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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]This is no doubt a very sad situation, however libel is a civil matter, not criminal.  An absolute defense to a libel charge is truth.  If the web postings are true, there is no claim to be made.  This may be unfortunate, but in today's social media environment where people put themselves in positions where their relationships can become public, this is what you end up with.  Again, I'm not saying it's right, but people need to educate themselves on this and beware.[/quote]

Is cyber bullying the same as libel? I thought it was different.[/quote]

No, they are not the same. But in Virginia I do believe it is still case law that to call a woman unchaste is a tort, so if the published rumors were not true than it could be actionable.  However, I don't see this, or frankly, any family pursuing such a claim. It would result in basically putting victim on trial, it would be horrible.

In Richmond a few years ago there was a case of a man running for a local elected office (something minor, like a county attorney or school board).  Anyway, tumors started circulating online that he was cheating on his wife with several women, it spiraled out of control and took a life of its own, very similar to the FU postings. This man dropped out of the race and shot himself, leaving behind several children and a wife.  It's incredible how juvenile and just plain horrible adults can behave towards one another, without even considering the repercussions or how they would approach the situation if someone was doing it to their child for instance.   This man left behind a note that apparently referenced how humiliated he was from all the online stories and how never felt no one would ever trust him.  It was terrible sad. [/quote]

If it was true that he was having affairs on the side, voters might find that to be relevant information.  I don't think it's right to hush things up just because a political candidate might be embarrassed by his own behavior.  It is terrible and very sad that he killed himself but I don't think that turning a blind eye to this sort of behavior is necessarily the right thing to do.[/quote]

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