Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
Flaming
Most likely, when you use chat rooms or social networks or comment
on websites, you interact quite happily with other users. Occasionally,
however, you may find that some users become quite hostile. This hap-
pens frequently on sites like YouTube, which gives users the option to
post comments, and on social networking sites like Facebook. Some of
the comments become negative and personal, complete with insults and
swear words. This is called
flaming
. When the negativity escalates as
more comments are posted, it is known as a flame war.
flaming
Where Internet users interact in a hostile
way with each other.
Libel and Slander
Libel and slander are similar in that both are statements that can cause
damage to someone's reputation.
Libel
is the act of putting a false and defamatory statement in writing.
Any false statement that could damage the reputation of an individual
or organization could be considered to be libel. Because it is written, it
can have a lasting effect on the individual or company being libeled. For
example, a libelous comment published on Twitter and then retweeted
to others could spread quickly. It would be difficult to control the spread
and to undo the damage caused. In most countries, libel is a civil offense.
That means the person or organization being libeled would have to take
legal action to obtain any form of compensation or redress. For libel to
be upheld, it must be proved that the statement is untrue.
libel
Putting in writing a defamatory statement
that could damage a person's or organization's
reputation.
Slander
is the verbal version of libel. Slander might consist of negative
comments about an individual or group that are made as part of a phone
or face-to-face conversation; in the digital world, it may include slander-
ous comments made on an online-published video or in a group video
conference. The effect is just as damaging to the reputation of the target
individual.
slander
Making a defamatory verbal statement
that could damage a person's or organization's
reputation.
Spamming
Spam
—that is, unsolicited or “junk” email, typically containing offers
(some legitimate, some not) for electronic goods, drugs, software, and
so on—is a major problem on the Internet. These emails are sent in bulk,
bombarding thousands if not millions of users at a time. There are vary-
ing estimates of how much email is spam, but most put the number at
80% or more. Although most email programs include a junk email filter,
many of these emails still slip through to fill users' inboxes, as shown in
Figure 12.3. As a result, users waste valuable time reading and deleting
unwanted messages.
spam
Unsolicited “junk” mail, typically containing
offers (some legitimate, some not) of products or
services to buy.
