Man fined for insulting ex-girlfriend on Facebook
Sometimes, we say things we just don't mean. Or, more accurately, that we really do mean, but we wish we hadn't said in public.
Still, with fewer people seeming to care about privacy anymore, the untoward consequences of our free expressions can be costly. It seems, for example, that saying something nasty to your ex-girlfriend on Facebook might cost you 165 British pounds (around $250).
According to the Telegraph, Darren Mattox, a 29-year-old from Wrexham, Wales, confessed in court to writing something "grossly offensive or of an indecent, obscene, or menacing character" to a Facebook friend who happened to be his ex-girlfriend.
The court didn't reveal the precise wording of his dismissive missive, but the prosecuting attorney reportedly declared: "The message was brief but clearly of a harassing nature. He claims he just wants to see his baby."
While few can know the full circumstances of this particular case--Mattox was reportedly upset that he couldn't get to see the son he had with his ex-girlfriend--one wonders just what precedent this case might set. Mattox's lawyer told the Telegraph: "He basically made a posting calling her an offensive name."
When things are said during arguments, people might hold a grudge, or they might never speak to the speaker again, but rarely does this sort of thing end up in court.
Social-networking sites, however, can offer clear, lasting evidence of rude words tossed in love, excitement, pain, and even anger. When you say something to someone, even if it's in front of others, it's hard for them to hold you at your word. When you write it on a social network, it's incontrovertible evidence.
It's interesting that for all the nasty words that seem to get tossed around on Facebook daily, this case is the one that ends up in court. I wonder if it will encourage more people to turn to the courtroom to assuage their hurt feelings.
Will people attempt to sue because someone called them a liar on Facebook? Will they attempt to take Facebook group creators--pick any Facebook group that begins with "I hate" and is followed by someone's name--through a legal process that will turn out to be expensive no matter who wins?
We live in interestingly public times.
Chris Matyszczyk is an award-winning creative director who advises major corporations on content creation and marketing. He brings an irreverent, sarcastic, and sometimes ironic voice to the tech world. He is a member of the CNET Blog Network and is not an employee of CNET. 
Having a freedom doesn't entitle you to be irresponsible with it.
and... this has nothing to do with free speech anyway.
i wonder what he called her. ****, right? it had to be ****.
Last time I checked, England is not a member of the United States.
> Whatever happenned to freedom of speech?
Last time I checked, England is not a member of the United States.
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They still have something in their 'Constitution' like document that is analogous to the Freedom of Speech here in the United States. Sure, they aren't part of the United States.... but they are still ignoring their own laws.
Next time, actually have a clue about what laws exist in the UK before typing another load of ill-informed crap.
Im not surprised this happened in your country either, given what I know about your Libel law system.
That is a very short-sighted way of looking at the situation. What about if someone wrote a racial slur on your front door or left degrading phone messages on your voice mail daily? Expressing an opinion is one thing, but what about when things are taken to the point where it can be construed as harrassment? Would you be okay living in fear because someone else was simply expressing their opinion about you?
Having the freedom of speech does not entitle you to abuse it. When the excercise of your freedom impedes the rights of others then you've taken things too far. At that point there should and are in fact be consequences.
This is the same paper that recently ran an article about a "think tank" whinging that none of the three main political parties here are willing to consider putting full VAT on necessary food, AKA disproportionately taxing the poor even more, to speed up reduction of the deficit. These people are shameless.
If you could have someone fined for calling you a rude name the courts would have to install turnstiles.
This entire article hasn't been thought through before someone hit the submit button.
we may live in interesting times but we still live in different countries with different jurisdictions
I just can't leave without commenting on the D.A. who was "prosecuting" this guy... Slow crime day?
Probably not smart considering that he was in a custody battle to see his baby, but still, getting a fine for calling someone a [insert offensive name here] is kind of ridiculous.
Slander is just plain wrong, Cowards weapon!!
Besides that, in this case, depending on what the guy said, it might be considered libel. And, as other posters have pointed out, this all took place in the UK, where the speech laws are different.
In any event, I think insulting someone from whom you want something is a really dumb idea. "Gee, because you just insulted me, I'm going to do what you want." I can understand he felt frustrated, but that didn't help anything, regardless of the fine.
Think twice before you send something to the 'net, even if it's a private Facebook posting. In some court cases, private emails have been dredged up years later.
Never mind.
- by boabyd March 16, 2010 1:23 PM PDT
- by R. U. Sirius March 12, 2010 6:07 PM PST
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Showing 1 of 2 pages (36 Comments)> Whatever happenned to freedom of speech?
Last time I checked, England is not a member of the United States
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Maybe you should check the map of Britain, AND you will notice that
WALES IS NOT in england, just because it borders it does not mean it's part of it.
No more than Canada and the USA