntunist!
Posts: 14,434
Member is Online
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Post by BlackoutCreature on Jul 18, 2021 0:00:25 GMT -5
I don't get it, FAN isn't a news site or any kind of journalist organization, nor has it ever claimed to be. We're a fan site. A rather weird one on top of that. We've got a thread going accusing people of stealing a time machine and changing history with it. Why would we be subject to potential libel accusations?
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Post by Fake Jesus on Jul 18, 2021 0:10:12 GMT -5
I don't get it, FAN isn't a news site or any kind of journalist organization, nor has it ever claimed to be. We're a fan site. A rather weird one on top of that. We've got a thread going accusing people of stealing a time machine and changing history with it. Why would we be subject to potential libel accusations? It would be extraordinarily hard (In the strange timeline where such a suit happened) for any public individual to win a libel lawsuit based off proboards comments - especially as it would happen in the United States. Still, it's not my forum and I ultimately don't even really watch WWE so I don't any harm in complying, although I've only ever referred to allegations against wrestling personalities and never made a concrete claim with regards to any potential criminality on their part. |
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Post by Oh Cry Me a Screwball on Jul 18, 2021 0:15:57 GMT -5
I don't get it, FAN isn't a news site or any kind of journalist organization, nor has it ever claimed to be. We're a fan site. A rather weird one on top of that. We've got a thread going accusing people of stealing a time machine and changing history with it. Why would we be subject to potential libel accusations? It would be extraordinarily hard (In the strange timeline where such a suit happened) for any public individual to win a libel lawsuit based off proboards comments - especially as it would happen in the United States. Still, it's not my forum and I ultimately don't even really watch WWE so I don't any harm in complying, although I've only ever referred to allegations against wrestling personalities and never made a concrete claim with regards to any potential criminality on their part. Yeah, as someone who totally believes he did it, it's not that hard to phrase things in a way that keeps the board out of any potential legal trouble. I'm not going to call Matt Riddle a "rapist" because I can't prove it, but if someone wants to know why I do not care for the man, I can explain that I believe the allegations of what happened in that van. |
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BlackoutCreature
Grimlock
The Ultimate Popcorntunist!
Posts: 14,434
Member is Online
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Post by BlackoutCreature on Jul 18, 2021 0:19:37 GMT -5
I don't get it, FAN isn't a news site or any kind of journalist organization, nor has it ever claimed to be. We're a fan site. A rather weird one on top of that. We've got a thread going accusing people of stealing a time machine and changing history with it. Why would we be subject to potential libel accusations? It would be extraordinarily hard (In the strange timeline where such a suit happened) for any public individual to win a libel lawsuit based off proboards comments - especially as it would happen in the United States. Still, it's not my forum and I ultimately don't even really watch WWE so I don't any harm in complying, although I've only ever referred to allegations against wrestling personalities and never made a concrete claim with regards to any potential criminality on their part. I mean, I'm not gonna fight anybody on this. If this is the board rules then I'll go along with it, it's not like I have anything all that important to say about Matt Riddle. I'm just iffy on the reasoning behind the rule. |
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Post by "Sweet & Sour" ImSoFudginGreat on Jul 18, 2021 0:31:38 GMT -5
We have had people come after the board before, which is why we can’t post WWE footage unless it’s directly from WWE. Plus, this is HMark’s board, so we should respect their wishes.
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Post by DiBiase is Good on Jul 18, 2021 0:33:21 GMT -5
I don't get it, FAN isn't a news site or any kind of journalist organization, nor has it ever claimed to be. We're a fan site. A rather weird one on top of that. We've got a thread going accusing people of stealing a time machine and changing history with it. Why would we be subject to potential libel accusations? I’m not saying it’s going to happen tomorrow but sooner or later, it’s inevitable that certain posting habits on any form of Social Media (including forums) will have to change. People are already facing criminal charges for comments posted on various sites and while this board obviously doesn’t compare to Twitter, Facebook and the other giants of the platform, it’s something that needs to be addressed. |
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mattyy
Unicron
holy moly its the big homie
Posts: 3,091
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Post by mattyy on Jul 18, 2021 0:33:23 GMT -5
I mean if this is the case, why limit it to Riddle? Lawsuits were dropped in the case of Joey Ryan, that doesn't change the facts. I get this is a liable issue, but I don't see how it isn't applicable to just Matt Riddle.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Jul 18, 2021 0:38:20 GMT -5
I mean if this is the case, why limit it to Riddle? Lawsuits were dropped in the case of Joey Ryan, that doesn't change the facts. I get this is a liable issue, but I don't see how it isn't applicable to just Matt Riddle. It isn't just about Riddle. It would apply to anyone but, in Riddle's case, we had to move posts that literally called him a rapist. Joey Ryan, if people were literally calling him a rapist, would get the same treatment, as would essentially anyone. |
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Post by DiBiase is Good on Jul 18, 2021 0:39:46 GMT -5
I mean if this is the case, why limit it to Riddle? Lawsuits were dropped in the case of Joey Ryan, that doesn't change the facts. I get this is a liable issue, but I don't see how it isn't applicable to just Matt Riddle. It’s actually not a new rule. It’s part of the ProBoards terms and conditions that everyone here agreed to when they created an account. The reason we’re specifically using Riddle is that due to WWE being the giant that it is, when it’s one their workers involved it garners more attention, more discussion and more comments of a potentially defamatory nature. If anyone were to post a similar thing about Joey Ryan (or anyone for that matter in a similar situation) then it would be subject to the same ruling. |
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Post by DiBiase is Good on Jul 18, 2021 0:47:41 GMT -5
We have had people come after the board before, which is why we can’t post WWE footage unless it’s directly from WWE. Plus, this is HMark’s board, so we should respect their wishes. This is something that some aren’t aware of. The entire reason behind our strict WWE content posting rules is down to WWE complaining about an advert for a PPV (one of the MITB shows) from a non-WWE affiliated YouTube channel embedded here. ProBoards contacted us and we had to quickly come up with a set of rules going forward that satisfied them. Of course we’re not saying WWE visit here every day making sure everything posted about them is nothing but sunshine and roses. But the fact remains, even if it was just for one incident a few years back, we were on their radar. |
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Post by HMARK Center on Jul 18, 2021 5:32:09 GMT -5
And beyond all that, we have this board due to ProBoards giving us the infrastructure for it, and they simply don't want to be bothered with potential legal issues caused by any of their member forums.
I fully agree that a libel suit against us would be nearly impossible for someone to win, but sadly winning a suit isn't always the end goal of someone who pursues such avenues, it's often just sheer intimidation or wanting to force someone with fewer resources to have to spend money defending themselves.
And yes, not saying WWE or Riddle himself are going to care much what we have to say here on the matter, but on the off-chance they do? It's a risk not worth taking, especially when the simple solution is to simply couch our language in more legally appropriate manners.
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Post by joeiscool on Jul 18, 2021 16:52:14 GMT -5
This is probably just future-proofing themselves if the laws ever change.
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Wardlow on Wardlow 54
Wade Wilson
Don't get Wardlow'd by your Wardlow if you can't Wardlow them back
Posts: 29,227
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Post by Wardlow on Wardlow 54 on Jul 18, 2021 17:22:52 GMT -5
Is calling him a "garbage human" or the like also out? That's more my opinion than anything and I won't lose sleep if I can't call him that outright. Just asking so I don't break any rules.
(I will still be anti-Riddle either way lol)
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Post by The Creepo Man on Jul 19, 2021 8:44:04 GMT -5
I’ve always been the innocent-until-proven-guilty guy. Remember when Jerry Lawler was accused by a teenager in 1993 until she revealed she lied about the whole thing to make her boyfriend jealous? Lawler is probably the equivalent to Glenn Quagmire of wrestling. But there was no Internet presence at the time and I could imagine the uproar if this was in 2021; Riddle would look like a saint in comparison.
I think a guy like Jimmy Uso needs to be more scrutinized as he’s been a proven repeat drunk driving offender and potential threat to society but keeps getting chance after chance because of his legacy privilege.
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Post by HMARK Center on Jul 20, 2021 5:50:24 GMT -5
Is calling him a "garbage human" or the like also out? That's more my opinion than anything and I won't lose sleep if I can't call him that outright. Just asking so I don't break any rules. (I will still be anti-Riddle either way lol) The issue is assigning a label to him that would reflect him having a criminal status of some kind. “Garbage people” are not necessarily people who’ve gone to trial for anything, so it doesn’t fall under this, but just for the general sake of the tone of conversation around here just take it easy a bit on stuff like that as it can lead to a lot of people getting riled up. |
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Wardlow on Wardlow 54
Wade Wilson
Don't get Wardlow'd by your Wardlow if you can't Wardlow them back
Posts: 29,227
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Post by Wardlow on Wardlow 54 on Jul 20, 2021 7:12:51 GMT -5
Is calling him a "garbage human" or the like also out? That's more my opinion than anything and I won't lose sleep if I can't call him that outright. Just asking so I don't break any rules. (I will still be anti-Riddle either way lol) The issue is assigning a label to him that would reflect him having a criminal status of some kind. “Garbage people” are not necessarily people who’ve gone to trial for anything, so it doesn’t fall under this, but just for the general sake of the tone of conversation around here just take it easy a bit on stuff like that as it can lead to a lot of people getting riled up. Gotcha. I think I've managed ok so far since the announcement, so it shouldn't be a problem going forward. Thank you for the reply.  |
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