Naming and shaming
Discussion
We're often asked why the 'no naming and shaming' rule exists on PistonHeads. Why can't bad dealers or businesses be outed etc?
Well, there are a number of reasons...
1) It's simply a matter of fairness. All too often you hear a 'horror' story about a dealer only to later talk to the dealer involved and find that there are considerably different views on what actually took place. In other words, there are bad customers out there as well as bad dealers. Some people expect too much, distort the facts in their favour, etc.
2) Who are we to act as judge and jury when someone posts something bad about a business? We can't verify the 'facts' as presented. If the dealer doesn't even know that the message has been posted then it's very unfair on their business to be defamed in public with no opportunity to respond.
3) Even if the dealer or company does frequent this site, is it right that a dispute should be argued out in public? That's no way to resolve matters sensibly.
4) If any of this happens, PistonHeads then becomes involved as a 'publisher' of what may be libellous, making matters even more complex. If we're asked to remove comments by a company and we consider them potentially libellous then we will take them off the site and take action against the member that posted the content.
To summarise, disputes are best dealt with in the real world through normal channels. Doing it online merely opens a can of worms for the person posting the message, for PistonHeads and for the business being discussed.
We have no desire to become embroiled in disputes and start providing transcripts of threads to solicitors (yes, it has happened). Many people do not realise that they are opening themselves up to accusations of libel too.
So, the answer is that we ask people not to indulge in 'name and shame' discussions. It's the simplest solution found. Equally, please remember that you agreed to this rule when you signed up to PistonHeads.
Well, there are a number of reasons...
1) It's simply a matter of fairness. All too often you hear a 'horror' story about a dealer only to later talk to the dealer involved and find that there are considerably different views on what actually took place. In other words, there are bad customers out there as well as bad dealers. Some people expect too much, distort the facts in their favour, etc.
2) Who are we to act as judge and jury when someone posts something bad about a business? We can't verify the 'facts' as presented. If the dealer doesn't even know that the message has been posted then it's very unfair on their business to be defamed in public with no opportunity to respond.
3) Even if the dealer or company does frequent this site, is it right that a dispute should be argued out in public? That's no way to resolve matters sensibly.
4) If any of this happens, PistonHeads then becomes involved as a 'publisher' of what may be libellous, making matters even more complex. If we're asked to remove comments by a company and we consider them potentially libellous then we will take them off the site and take action against the member that posted the content.
To summarise, disputes are best dealt with in the real world through normal channels. Doing it online merely opens a can of worms for the person posting the message, for PistonHeads and for the business being discussed.
We have no desire to become embroiled in disputes and start providing transcripts of threads to solicitors (yes, it has happened). Many people do not realise that they are opening themselves up to accusations of libel too.
So, the answer is that we ask people not to indulge in 'name and shame' discussions. It's the simplest solution found. Equally, please remember that you agreed to this rule when you signed up to PistonHeads.
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