I have been running my message board for just about 4 years. It is a small community - very close-knit.
Over the years, my boards had reached all the major milestoes. A couple of our members had their first child. A couple others moved in together. We had marriages announced, divorces announced, graduations, etc. Everything except death.
That was until last week.
Over Labor Day weekend, one of our beloved members was found dead of an apparent alcohol overdose. You may have read the story in your local paper, or even seen it on the news, as the death of Samantha "sambamboogie" Spady made headlines nationwide. We were all heartbroken.
Shortly after her death, our formerly happy little community was invaded by unscrupulous media reporters seeking out any posts of hers that they could use to label her "an alcohlic party girl". They found what they wanted, and before I could even react, I found Sam's quotes being published in newspapers and mentioned on television.
They would say things like "Sam was an honors student, a gifted artist, and a wonderful person... BUT... we uncovered writings on an internet message board as well as photographs that would suggest she was a girl who loved to drink."
To read such words truly hurt. I had never met Sam, but over the course of 2 years, we all got to know her and we all were great friends.
My board used to receive maybe 5 or 6 signups per month. As the story of Sams death spread, and as news of her postings on my board, traffic increased - a lot. In a matter of days I had almost 120 new members, most of which had signed up simply for the ability to search Sam's posts Kinda how everyone runs out to look when then see a car wreck. It was very upsetting. Of course by this time I had disabled the features already. Her friends and family were also stopping by to read her words as well as our tributes, so I could not simply disable the board and deny them access.
Now I am engaged in a bitter fight with the local newspaper who signed up on my site to grab her comments. I know I have no legal recourse, but I am doing what I can.
I just wanted you all to be aware of what can happen. This has been a nightmare week for a message board owner, and I hope none of you ever have to go through the same thing - but be prepared, just in case.
-Justin
Over the years, my boards had reached all the major milestoes. A couple of our members had their first child. A couple others moved in together. We had marriages announced, divorces announced, graduations, etc. Everything except death.
That was until last week.
Over Labor Day weekend, one of our beloved members was found dead of an apparent alcohol overdose. You may have read the story in your local paper, or even seen it on the news, as the death of Samantha "sambamboogie" Spady made headlines nationwide. We were all heartbroken.
Shortly after her death, our formerly happy little community was invaded by unscrupulous media reporters seeking out any posts of hers that they could use to label her "an alcohlic party girl". They found what they wanted, and before I could even react, I found Sam's quotes being published in newspapers and mentioned on television.
They would say things like "Sam was an honors student, a gifted artist, and a wonderful person... BUT... we uncovered writings on an internet message board as well as photographs that would suggest she was a girl who loved to drink."
To read such words truly hurt. I had never met Sam, but over the course of 2 years, we all got to know her and we all were great friends.
My board used to receive maybe 5 or 6 signups per month. As the story of Sams death spread, and as news of her postings on my board, traffic increased - a lot. In a matter of days I had almost 120 new members, most of which had signed up simply for the ability to search Sam's posts Kinda how everyone runs out to look when then see a car wreck. It was very upsetting. Of course by this time I had disabled the features already. Her friends and family were also stopping by to read her words as well as our tributes, so I could not simply disable the board and deny them access.
Now I am engaged in a bitter fight with the local newspaper who signed up on my site to grab her comments. I know I have no legal recourse, but I am doing what I can.
I just wanted you all to be aware of what can happen. This has been a nightmare week for a message board owner, and I hope none of you ever have to go through the same thing - but be prepared, just in case.
-Justin
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