Whirlpool Forum sued

Deadman · 12-09-2007, 08:56 PM

www.whirlpool.net.au (or various news sites such as www.news.com.au etc) for information

The forum community is rallying behind them due to the implications this lawsuit could contain for all online forums in Australia.

Thought it might be of interest to some of you, and others here might already be members of Whirlpool also (as it has nearly 190,000 registered users).

( although if you want to read the forum responses on the issue - get a comfortable chair and a coffee - you'll need it :P )

note: sorry if this is a repost - I couldn't see it anywhere yet...

Falcon_Phill · 14-09-2007, 08:59 AM

http://www.idm.net.au/story.asp?id=8788

Last time I checked, we had freedom of speech and were allowed opinions. If people are complaining about your service, then obviously theres something wrong. What the hell.

Fairlane · 14-09-2007, 09:40 AM

Read about this before

Sad thing is in Australia theyre is no right to freedom of speech, association whatever in the constitution only religion.

Our constitution is so out of date its not funny, they devote sections to who controls lighthouses but no right to freedom of speech. The best we've got is an implied decision by the highcourt which of course changes depending on who is on the high court.

3vXT · 14-09-2007, 11:36 AM

I think they are ****ed off because they posted on the forum numerous times offering help to people who were having problems with their product. I think its bullshit though, if they spent their time fixing their mistakes rather than trying to cover them up they wouldn't have people craping on their products.

EDIT: It's nothing new and regardless of the outcome, it won't change much. How many times have you read someone on here or other forums, saying how bad the service/products are from an unknown company with a 'PM me for company name' at the end

Rodp · 14-09-2007, 05:14 PM

Freedom of speech doesn't mean freedom to slander. While I think that particular case is a little over the top, imagine that was your business and you felt it was being impacted unfairly by a large forum renound for getting its panties in a bunch. Would you be chanting freedom of speech then...?

normxb · 14-09-2007, 05:38 PM

Couple of years ago , one of the car forums (Aussie) got "shut down" because of a comment in one of the posts on their site , the member threatened to sue the guy's running the site .

Forget the full details now , main thing I remember he threatened to "Sue for Defamation" against the owners of the site .

I only saw a copy of the post , nothing I could see wrong with it , it was something that you " had to be in the know" (which 99% weren't)

I think we're worse than the US now , People getting sued for being Honest .

If the Company in question wanted better reports "fix the problem"

RodP
yea mate , I can see your point , it's a very fine line these day's between "freedom of speech & slander" , you've got to be very careful all depends how a statement is worded .

Laminge · 14-09-2007, 05:55 PM

Certainly is a different way to send your product to the bottom of pile for user recommendations

Falcon_Phill · 14-09-2007, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rodp

Freedom of speech doesn't mean freedom to slander. While I think that particular case is a little over the top, imagine that was your business and you felt it was being impacted unfairly by a large forum renound for getting its panties in a bunch. Would you be chanting freedom of speech then...?

Slander is something that isn't true, if someone doesn't like the service they provide, they have the right to complain.

burnz · 14-09-2007, 06:35 PM

they wont win the media will drown them out

Falcon4L · 14-09-2007, 06:49 PM

This court case won't help them with sales either...

Keepleft · 14-09-2007, 07:25 PM

This is a very serious situation that *all* website forum operators need to comprehend, as indeed do ALL members of any forum.

If restriction on discussion succeeds at court outcome, the impact will be felt across all forms of media. We stand to lose the individual ability to criticise a product, item or company, as discussion on these matters will be eliminated, or reduced to the point of ineffectiveness.

The olde saying applies - "Freedom is not hereditary". Beware those who seek to restrict freedom.

Our Constitution is one of implied rights, and really in the modern context, its not that hard to eliminate relative freedoms.

If you can contribute to Whirlpools fighting fund, do so is my suggestion.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/web/whirl...276778252.html

RSgerry · 14-09-2007, 09:20 PM

If someone does not like a product, surely it would be more constructive to contact the customer and find out what is wrong with it, rather than suing everyone who complains. Whirlpool will be about as popular as a pork chop in a synagogue if they continue with this action.

Falcon_Phill · 14-09-2007, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RSgerry

If someone does not like a product, surely it would be more constructive to contact the customer and find out what is wrong with it, rather than suing everyone who complains. Whirlpool will be about as popular as a pork chop in a synagogue if they continue with this action.

I don't think you read it right, or im not reading what you wrote right.

uranium_death · 14-09-2007, 11:06 PM

I think this legal action is a bloody disgrace.

Online forums are places to discuss many different things...good or bad. If bad, as long as it is constructive, it can be viewed as beneficial to all people.

If a product is inferior, why shouldn't consumers be allowed to state their disappointment in the product, rather than be forced to settle with something that does not meet their expectations.

If this case goes against Whirlpool, I'm moving to Cuba.

Rodp · 15-09-2007, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Falcon_Phill

Slander is something that isn't true, if someone doesn't like the service they provide, they have the right to complain.

So do you consider the posts being made on Whirlpool a fair representation of the product? Considering you appear to chastise the company taking action, you must believe that the statements being made are true.

It's one thing to complain, it's another thing to lambast a product on a high volume public forum.

Bill_R · 15-09-2007, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keepleft

This is a very serious situation that *all* website forum operators need to comprehend, as indeed do ALL members of any forum.

If restriction on discussion succeeds at court outcome, the impact will be felt across all forms of media. We stand to lose the individual ability to criticise a product, item or company, as discussion on these matters will be eliminated, or reduced to the point of ineffectiveness.

The olde saying applies - "Freedom is not hereditary". Beware those who seek to restrict freedom.

Our Constitution is one of implied rights, and really in the modern context, its not that hard to eliminate relative freedoms.

If you can contribute to Whirlpools fighting fund, do so is my suggestion.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/web/whirl...276778252.html

I agree with this.
If you want to support our rights to discuss openly and honestly our experiences with products and companies for the benefit of all then jump onto the Whirlpool forums and give your vocal and/or monetary support.

asusdragon · 15-09-2007, 04:17 PM

if we lose the right to complain bout a product or company on a open media, how is anyone going to know what brand/products to buy, quite offen i will come on to a one of these forum to find out what everyone experiences are with a product i am looking at buying if i can not find out this, i may buy an infieror product.
if they do sucessfully sue whirlpool when then say goodbye to most media, car mags for one they show the good and bad bits of a car, so no more bad stuff about the car,

ie "new whatever" pros - great interior, smooth to drive etc etc, cons engine blows up after 100000kms
you wouldnt never find this out till you were in that postion.
If a company doesnt get bad pubilcy do you think they will fix the problem. highly unlikely, whats one person going to do, they will still sell x amount of items tomorrow.

flappist · 15-09-2007, 05:20 PM

AAP Reuter) 2nd October 2012:

Ford Australia have commenced legal action today in the high court seeking damages of 1 bazillion dollars against Australian Ford Forums owners for loss of sales due to (Boss/Turbo) enthusiasts saying hurtful and naughty things about (Turbo/Boss) powered vehicles.
This follows the successful action against ls1.com.au over the famous "LS1 uses oil case" which lead the outlawing of the term "uses oil" in favour of "frictionally reduction challenged".

Wayne Dodgey of Dodgey Case Rippem and Run, senior council for the applicant stated that their client was worried that people who were SO STUPID that they believed all the unmitigated balderdash they read on the forum might not buy a Ford product and just take the bus.
When asked to produce some of these people to give evidence he replied that as tomorrow was a school day they would be busy doing homework.

Leading social commentators A Current Affair were unavailable for comment until Tracy stops crying.......

burnz · 15-09-2007, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flappist

AAP Reuter) 2nd October 2012:

Ford Australia have commenced legal action today in the high court seeking damages of 1 bazillion dollars against Australian Ford Forums owners for loss of sales due to (Boss/Turbo) enthusiasts saying hurtful and naughty things about (Turbo/Boss) powered vehicles.
This follows the successful action against ls1.com.au over the famous "LS1 uses oil case" which lead the outlawing of the term "uses oil" in favour of "frictionally reduction challenged".

Wayne Dodgey of Dodgey Case Rippem and Run, senior council for the applicant stated that their client was worried that people who were SO STUPID that they believed all the unmitigated balderdash they read on the forum might not buy a Ford product and just take the bus.
When asked to produce some of these people to give evidence he replied that as tomorrow was a school day they would be busy doing homework.

Leading social commentators A Current Affair were unavailable for comment until Tracy stops crying.......

so true tracie and anna will not take this lying down.
murdock/packer/stokes/wheatly will not let it happen.

Riksta · 16-09-2007, 04:04 AM

Will definitely be interesting to see the outcome from it.

Not a big fan of Whingepool forums though, I hardly ever post there much.

As I stated on another forum though, the net needs to have some sort of element of free speech. If I find something to be substandard or not up to my expectations, I should have the right to be able to state that without the company in question coming back to sue me, or the forum I post it on.