Would this be considered slander/libel?

[luther]

i was sitting here, wondering about the fine line between freedom of speech and slander we have here in america. so heres the question...

if you say, or write, something like "f..ck you" would that be slander/libel? i know that both slander and libel have to do with saying something directly about that person or business. . . if saying or writing this is slander/libel...then saying or writing "f..ck off" would not be slander/libel because of the change in pronoun usage?

[adamka]

i was sitting here, wondering about the fine line between freedom of speech and slander we have here in america. so heres the question...

if you say, or write, something like "f..ck you" would that be slander/libel? i know that both slander and libel have to do with saying something directly about that person or business. . . if saying or writing this is slander/libel...then saying or writing "f..ck off" would not be slander/libel because of the change in pronoun usage?

Slander or libel is the stating publicly matters of fact which are knowingly incorrect, and which harms the person slandered. Slander is verbal, libel is written.

Opinion or reasonably mistaken opinion are not slander. Telling someone to **** off is not even remotely slander.

[shadrach]

No. Neither "f-you" "nor "f-off" is defamatory. (Of course, slander is verbal defamation and libel is written defamation").

If you wanted to be technical, I guess the only way the f-word could remotely become defamatory would be if you said someone was f-ed up or was f-ing someone, and it wasn't true and it caused financial damage, neither of which is likely.

Another frequently-asked question is whether "f-you" (or "f-off") is sexual harassment. The answer is probably not, since it's not usually referring to a sex act in that context. It's just vulgar, offensive, and unpleasant.

So - telling someone "f-you" or "f-off" isn't a crime or a civil wrong, although I'd recommend against saying this to a law enforcement officer.

[cruz50]

slander is saying something that damages a person's reputation and causes them a loss and libel is putting it in writing. It also has to be malicious, not true, said in spite. but you can say things that are truthful or you believe to be true. Every time a restaurant critic says something unkind about a restaurant he can't be sued because its his opinion and in his / her mind, its true.

saying f*ck you is just being crass, there is no law against that.

[nickson]

Both require proof of false statements of fact that tend to defame the character of the other person. The false statements must be heard by a third party, and believed, and result in tangible financial harm. The statement you propose is not a statement of fact, and therefore not a false statement of fact. If does not tend to defame. You mentioned no one hearing it or believing it or any resultant harm. Hope that helps.

[curadhan74]

NO.........seems like your mommy needs to buy you a dictionary for christmas so you can look up ordinary words and terms.

[chason58]

no.