Harassment and Threats not addressed by HubPages Staff

1. 74

   MagicStarERposted 13 years ago

   Just putting as short note up here to talk about my experiences at HubPages over the past 5 days, during which a person has launched a vicious attack on my online reputation, leaving harassing, threatening, and defamatory comments on my hubs, sending me threatening emails, and otherwise stalking, harassing, intimidating, cyberbullying, defaming, and threatening me. 
   
   The harassment has not lessened, but on the contrary, has escalated to a ridiculous pitch, and now this person is even sending (according to one Hubber friend), nasty "vituperative" emails to my fellow Hubbers.
   
   Despite numerous pleas to Hubpages staff to block the IP address of the Cyberbully who is doing this, they have not done it.  The bully has now opened a profile at Hubpages, with the express and admitted (and documented) statement that the profile is intended solely to serve the purpose of attacking, defaming and destroying my writing career, and my online reputation.
   
   Despite notifying HubPages staff that this person has stalked, harassed, bullied, and physically assaulted me numerous times in the past, and for many years, and that I have filed criminal charges on this person with my local law enforcement authorities for cyberbullying, "Terroristic Threatening", and stalking, as well as filing complaints with the FBI Internet Crime Division, and complaints of TOS violations with the individual's email service provider and ISP.  And also informing that her ISP and law enforcement officials are presently using forensic software to track her internet activity.
   
   Despite pleas for HubPages staff to block this person's IP and to delete the pseudo-profile which is intended and admittedly nothing more than a vehicle through which to defame and harass me, it has not been done.
   
   Apparently any psycho or untalented non-professional, non-writer can get and keep an account at HubPages, and it is accepted that HubPages members are allowed to attack, intimidate, harass, defame, and terroristically threaten other members here who are legitimate writers and professionals who are hoping that HubPages will further their writing careers and help them gain an online following for the advancement of their professional goals and achievements.
   
   I hate to be a whiner.  And I am not a shit-starter.  My experience here at HubPages has been very satisfactory and rewarding up until this point. I have enjoyed writing here, and have worked very hard on my articles.  This is my vocation and I am deadly serious about my success as a published writer.  This is how I intend to earn my living, and what I will be doing for the rest of my life.  It is no game, and not just a past-time.
   
   However, if this is such a sleazy, low-rate place that this type of abuse is allowed on HubPages, then I will be copying and saving all of my articles and moving them elsewhere.
   
   Surely there will be somewhere else where I will not be subjected to this type of harassment.

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2. 67

   goldenpathposted 13 years ago

   It is wrong to be pushed.  Especially when the aggressor cannot be seen.  I sincerely hope progress is made in this matter and that you may have the opportunity to resume a happy and productive life here on HubPages.

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3. 73

   Maddie Ruudposted 13 years ago

   There are two (or more) sides to every story.  The user you refer to as a "cyber bully" also has complaints about you and refutes the truthfulness of your claims.  We are not, as a website, able to investigate the truthfulness of every claim made, so we do not generally take action against users in these he-said-she-said cases, without a request from a US court.
   
   Also, we cannot take action on any activities that occur outside of HubPages proper.  For example, if an harassing email is sent to you through the HubPages contact form, we may act upon it, but if it is sent to you directly, we cannot.
   
   We are protected from liability for most content posted on our website under the Communications Decency Act, 47 U.S.C. section 230.  We suggest that you seek legal recourse against the person in question.

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   1. 58

      Azariaposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Thank you so very much for handling this situation, before it got more out of control, or she did. It has already cost me thousands to clean up after her, another few thousand would not effect me anymore than the first few thousand. Several years ago, she used Bravehost to attack me, now, apparently it's your web site. I am truly sorry that you had the misfortune of having to be involved in this mess. I am hoping the situation will now be resolved, if not that's why I have attorneys. It appears that Hub page admin. are now the target of her anger and hostility.
      
      Again, thank you for your assistance and prompt attention in this matter,
      Azaria

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      1. 73

         Cagsilposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Then, I suppose you're going to be on your best behavior while here.

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      2. 74

         MagicStarERposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         "Several years ago" you used my AOL account to enter chat rooms and harass AOL members, for which behavior you almost had my account shut down.  You also hacked my account to alter my billing settings.  You then sent Bravenet ridiculous emails accusing me of "using your name" which was nothing but lies and Bravenet's legal group determined that you were out of order. 
         
         Go back to your vodka bottle.

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   2. 69

      darksideposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I say there's always at least 3 sides to every story.
      
      Apparently when I read a persons hubpages forum thread and visit their hubpages profile that makes me a stalker. But the very same person will go to my off-site blog and make a silly comment.
      
      Sometimes I wonder if HP shut down the forum if it would reduce the disputes, anger and animosity by 90%.

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      1. 73

         relacheposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         I miss the good ol' days of HubPages year one... when the forums hadn't been invented yet.  It made the time spent on the site nothing but productive.

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4. 87

   IzzyMposted 13 years ago

   I do know that if you get sent emails internally through hubpages, the staff can act. They can't help you much if it comes from outside hubpages, but this person has now joined, have they? You wouldn't like to email me their hub-name, would you?

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5. 69

   darksideposted 13 years ago

   So on one hand you've reported this person to the FBI, and on the other you're asking HubPages to remove the evidence?
   
   You should be aware that no matter where you go, there's always going to be someone who starts crap, or follows you there.

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   1. 58

      Azariaposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      To IzzyM, darkside, or anyone else,
      Feel free to contact me. I am who she calls her "cyberbully" Good Grief!!  I am tired of this. I am not a stalker, abuser, attempted murderer or anything she has repeatedly written about me. My only attempt is to put a halt to her defamatory statements regarding me, my family, and numerous other people she has writtten about.
      
      My Hub name is Azaria

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      1. 66

         Faybe Bayposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         And you have no hubs and have been here three days. I am not taking sides, but this isn't high school. I read her bully hub and left it alone, I knew there was something personal going on. I didn't try to figure out who she was talking about. you've been here 3 days, she says she's been harassed for 5.

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         1. 74

            MagicStarERposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            She has been leaving filthy comments on my hubs for five days, and before she obtained an account here.

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         2. 58

            Azariaposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            Laffin, good math!! It's a long story, she's making it longer, all I am doing it making it shorter by trying to clean it up, and preventing any further damage on her part. More importantly, more money out of my pocket for attorney fees. And as much as she fails to realize, seeing her in the court system again.

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      2. 74

         AEvansposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         No hubs, just rants that would lead anyone to be suspicious of your motive especially when you came on immediately to exclaim innocence , she certainly did not tell anyone who the person was you let the cat out of the bag on your own.

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      3. 69

         darksideposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         An online debate or discussion won't result in putting a halt to defamatory statements.
         
         Whether they've made these statements offline or online you'd do best to get legal advice.
         
         
         
         
         While I was around before the launch of the forums I liked it before it spread into the 'By Category' sub-forums.

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   2. 74

      MagicStarERposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      The "evidence" is already documented and in possesion of law enforcement.  Doesn't matter if it's deleted or not.

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6. 59

   dogluver1posted 13 years ago

   Its not right.

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7. 84

   rebekahELLEposted 13 years ago

   so sad to see this stuff. get rid of the stalker, it seems simple.
   
   always 3 sides to a story. one of them being the truth.

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8. STAFF

   pauldeedsposted 13 years ago

   I am closing this thread.  We don't feel that anything productive can come of it.  If you believe you are being harassed on HubPages, please contact us directly.  We will investigate to the extent that we can, and take the action that we feel is appropriate and dictated by our terms of service.
   
   Since harassment may occur across a variety of communication channels and no service provider will have insight into all of them, it's generally best handled by law enforcement rather than by going through channels on a single service.

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