How to deal with a personal attack on hubpages?

1. 94

   Thomas Swanposted 11 years ago

   I had an argument with someone on hubpages recently (no surprise there!). It got pretty heated, so I deleted the comments capsule on my hub. This prompted the other person to write a hub solely about me and my hub. They've been careful not to mention me by name, but it would be very easy for his readers to view his recent activity and immediately see the hub he was referring to, and thus the name of the author (me). You can also see the only recent hub he's had an "unapproved comment" on (mine). He describes me in detail, without using my name, and describes the topic of my hub so it can be easily found in his recent activity. Anyone could take 30 seconds to find out who he's talking about.
   
   It was a very hurtful hub that distorted the facts to make me look like a horrible person. I have flagged the hub, but do the staff even look at flagging? What more can I do? In my opinion, this person should be banned from hubpages. Given the ease with which someone could discover it was about me, I consider it defamation. Perhaps that's a strong word. At the very least it's a malicious personal attack. Please help.

   replyreport
   1. 80

      Simone Smithposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      The staff does indeed look at everything Hubbers report, and if we can establish concrete grounds for a personal attack, we can certainly take action against the Hubber in question.
      
      What is even more important, however, is that you ignore the actions of this person to the greatest extent possible and do NOT respond or engage in any way. The more you feed into it, the worse it will become.
      
      Doing this is not easy, but it's the only thing that you can really control in situations like this, especially if you cannot provide sufficient evidence of a clear personal attack.

      replyreport
      1. 94

         Thomas Swanposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         Thanks for the reply. I resisted the temptation to respond to his hub with a story of what really happened. I hope HP can sort this out soon. Every time I think about it being up there for people to read it hurts. I guess that was its intended purpose though.

         replyreport
   2. 74

      Cantuhearmescreamposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Thomas Swan,
      I know it's extremely frustrating and I'm sorry that you're being put through this. From my experience, I can say that it's not too hard to spot the immature and rude people around here. I would imagine that most people that might come upon his hub will disregard it and it will probably make him seem even more insignificant. 
      Cat

      replyreport
      1. 94

         Thomas Swanposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         Thanks for the support. Hopefully you're right and it only served to make him look petty and childish.

         replyreport
         1. 74

            Cantuhearmescreamposted 11 years agoin reply to this

            I'm sure. I've had some rude people comment on my pages and then try to carry it over to another page, I think it just shows their simple thinking. Many of us have probably dealt with some version or another of this and so we are keen to these kind of people (and in my experience; have even less patience for them). Hang in there, he'll probably get tired before you. :-)

            replyreport
   3. 81

      gmwilliamsposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I had two people who did that to me.  However, I reported those hubs as personal attacks and they were unpublished.   Eventually, the culprits in question WERE BANNED from HubPages.

      replyreport
   4. 0

      Sarra Garrettposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Hi Thomas.  I'm so sorry to hear that you were 'attacked' by obviously a very unprofessional person.  I have had to flag someone as well which I generally don't like to do.  However, when it comes to being personally attacked you have to do something.  I'd ignore this person from now on let HP bust them, slander is slander no matter where you are in the world.  It's sad there is no safe place anymore wether it be in cyber space or terra firma.  Rock on my fellow hubbing friend and keep writing.

      replyreport
2. 82

   lovebuglenaposted 11 years ago

   Wow! Why would someone do such a thing?

   replyreport
3. 89

   Stacie Lposted 11 years ago

   If someone names you and writes harmful things about you, then doesn't it fall under a slander category?
   Sander is a lawsuit in many states so consult a lawyer for peace of mind.

   replyreport
4. 79

   Healthy Pursuitsposted 11 years ago

   Thomas,
   It's a shame that someone would attack you, when you write so well. I've also received comments from you on my hubs that were very thoughtful and insightful.
   
   For anyone who reads this, I highly recommend that you read and follow Thomas. It's a great counter to the unfair actions of a person who  needs some manners.
   
   Some people just get crazy, and they fairly scream crap at you in writing that they'd never say to you in person. Or if they did, they'd be arrested for disturbing the peace or disorderly conduct - or maybe they'd just be slapped into a straitjacket and hauled away.

   replyreport
   1. 94

      Thomas Swanposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Cheers Healthy Pursuits! Your hubs are some of the best on hubpages, so I'm very flattered by your endorsement. You're right that people talk on the internet in a different manner to how they do in life. I would have thought that deleting the comments section on my hub would have ended it, but I guess they were determined.

      replyreport
      1. 91

         Cardisaposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         I am sorry this happened to you Thomas, I had a similar experience last year as well. The person in question also proceeded to attack other hubbers who didn't take to it kindly. They have been banned from the site. Just ignore them and I assure you they will get what's coming to them.
         
         Hubpages is not for writing about other hubbers unless it's inspirational or educational so sooner or later they will find out this the hard way.

         replyreport
         1. 94

            Thomas Swanposted 11 years agoin reply to this

            Thanks Cardisa, your experience is similar to mine. After a brief look I've found two other hubs where he is doing the same thing. Hopefully others took the time to complain, and my complaint is the straw that breaks the camels back!

            replyreport
         2. 81

            gmwilliamsposted 11 years agoin reply to this

            It is totally defamatory and unprofessional to write about another hubber.   In addition to that, it is totally unethical to say the least.

            replyreport
      2. 79

         Healthy Pursuitsposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         What a nice compliment, Thomas! Thank you.

         replyreport
   2. 75

      CarlySullensposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I am now following Thomas. 

      replyreport
5. 85

   rebekahELLEposted 11 years ago

   The actions you describe sound like they come from a very insecure, immature person on the site.  I wouldn't give it another thought if it doesn't name you specifically.  You're feeding the dragon and fanning the flames - and anyone who would follow the activity of someone to see who they're bashing is hardly worth worrying about.  Concentrate on your purpose for being here at HP.   Personal attacks say more about the person attacking than who or what is attacked, don't take it personally.

   replyreport
6. 73

   seanorjohnposted 11 years ago

   Hey Thomas you are an intelligent guy. You should not waste your energy on crazy guys.Anyone who writes negative stuff about a fellow hubber is not taken seriously. I guess you got caught up in an argument on the religious forums. This is par for the course.Take care and ignore idiotic and childish rants.

   replyreport
7. 60

   LindaSmith1posted 11 years ago

   Thomas: You can report it. I have been harrassed by the same people here for 2 years, and have sent in multiple reports. HP did nothing.

   replyreport
8. 80

   VictoriaSheffieldposted 11 years ago

   wow!

   replyreport
9. 61

   ytsenohposted 11 years ago

   Thomas, don't let the situation have power over you.  I have this philosophy that once a person gets into a heated debate, there are no winners.  Just move forward in a positive fashion.  There are a lot of unkind people in the world.  Have a good weekend writing.

   replyreport
10. 72

    SidKempposted 11 years ago

    Thomas, I do know how hard attacks like this can be.
    
    Please, though, consider: What people say says only something about themselves, and not about the person they are speaking of or writing about. This other hubber is only making himself look bad. Abraham Lincoln was called a gorilla once, and he didn't grow fur.

    replyreport
11. 88

    Marketing Meritposted 11 years ago

    You have to be the bigger person and rise above this attack Thomas. Take control and don't  allow this person to get under your skin. He/she means nothing to you so don't waste another minute dwelling on it.
    
    So what if people realise that it's your hub he's referring to? You'll get an increase in hub views and more cash in the bank at the end of the day. As the saying goes, "there's no such thing as bad publicity!"  Success by scandal is very much in vogue these days!!

    replyreport
12. 94

    Thomas Swanposted 11 years ago

    Thank you to everyone who replied. You've put my mind at ease and quelled my anger somewhat. I'm going to pursue this until either the hub he's written is removed, or I'm removed!...simply because it's the right thing to do, but I won't give him the pleasure of responding to his bait. Cardisa said that no hub should be written solely about another writer on the same site, and that sounds like a rule to be followed!

    replyreport
13. 56

    SAM ELDERposted 11 years ago

    Yes there are many rude people around here , but aren't they everywhere?  Just ignore it

    replyreport
    1. 67

       athulnairposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       @Sam; This is one of the best way to deal with it, ignore them. Great thinking.

       replyreport