3 ms·

Slander implies a false statement that caused damages.

• swores 2y ago
  Damages are only required (in certain countries) for a legal case of slander to be successful, they're not needed to fulfil the definition of slander. It would be slander if I said the words "HN user drw85 has never said a sentence that didn't contain racist abuse", even if my saying it has no impact on you or anyone at all. (Just as it would be libellous - the equivalent of slanderous but for written rather than spoken lies about people - if I wrote a comment here on HN accusing you of being a mass murderer, even if you don't notice the comment and no law enforcement ever consider it of interest nor any other effects.)
  • drw85 2y ago
    Well, the definition literally says: 'a false, spoken statement about someone which damages that person's reputation, or the making of such a statement' I guess the distinction is important, because i could make a false statement that is not damaging, like 'swores has a red nose.', which might be a joke and thus is a false statement but not damaging nor slander.