Libertarian Party threatens Libel against Hadleigh Roberts
M’learned friends, we all know that I am not somebody who does things by halves. Once again, I have entered a conflict through the Internet.
Indeed, like the last time such an event as this occured on Youtube in the case of Hadleigh Roberts vs. nobnp4uk.
If it please the court, we shall now discuss the case of Libertarian Party vs. Hadleigh Roberts.
The first piece of evidence, nay, the remarks at the heart of this case, took place at 4:05 PM Jul 25 on Twitter, where Mr. Roberts (the defendant) wrote:
Hahah Norwich North. Just heard creepy libertarian kid got 36 votes!
4:05 PM Jul 25th
Then, a representative of the Libertarian Party, Henry North (whose real name is Rohen Kapur) launched the following accusation:
Why is he creepy Do you want me to tell him so that he can get a libel case against you?
8:38 PM Jul 25th
Immediately afterwards, at 20:41, the following message was delivered from the plaintiff via the contact page on Mr. Roberts’ website, http://hadleigh.eu :
Come on then fess up Whats so creepy about us?
Up until 1914 the British Political system was highly libertarian So its not so long ago
Free trade existed in one quarter of the globe thanks to the British Empire
Is that creepy feeling getting worse yet?
It seems that the Libertarians don’t believe the state should control rules on punctuation or communication, as it curtails the individuals right to bang their skull on the keyboard.
Humouring “Mr. North”, Mr. Roberts replied:
I don’t think you can libel against an opinion. Not a very Libertarian thing to do either.
8:48 PM Jul 25th
So after this amusingly hypocritical accusation, the Libertarian substantiated the case:
Offense against the person, When not there to defend it… Libel Published word ( twitter is publishing) defaming person
10:39 PM Jul 25th
Again, never knowing when not to bother using rational argument, commented:
I can see the headlines now. “Libertarian Party claims libel after mouthy student in France calls candidate “creepy” on Twitter”
2:40 AM Jul 26th
Though I look forward to the amusing possibility of being extradited from France for calling somebody “creepy”, I can’t see it happening.
However, I am suitably flattered that a casual (and inoffensive) remark from me is enough to count as “defaming” someone. The candidate in question (whose name I don’t know) clearly lost a good deal of his reputation, which might seriously damage the whopping 36 votes he got in the Norwich North byelection.
So apart from regaining a massive blow to his popularity, the Libertarians have little to gain from all this. They certainly won’t be winning any money; as a student, I don’t have any apart from my recent paycheck of 300 Euros (not even the currency they want) and 50 Euros of that already went on Amazon.fr
I will also add further to the irony in that on his blog, “Henry North” calls a Labour party member a word beginning with C. Not “creepy”; a four letter word. How’s that for defamation? Even Clarkson got in trouble for that.
Still, I could use the publicity!
(PS. How long before the Libertarian trolls migrate to this blog and take this obvious, yet truthful, bait? Thanks for the extra hits, guys!)
Answer: 5 hours. Though my website was down for a few of those.
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Do it again. Copy ensuing conversation here.
Thank you so much for publishing my real name
You really are an overweening statist and authoritarian aren't you?
Defence of ones self or of others is primarily libertarian
Expect exposure If you have skeletons, I will expose them
Simple Chris is stirring he wants to see if Im going to get even more shirty with you I would rather just show you up to be the interfering little busybody that you are.
Im old enough to be your father Dont mess with me.
Mr Hadleigh Roberts born 10th March 1989 I was already at University by then.
Dont you dare do anything more You have been warned I dont threaten idly. I will carry out and complete a vendetta if you continue to harass me.
Is that someone threatening harassment? I'm not sure that's terribly libertarian. I'm certainly not sure if it's very legal…
Breaking News: Libertarian knows how to use Google.
Seeing the words 'libertarian' and 'empire' in the same argument is the sort of thing that makes me chuckle/despair.
Liberty, er, comes from the barrel of a gun…
I think they have to find and pay a "French barrister" to advocate on the extradition trial. Perhaps you will kill the libertarian party for the economical mayhem it will pose for them.
As much as I wish LPUK way, this was bloody hilarious.
The more I learn about the LPUK, the less credibility I attach to them! For months they talked up their chances on the blogosphere (starting out at the Devil's Kitchen blog, a place I usually find is the site for far more reasonable content).
A message has been left on my blog telling me not to wish them away or some such, so maybe I have been given a subtle warning too….
I have several problems with what "Mr. North" has said.
"Defence of ones self or of others is primarily libertarian", I would have said it was basic survival instinct? Or am I not smart enough to get 36 votes?
"Im old enough to be your father"… do we need a paternity test? I'm not sure what the point there was.
"1989 I was already at University by then", firstly that sentence needs some punctuation (as did most of them), but doesn't 20 years leave a lot of time to forget what he learned then?
A "vendetta" seems a bit excessive for calling his buddy "creepy", almost vindictive. Does Mr. North have enough spare time to carry out whatever threats he may have in mind?
How did Mr. Roberts "harrass" Mr. North, given that his original "creepy" comment was not made at Mr. North, and that Mr. North is the one who has been making aggressive comments?
If anyone wants to get offended by this and sue me for libel, go ahead. I shall sit here quite happily with a can of lager, a packet of custard creams, and smile to myself.
Hahahaha… Internet Hard Man!
[...] Read the story here. [...]
Pot calls kettle
http://www.thedaveandjamespage.co.uk/index.php/al…
I have nothing more to say suffice that it was the end of a very long day and an overreaction. Those without sin can cast the first stone.
What is the pot calling the kettle?
ahahaha… be careful hadleigh, what with all those skeletons Im sure you have in your closet. either way, I'm pretty sure that calling someone "creepy" is merely an opinion, and considering freedom of speech you are perfectly welcome to express yourself.
Taken from the header of his blog, the comments from him that I have seen completely fly in the face of the Great Noam Chomsky:
"IF WE DON'T BELIEVE IN FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION FOR PEOPLE WE DESPISE, WE DON'T BELIEVE IN IT AT ALL." -NOAM CHOMSKY
Well put Bevan! Pretty soon political correctness will make it hard for me to live in the UK!
Hey I love the traffic hits though.
Life is nothing without paradox
There are an infinite amount of paradoxes in life. In fact the complex nature of human life is nothing but a constant balance of opposing forces.
I'm harassing you? What a joke! You started this whole thing. I'm just having a laugh.
If you're upset about your real name, don't post a big picture of yourself with your real name on your Twitter feed.
Just so you know.
…who preferred to remain anonymous!
I find it funny; the idea of harassing someone on my *own* space on the internet.
Your apology is accepted.