I no longer feel comfortable posting here...

[Halfstep]

I find it rather strange to think that liability under the law could be invoked in the case of advice given in good conscience on a public forum. Perhaps some of the legal people (Puppy???) could enlighten us.

For example, If I advised Henryhorn to chop off one of her horses' ears to cure sweet itch, I would not be acting in any official or authoritative form, but simply casually opining. It would be up to her whether she wanted to listen to me or to dismiss me as a nutter (lol).

Or, perhaps I could be liable due to negligence and providing misleading information, as my response was in some way "published", in so far as it was posted on a forum hosted by a media company and that gives me some duty of care as an "author". Hummm....

And what difference would it make if I gave this piece of incorrect advice to someone verbally, rather than writing it on an internet forum???

 

[abb123]

It wouldn't be good a good advice forum if the only advice ever given was to speak to the vet ???

 

[henryhorn]

No I'm not concerned about litigation in the slightest, more annoyed this chap has made me feel slightly iffy about replying to anyone with a problem asking for advice.
I suppose it's a reminder that people on here may not be who they perceive them to be , I always assumed people were on here for a bit of communication, advice and a laugh, plus some really good info given when asked for.
Plus I find it distinctly off that someone goes into posts in that much detail, it seems I missed some of the replies given by them whilst on holiday, where they attempt to justify their actions. but then, I don''t read ALL the forum posts anyway...

Sadly I don't think I could delete a pm unread, could you?

I just felt we should be aware that anything posted especially in the vet forum is carefully dissected.....

 

[henryhorn]

Madmare, will that work? which ear do I cut off and how far down?

 

[Halfstep]

I couldn't possibly go into that amount of detail HH - it might be recorded and held against me LOL!!!

 

[Shilasdair]

I don't read all the posts - only the ones that interest me.
But I do 'Ignore Users' when I think they're rude. I wouldn't tolerate them being rude to my in RL and I certainly won't accept it here. Not that I think they would be brave enough in real life...few people are

And yes, I can delete PM's and e-mails unread.
S

 

[skewbaldpony]

it's an urban myth all this sueing people. You can't sue someone for being an airhead (i should know).
A vet who is paid for giving veterinary advice, and gives the wrong advice, with dire consequences can be sued.
If I ask my Auntie Maud (which would be tricky cos she's dead) what to do with my horse and then do it, and there are dire consequences, that is because either she or I are either stupid or ill informed. You can't sue someone for being stupid, good lord the courts would grind to a halt!
Sad person, sad delusion.
I agree about the golden syrup by the way. and rolled in dessicated coconut.

 

[PapaFrita]

[ QUOTE ]
it's an urban myth all this sueing people. You can't sue someone for being an airhead (i should know).

[/ QUOTE ]
I think you can in the States

 

[Llwyncwn]

I can remember this particular thread well and yes, it did make me feel a little uneasy, especially as he had read 1000 of Amymays posts. I try to help where I can in Vets with my own experiences in the hope that some of my knowledge can be used. However, after 'that' thread I did start to put a disclaimer in any replies.

How awful that you have to monitor your replies carefully incase you are liable.

HH - you have such a wealth of experience and knowledge, this forum would be a poorer place without you. Dont you dare leave

 

[skewbaldpony]

How does that work for Bush, then ?

 

[zigzag]

Somebody who sits down and reads 1000's of peoples posts needs to get a life!

It is up to the indvidual whether or not they act on the advice given

 

[PapaFrita]

LMAO!! Ah, well, he can afford more lawyers than anyone else.

 

[HBII]

Reading 1000's of posts .... hey mate read this one GET A LIFE!

 

[Tia]

I know exactly what you mean HH. I'm certainly not worried about being sued LOL!! However knowing that this person is actually saving our words, spying on what everyone says like some sculking weasel and when he does wade in, he tells people asking for advice that what they are doing is wrong and from what I've read, his advice for everything seems to be that they should be calling their vet. Well in a lot of cases, people have already spoken to their vet and are now trying to find out more information or alternative options - I see absolutely nothing wrong with that - but he obviously does. Sad really and yes I do pity anyone who sits and trawls through every single post and keeps copies of them.....but hey I guess that is all part of life.

I am not nervous in the slightest about posting in this forum, however because of this, I can't actually be bothered any more. I don't care for the ethics of what this person is doing therefore I am of a mind not to fuel them with anything, be it totally correct advice or just information which may have been picked up along the way and is being passed on.

And finally, yes Shilasdair I have the same impression as you have about this man. All of the incredibly knowledgeable horse people (vets included) who have passed on info to me over the years have done so in a helpful manner and have been totally happy to discuss any reservations I may have had and often they accept and accommodate my own theories.....but then they have nothing to prove.

Do I have it all wrong (like I did with his gender) - is Puddicat the person who works for some environmental organisation and goes around poisoning/catching rats and small furry pests?

 

[JulieL]

He needs to get out a bit! Who has time to read through 1000 msgs!

!

Someone take him out and get him drunk LOL

But each to their own!

 

[bensababy]

i would only ever comment on something i have experience in.. and as someone has said it just advise,not the gospel. It does worry you that someone could possibly use a bit of friendly advise against you, and even more freaky that someone is looking through your posts and keeping note... one word springs to mind with that

 

[skewbaldpony]

He it was who said those that know the most say the least, and he sure says a lot.

I still say you can't sue a monkey for eating nuts, and if you take daft advice from someone with no qualifications or claims to professional status, that is what we call in the legal profession (not!) 'Yourus Lookoutus'

 

[rforsyth1984]

Although I appreciate the unease and potential 'threat' to the forum, I cant help think people may be over-reacting a little bit here.
If I remember the post in question correctly (Which I may not!), the person in question merely suggested that 'theoretically' there could be legal implications IF someone took advice which was contra-indicated and then felt it was entirely the fault of the person giving advice, and that this would be very unlikely but in theory a posibility?
I think any legal action based upon such a forum is a ridiculous suggestion... its largely anonomous, and how on earth could anyone prove that what you have typed and what you have actually done are the same thing?

 

[Acolyte]

OMG I always thought that user was female

Well, certainly comes across that way - you learn something every day I suppose

 

[Sooty]

Na - don't let one nutter put you off! If anyone is daft enough to think this advice is from experts, they shouldn't be allowed near a horse in the first place. This is a forum, where we share experiences - that's all. Anyone trying to make more of it than that should really get a life.

 

[S_N]

I totally understand the 'uncomfortable' feeling and nasty taste in ones mouth this whole palava has induced. But just out of interest, how can someone have read a users last 1000 posts, when you can only search back 200 posts? I mean I know it's possible, but it must be incredibley time consuming.............. Unless of course they have extra powers that have been granted to them by HHO Admin/IPC Media??? Pure speculation I know, but worth contemplating perhaps...................

 

[Tempi]

[ QUOTE ]
I can't see why anyone should be so anal without good reasons, and his to me don't fit, either he works in a capacity of monitoring vet forums or he is just someone who has a high opinion of what's right and wrong...

[/ QUOTE ]

The user in question always comes across to me as someone who has a high opinion of themselves AND whats right and wrong....

Personally i think the whole thing is crazy.

The Vets forum is for ADVICE, of course people seak advice from their vets aswell. Its a good place for people to share ideas and views on things aswell.

People shouldnt stop posting just because some idiot is sad enough to read through peoples posts trying to find mistakes - what a sad and lonely life he must lead

 

[mrussell]

I'm in the latter camp. If I ask for, or give, advice I do it based on the fact that Ive got experience or am after another persons experience.

Im not asking for a diagnosis - just a sounding board.

I havent seen anyone say "dont call the vet - follow my advice to the letter!" and if they did - I would probably ignore them anyway!

No one is infallable.... not even a vet.

If it hadnt been for someone on here, my fella would have been PTS 4 years ago.... I didnt have to take their advice but I did... flippin glad about it too! He was sound from the moment I changed the type of shoes he was in...thats all it took. 1 person to say "hey - have you thought about these?".

 

[cobwithattitude]

Total agree with you P_G. This must help more people than not - very sad

 

[Fantasy_World]

Well I for one don't give a stuff about what this person thinks of me, or my posts on this thread or anything else for that matter.
As I am well versed in the matters of defamation and I represent only myself on these boards and not a company then I don't feel accountable to anyone but myself.
These forums provide a sounding board for people who may not be in a position to do that ( with so many individuals) in RL. In other words the magical power of the WWW means that individuals can discuss experiences or ask for advice from literally millions of people across the world.
In the case of veterinary advice it is just that as it spells.
ADVICE
People can act upon advice given or choose to ignore it.
It is called freedom of choice which is a fact that this man seems to have overlooked in his pathetic criticism of this thread.
Nobody is saying to anyone 'you must do this', 'you must do that'.
I for one will continue to post on these boards including the veterinary section with a clear conscience.
I will give advice or offer to describe my personal experiences of any situations that arise on these boards.
Likewise I will offer support where necessary and take on board advice given to me or others with careful thought.
If I decide to act upon any advice given on this forum I am soley responsible for making that decision and the original poster or posters of the said information will not and should not be held accountable in my opinion.

I also think that this individual is very sad to have sat there and read through 1000 posts of one member.
One might correctly identify that behaviour as obsessive.
I have a friend who would print out and keep posts of the original friend's reunited message boards. I do wonder if she may have had a hand in the subsequent book lol.
Perhaps we should look out for Puddicat's book in the future.

 

[Gladioli]

No wonder we all keep getting the busy screen if someone is reading all of those posts!!!

I do not take any advice on here as being given to me by an expert, if it makes sense I will try it, if it does not then I would not.

I have used alot of advice you (HH) have given on this forum even if I have not posted the question (mud fever and bandages spring to mind). You give sensible advice and I for one would miss your replies.

 

[Laafet]

Have been reading the guilty persons posts and it seems that they just like to quote from published sources on their info given and not from experience. I like this forum as there are lots of differents opinions from people, some work, some don't. But as horses are like people and all individual you cannot quote text books for everything. I only comment on things I have experienced when replying to posts on here and have to careful due to privacy act from work, sometimes I will dig into my library of books from uni to back up something I've said. Sometimes just talking to people on here helps to make decisions you need to make easier, I wouldn't be without it. We are all free thinking literate people so I'm sure we do not need to start putting disclaimers at the bottoms of our posts.

 

[OrangeEmpire]

[ QUOTE ]
Have been reading the guilty persons posts and it seems that they just like to quote from published sources on their info given and not from experience.

[/ QUOTE ]

doesn't that make those comments plagarism...? breach of copyright perhaps if he voices them as his own....oooh a whole new debate!

 

[Laafet]

Possibly as they do not say where the stuff is quoted from. I always reference if I've pulled anything from another source (sad habit learnt at uni).

 

[spaniel]

Are you sure these pieces are other peoples work? It is possible that someone has the substance to write these themselves....just a thought??