What Is Character Assassination?

[MiemsJewels]

The link: http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-char...assination.htm
An edited extract from: What Is Character Assassination?

Character assassination is the attempt to discredit a person through damage to his or her personal character. This tactic is often used to harm an individual for spite or personal gain. Even on the internet - public or private chat rooms too. When character assassination is attempted through the use of lies, gross exaggeration, or misrepresentation of facts, it may be considered slander or libel, and may sometimes result in legal charges.

In general, the goal of character assassination is to cause some harm to the target as a result of the stories or rumors. The rumors spread do not necessarily need to be related to the issue at hand, they need only to cause people to question whether the target adheres to culturally acceptable moral and personal standards.

In smaller settings, such as workplaces etc., bullying tactics may take the form of character assassination. If a person wishes to get revenge on a foe, he or she may spread rumors. While these tales may seem frivolous, they can cause the targeted individual to experience scorn and mistreatment from people, and can lead to social isolation and even depression. (THAT EXACTLY HAPPENED TO SOMEONE I KNOW!!)

Character assassination is frequently associated with direct accusations, frequently stress negative aspects of a person's character in order to create a more flattering picture of his or her "opponent."

While some attempts at character assassination may pass on verifiable information, those that deal in lies and exaggerations run dangerous close to illegality. Knowingly and maliciously spreading lies is illegal in many regions, and may result in criminal charges levied against the instigator. Slander and libel laws aim to prevent character assassination through lying, but are charges are often difficult to prove in court.

[MiemsJewels]

Was a Certain Person's banning not based on a case of successful Character Assassination?! The same few people kept on targeting him over and over - without any links given to his-, like they still proclaim till this very day; "His one-sided, very bad behavior towards "most" members"
Some have even make a public mockery of him after he was banned - "spitting" on his sincere public apology! The sad irony is that Nobody reprimanded them for doing that at all. That evidence is still in the forums too.

His banning it seems, was indeed a successful Character Assassination Case...

Or is he just a nasty foe?
This is so sad...............

[lilythepink]

Miems, there seem to be ultra-strict rules for some and not for others. Perhaps the person you are thinking of insulted one of the ol' fogies without a sense of humour, and he/she perhaps complained to qball? One thing that we all know is that we may not make derogatory personal comments on this forum so one does have to be careful when posting.

[mellowred]

When I first started posting on this forum, I though the powers that be were too quick to shut down threads and force us to stick to the "straight and narrow". I found it a bit stifling and thought it overly autocratic.

BUT I have since changed my mind about that. At least we know the rules here. We can either stick to them or go to other forums that allow you to vent and take on personal attacks without any intervention. I'm pretty comfortable here in my little zone.

We all form personal opinions of our fellow forum members. Some we like, some we don't like, and others really don't matter at all to us. That is our personal choice. The problem comes in when someone that we either like or dislike is banned. Naturally, our reaction to the banning will be biased.

I was shocked and devastated when one of my favourites was banned a long time ago.

Good thing is, most bannings come to an end. So hang in there Miems.

[lilythepink]

And most of us know who was banned a long time ago. ROFL It was over something pretty petty I wrote in a PM, so also be careful what you say in PMs as they do get read by BoB's "secret service".

[booksallsizes]

And most of us know who was banned a long time ago. ROFL It was over something pretty petty I wrote in a PM, so also be careful what you say in PMs as they do get read by BoB's "secret service".

Which, I think, is scarily "Big Brother"-ish. It's not like a PM is public - so what's up with screening those? That was very unfair of them, Lily!

[lilythepink]

Life isn't fair, balls. One learns to get over the little, nonsensical things as one gets older!

[Seeds for Africa]

Which, I think, is scarily "Big Brother"-ish. It's not like a PM is public - so what's up with screening those? That was very unfair of them, Lily!

I suspect that the logic of screening pm's is to check that contact details are not passed on, and that deals arent done outside of the bidorbuy system.

[booksallsizes]

Life isn't fair, balls. One learns to get over the little, nonsensical things as one gets older!

You're right - can't let small things get you down...
Found this lovely picture this morning that I will use as my motto from now on:

[lilythepink]

You may be right, Grant! But it's good to be aware of BoB's "secret service" with PMs.

[booksallsizes]

I suspect that the logic of screening pm's is to check that contact details are not passed on, and that deals arent done outside of the bidorbuy system.

You're right, Grant, that makes perfect sense - but one's private comments to another shouldn't really be screened...

[voldermort]

BUT I have since changed my mind about that. At least we know the rules here. We can either stick to them or go to other forums that allow you to vent and take on personal attacks without any intervention. I'm pretty comfortable here in my little zone.

Exactly, and even though I am no forum fundi I really don't think the rules are bad at all (ok, I admit I have never read the rules ) but just as I imagine the majority of us would not go up to a complete stranger on the street & start talking a lot of rubbish to them so too does the same apply here. It takes only a bit of common sense to see which forum members share the same sense of humour as you and which do not. Also at the end of the day this is a "working" forum (hope that makes sense) & quite a few members come on here to ask "work" related questions etc etc only.
As Cuan has said before.......this is also a public platform and I for one would be mortified, actually I think I would die, if I were to say something really vulgar or common and have everybody see it (I never do, but still ) Not only do we all as sellers surely want to maintain our reputations but equally I'm sure BoB would like their forum members to have fun, for sure, but at the same time to behave in a decent & civil manner.

[mellowred]

... but just as I imagine the majority of us would not go up to a complete stranger on the street & start talking a lot of rubbish to them so too does the same apply here. It takes only a bit of common sense to see which forum members share the same sense of humour as you and which do not. ...

100% agree V.

Just as in face to face conversation, we have to respect the other persons views and most importantly humour. Joking aside now, there are things I know I can say to you, for instance, that I would not say to others because they may take it differently, be sensitive, or offended.

And then we have Wayne ..... LOL

[wayjen]

JUDASES!!!

Somebody called?

[voldermort]

JUDASES!!!

Somebody called?

Oh pleeeezzzzz....I told you at least call us Jezebels or something else for a change. Pretty soon you are going to have me signing my name as Judas.