'You Are Nobody!' Is Slander

ladysycamore · 07-09-2004, 02:35 PM

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.j...t&section=news

ROME (Reuters) - A driver who told a parking attendant "You are nobody!" has felt the weight of Italy's legal system, which ruled the seemingly innocuous words constituted slander -- and fined him heavily.

The tiff over a parking space led to Giulio C. being fined 300 euros ($370) plus 500 euros legal costs when a court in the northeast city of Trieste turned down his appeal.

The court ruled the phrase 'you are nobody' "means precisely 'you are a nonentity' and to state that a person is a nonentity is certainly offensive because it is damaging to the dignity of a person."

The decision led celebrated Corriere della Sera commentator Beppe Severgnini to recall in his column on Friday that this was not the first time Italian appeal courts had deliberated on the definition of slander.

Indeed, over the years a sort of "guide to legitimate offence" has been formulated and Severgnini, quoting the courts, gave a few of the more common examples.

"Ball-breaker" is not slander because although "an undoubtedly rude expression it is now in common usage."

"I'll kick your arse" also passes muster because this is a "robust reaction which should be understood in a figurative way."

Under Italian law, the crime of slander is punishable by a maximum fine of 516 euros.

jaguar · 07-09-2004, 02:57 PM

What happens if you call someone an asshole? I'd just be funny to see a legal arguement that the person described does not accurately resemble an asshole.

xoxoxoBruce · 07-09-2004, 05:07 PM

I guess Giulio C. would have been better off just sticking the guy with a stiletto, old school style.

irma · 07-09-2004, 05:11 PM

Trust lawyers to argue any stupidity...

lookout123 · 07-09-2004, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by irma

Trust lawyers to argue any stupidity...

and at 4:15 the baby said- i'm ok, then at 5:30 the baby said - i'm in trouble...

paraphrasing VP Candidate J. Edwards channeling the unborn child who ended with brain damage. big $$$ paid out on that case.

richlevy · 07-09-2004, 06:59 PM

[quote=ladysycamore]

"I'll kick your arse" also passes muster because this is a "robust reaction which should be understood in a figurative way."
QUOTE]

In the US, that might be considered fighting words because of the violent overtone, whether the threat was definite or not.

busterb · 07-09-2004, 07:54 PM

I suppose Bite me has gone by the wayside also?

Crimson Ghost · 07-09-2004, 09:59 PM

Well, insulting someone I can understand being considered slander. What about -

"HEY BABY! EVER HAVE YOUR ASSHOLE LICKED BY A FAT MAN IN AN OVERCOAT?"

What would that be?
A dinner invite?
A marrage proposal?
Any ideas?

Jay and Silent Bob will return...

wolf · 07-10-2004, 12:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crimson Ghost

"HEY BABY! EVER HAVE YOUR ASSHOLE LICKED BY A FAT MAN IN AN OVERCOAT?"

What would that be?

It appears that would very simply be an inquiry.

No implication is made by the asking whether the act has occured.

"You have had your asshole licked by a fat man in an overcoat," were such statement untrue, would be slander (if spoken. libel if printed).

russotto · 07-11-2004, 06:42 PM

"You are nobody" is pretty much true, to any reasonable approximation. Unless you're Zaphod Beeblebrox, anyway.

Cyber Wolf · 07-12-2004, 06:59 AM

Would it have been the same if the driver told the attendant "You do not exist!" and ignored the attendant for the duration of the encounter?

07-09-2004, 02:35 PM	#1
ladysycamore "I may not always be perfect, but I'm always me." Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: In Sycamore's boxers Posts: 1,341	'You Are Nobody!' Is Slander http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.j...t&section=news ROME (Reuters) - A driver who told a parking attendant "You are nobody!" has felt the weight of Italy's legal system, which ruled the seemingly innocuous words constituted slander -- and fined him heavily. The tiff over a parking space led to Giulio C. being fined 300 euros ($370) plus 500 euros legal costs when a court in the northeast city of Trieste turned down his appeal. The court ruled the phrase 'you are nobody' "means precisely 'you are a nonentity' and to state that a person is a nonentity is certainly offensive because it is damaging to the dignity of a person." The decision led celebrated Corriere della Sera commentator Beppe Severgnini to recall in his column on Friday that this was not the first time Italian appeal courts had deliberated on the definition of slander. Indeed, over the years a sort of "guide to legitimate offence" has been formulated and Severgnini, quoting the courts, gave a few of the more common examples. "Ball-breaker" is not slander because although "an undoubtedly rude expression it is now in common usage." "I'll kick your arse" also passes muster because this is a "robust reaction which should be understood in a figurative way." Under Italian law, the crime of slander is punishable by a maximum fine of 516 euros. __________________ "Freedom is not given. It is our right at birth. But there are some moments when it must be taken." ~Tagline from the movie "Amistad"~ "The Akan concept of Sankofa: In order to move forward we first have to take a step back. In other words, before we can be prepared for the future, we must comprehend the past." From "We Did It, They Hid It"

07-09-2004, 02:57 PM	#2
jaguar whig Join Date: Apr 2001 Posts: 5,075	What happens if you call someone an asshole? I'd just be funny to see a legal arguement that the person described does not accurately resemble an asshole. __________________ Good friends, good books and a sleepy conscience: this is the ideal life. - Twain

07-09-2004, 05:07 PM	#3
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	I guess Giulio C. would have been better off just sticking the guy with a stiletto, old school style. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

07-09-2004, 06:59 PM	#6
richlevy King Of Wishful Thinking Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Philadelphia Suburbs Posts: 6,669	[quote=ladysycamore] "I'll kick your arse" also passes muster because this is a "robust reaction which should be understood in a figurative way." QUOTE] In the US, that might be considered fighting words because of the violent overtone, whether the threat was definite or not. __________________ Exercise your rights and remember your obligations - VOTE! I have always believed that hope is that stubborn thing inside us that insists, despite all the evidence to the contrary, that something better awaits us so long as we have the courage to keep reaching, to keep working, to keep fighting. -- Barack Hussein Obama

07-09-2004, 07:54 PM	#7
busterb NSABFD Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: MS. usa Posts: 3,908	I suppose Bite me has gone by the wayside also? __________________ I've haven't left very deep footprints in the sands of time. But, boy I've left a bunch.

07-09-2004, 05:11 PM	#4
irma Lead Subordinate Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 15	Trust lawyers to argue any stupidity...

07-09-2004, 09:59 PM	#8
Crimson Ghost Larger than life and twice as ugly. Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 5,264	Well, insulting someone I can understand being considered slander. What about - "HEY BABY! EVER HAVE YOUR ASSHOLE LICKED BY A FAT MAN IN AN OVERCOAT?" What would that be? A dinner invite? A marrage proposal? Any ideas? Jay and Silent Bob will return... __________________ We must all go through a rite of passage. It must be physical, it must be painful, and it must leave a mark. I have no knowledge of the events which you are describing, and if I did have knowledge of them, I would be unable to discuss them with you now or at any future period. Don't waste your time always searching for those wasted years

07-11-2004, 06:42 PM	#10
russotto Professor Join Date: Jan 2001 Posts: 1,788	In context... "You are nobody" is pretty much true, to any reasonable approximation. Unless you're Zaphod Beeblebrox, anyway.

07-12-2004, 06:59 AM	#11
Cyber Wolf As stable as a ring of PU-239 Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: On a huge rock covered in water, highly advanced moss and 7 billion parasites Posts: 1,264	Would it have been the same if the driver told the attendant "You do not exist!" and ignored the attendant for the duration of the encounter? __________________ "I don't see what's so triffic about creating people as people and then getting' upset 'cos they act like people." ~Adam Young, Good Omens "I don't see why it matters what is written. Not when it's about people. It can always be crossed out." ~Adam Young, Good Omens

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