Published
I discovered a post on in a large, private nursing discussion group on a social media website.
The person posting works for the same organization that I do. I challenged that person and got REAMED for being a "rat". Am I wrong in thinking that I need to report a serious allegation made against the organization that I am a loyal employee? It was not just a vent or rant, there was an actionable allegation made.
I contacted the person's superior anonymously. Now I have to decide to take it further or not.
**not asking for legal advice. It has nothing to do with me or anywhere near where I work-it is a different entity entirely-but part of the bigger organization.
Oh for God's sake, yes I do know the definition of libel and the difference between libel and slander (earlier post-I have a Criminal Justice degree). Here it is for all:
". Libel is the written or broadcast form of defamation, distinguished from slander, which is oral defamation."
Read more: Legal Dictionary | Law.com
I READ it on FB. I don't have to know the parties involved personally. I do know what she posted, what her profile page says about where she works, and verified on the homepage of such workplace.
So, you read something on Facebook and that makes you want to run to Daddy and tell. You were probably the kid who sucked up to the teacher at school, tatting on the other kids. It's an urge you can't resist.
People like you exist in every society and put a damper on free speech everywhere. It's the reason we all have to watch what we say.
The feedback you're getting is negative. But that won't stop you, this is most likely a life long pattern, ever since you got your sibling in trouble as a child.
So, watch what you say online folks! KGB spies are everywhere! Trust no one.
Oh for God's sake, yes I do know the definition of libel and the difference between libel and slander (earlier post-I have a Criminal Justice degree). Here it is for all:". Libel is the written or broadcast form of defamation, distinguished from slander, which is oral defamation."
Read more: Legal Dictionary | Law.com
I READ it on FB. I don't have to know the parties involved personally. I do know what she posted, what her profile page says about where she works, and verified on the homepage of such workplace.
Im not talking about the difference between libel and slander. My point is that it isn't libel if it's true. And you have no way of knowing whether or not the allegation is true. Therefore you are not in a position to call it libel.
Ok just in an attempt to clarify things and speed this debate along
I think the op is saying that it is wrong for that person to be making such allegations against the company without the company knowing, so that is why she wanted to make the company aware of it.
And I think other posters are finding an issue with your wording of libelous, because there's no way to know if it's true or not unless it's your first hand experience there so it is nothing more than an allegation.
Op is saying that she loves her company and thus the company should still know about such allegations so that they can fight whether it is libel or not because posting it on Facebook is not being very open about it, nor was it according to op, the appropriate procedure to make such allegations/complaint.
Other posters are saying it wasn't like a formal complaint and the person was just ranting. Also other posters are saying that it's just an allegation, and when someone who is not involved at all, or minuscule/remotely involved (as per op), then reporting it is akin to being a busy body.
Basically I think op is saying she is loyal to her company and that they deserve to know when someone is making allegations against them so that they can prove it to be wrong or right.
And basically I think other posters are saying op is akin to the old lady with her binoculars who sees 5 kids go into a house 2 streets down and calls the police and tells them there might be underage drinking going on there. In other words op means well, but comes off as nosy and has no means to prove it.
That is my interpretation of the thread so far.
Unless someone was doing something that was harming a patient, I couldn't imagine wanting to put someone's career in jeopardy. If you were offended by what they said, the more appropriate action would have been to privately message the person and give them the opportunity to remove the post before you told on them.
On the brighter side, I'm sure you're on the short list for a promotion.
mmc51264, BSN, MSN, RN
3,322 Posts
No law degree, but a criminal justice degree and the accusation made was a blatant, libelous accusation of hiring discrimination that is something we would all recognize as illegal.
I did contact the poster and got no response and the posts were not removed. Sorry I neglected to put all the details in.
Did not come for a pat on the back. Just wanted to share to see is anyone had experienced anything similar. Alarming is the vehemence with which I am being attacked.