Interesting piece on the Radio recently, bits of which I note below. Teasing verses Bullying & Banter verses Verbal Abuse LEADING TO Slander. A conversation can develop into a verbal attack quite easily especially where money or reputation is involved. A small group could turn on one person in order to demean that person, or attain self gratification for them selves. The reasons for the attack could be real or menial perhaps as retaliation for a previous offence that the person may have committed or to make the one feel better about one’s own position in the group or in life generally. Holding a grudge can be painful and negative apparently. The most common form of teasing is verbal bullying or taunting. This behavior is intended to distract, irritate, or annoy the recipient. Because it is hurtful, it is different from joking and is generally accompanied by some degree of social exclusion. Verbal abuse (also known as reviling) is described as a negative defining statement told to the victim or about the victim, or by withholding any response, thereby defining the target as non-existent. If the abuser does not immediately apologize and retract the defining statement, the relationship may become a verbally abusive one. The common law origins of defamation lie in the torts of slander (harmful statement in a transitory form, especially speech), each of which gives a common law right of action. Mere vulgar abuse is an insult that is not necessarily defamatory because it is not intended to be taken literally or believed, or likely to cause real damage to a reputation. Vituperative statements made in anger, such as calling someone an asshole during a drunken argument, would likely be considered mere vulgar abuse and not defamatory. The European Convention on Human Rights permits restrictions on freedom of speech when necessary to protect the reputation or rights of others.
Posted on: Mon, 04 Nov 2013 08:18:45 +0000
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