Should naming and shaming be allowed?

[t-bo]

The trouble is even if someone is posting the truth about a bad shop (and therefore RFUK isnt publishing anything liable) I can still be taken to court by the shop in question if I refuse to remove the posts. It would have to be ultimately decided on by the court who is in the wrong and potentially I could be left with court costs or worse!

In the US it is different because its possible to ensure that a user is responsible for there own posts so it is only the person posting the information who can get sued, whereas in the UK a webmaster can be done for 'publishing' liable no matter what the circumstances of the user posting it.

Its all very dodgy ground to be honest, ive often said in the past its 'fair game' to post your negative experiences (not negative opinions) but if I am approached by the shop/business in question I would probably have to remove or edit the thread. However, these days and the bigger RFUK gets, if someone posts about a shop / business / person they find out very quickly! A while ago there had been a few people slagging off a business and I was contacted by the business and threatened with legal action, I noticed when searching for the company in question in Google the company was first and the thread slagging them off on RFUK was second! (lol I can see the damages and loss of earnings costs being awarded by the court now)

Its basically better and safer for all concerned to keep any actual naming to PM. Name the area, the type of business and your EXPERIENCE in the thread but keep the name to PM... most people will know who you are talking about if they are in the same area.

[candoia aspera]

it could cause legal issues and tbh if you ain't man enough to sort suff out mano eh mano then you shouldn't really be in charge of animal / reptiles.

[C_Strike]

Originally Posted by bci

it could cause legal issues and tbh if you ain't man enough to sort suff out mano eh mano then you shouldn't really be in charge of animal / reptiles.

Thtat doesnt make sense to me, lol
The reason i would try to post names would be to help other people avoid the bad trader, i apreciate people posting their experiences with sellers/traders. Its nice to see a traders review. I mean a review, not a slagging contest just posts of personal experience, good and bad, to help peoples decisions. I personally am wiery of names i dont know, so many times the trader/ seller review on T-store has helped me make my decision, its so damn helpful.
I recon there is going to be a damn big amount of scams that has taken place that need not have had, and a large sum have money having been transfered after reading through a trader review.
TBH, T-store reviews are actually mostly positive and for confirmation of different names and sites. scammers tha know of the reviews tend not to frequent that site for fear of being blacklisted.

[sparkle]

NO... if it caused legal hassle for t-bo then its not fair...

but in general YES

[C_Strike]

Originally Posted by sparkle

NO... if it caused legal hassle for t-bo then its not fair...

but in general YES

If it caused legal hassle for T-bo i would agree NO, but if done correctly i dont see how it can.
There is plenty of consumer review sites already, and i know at least one forum that can.

[michellexx]

I voted yes but only with proof.

[955i]

Personally, I think people have a right to know if people are going to rip them off/sell substandard animals etc. And vendor feedback does not have to be all negative, people can post positive experiences as well. All it would take is a bit of extra moderating to make sure that what is said is fact and not just petty slagging off.

Quite aside from the standpoint that the best way to stop many petshops keeping animals in bad health and conditions is to take away the buyers, not everyone knows when a herp looks healthy or how it is kept, so it is easy for beginners to get lumbered with animals that will never be 100% (if they survive at all).

Everyone on here (and other reptile forums) complains about the RSPCA and how useless they are and their relationship with the antis, but what option are people left with if we don't have the nads to try and police our own hobby in an attempt to get rid of the sellers and shops who are, when all is said and done, the examples that will be used by the RSPCA when they finally get to close our hobby down!

[ratboy]

Originally Posted by Frogeye 1050

Following on from another thread, do you think it should be allowed on public forums?

No. Way too open to abuse from people that fall out with each other.

One post could ruin somebodies business and livelyhood.

[slither61]

Hi all,

If it is the truth, you could send a letter or email and explain your problem.

Give the shop a chance to diagest it, if they then do not give a satifactory explanation, or take no action to sort the problem.

Yes then name and shame, if you have proof and it is the truth and have witnesses.

But it works both ways, if you go to a shop that is very good send the shop an email and tell of your experience.
Also post on here.

slither61

[Fangio]

I would love to be able to. I've seen some disgusting stuff today at a shop in Chelmsford and reported it to the rspca and will be contacting the council on monday (they didn't return my call today). The shop owner (who I know) wasn't there. I'm not messing around with this one, the tort in question needs out of that shop ASAP and probably would be euthanised TBH

Sadly I can't name it publically