Name and Shame
Encyclopedia
To name and shame is to "publicly say that a person, group or business has done something wrong". It is used to discourage some kinds of activity (including anti-social
or criminal) by publishing the names of those involved.
, abortion
ists, homosexuals
(see "outing
"), graffiti
artists, and spies.
The Rat Book was launched late in 2009 as the UK's biggest name and shame website (http://www.theratbook.com). By January 2010, The Rat Book contained the details of over 14,000 criminal charges and convictions in the UK, including paedophilia, rape
, murder
, violent crime
, abuse
, and terrorism
. Users of the website had the ability to browse through The Rat Book's online crime database by clicking their location on an interactive map, allowing them to view crime
and criminals specific to where they are from in the UK.
In July 2010, the Rat Book ceased to exist after its owner, Johnny Morrissey, was publicly revealed by angry victims of miscarriages of justice whose details appeared on the site. The Rat Book was also criticised for naming people before being convicted, and for retaining details of people who had been found not guilty of the offences they were accused of.
Drug-related crimes were conspicuous in their absence on the site. It was later claimed by members of the site's forum that the reason for this was because Morrissey was a drug-dealer himself, and that he would accept payments from anyone named on the site in order to have their name removed.
Anti-social behaviour
Anti-social behaviour is behaviour that lacks consideration for others and that may cause damage to society, whether intentionally or through negligence, as opposed to pro-social behaviour, behaviour that helps or benefits society...
or criminal) by publishing the names of those involved.
Anti-social and criminal
It has been used variously against customers of prostitutes, shopliftersShoplifting
Shoplifting is theft of goods from a retail establishment. It is one of the most common property crimes dealt with by police and courts....
, abortion
Abortion
Abortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced...
ists, homosexuals
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
(see "outing
Outing
Outing is the act of disclosing a gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender person's true sexual orientation or gender identity without that person's consent. Outing gives rise to issues of privacy, choice, hypocrisy, and harm in addition to sparking debate on what constitutes common good in efforts...
"), graffiti
Graffiti
Graffiti is the name for images or lettering scratched, scrawled, painted or marked in any manner on property....
artists, and spies.
The Rat Book was launched late in 2009 as the UK's biggest name and shame website (http://www.theratbook.com). By January 2010, The Rat Book contained the details of over 14,000 criminal charges and convictions in the UK, including paedophilia, rape
Rape
Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse, which is initiated by one or more persons against another person without that person's consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or with a person who is incapable of valid consent. The...
, murder
Murder
Murder is the unlawful killing, with malice aforethought, of another human being, and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide...
, violent crime
Violent crime
A violent crime or crime of violence is a crime in which the offender uses or threatens to use violent force upon the victim. This entails both crimes in which the violent act is the objective, such as murder, as well as crimes in which violence is the means to an end, such as robbery. Violent...
, abuse
Abuse
Abuse is the improper usage or treatment for a bad purpose, often to unfairly or improperly gain benefit. Abuse can come in many forms, such as: physical or verbal maltreatment, injury, sexual assault, violation, rape, unjust practices; wrongful practice or custom; offense; crime, or otherwise...
, and terrorism
Terrorism
Terrorism is the systematic use of terror, especially as a means of coercion. In the international community, however, terrorism has no universally agreed, legally binding, criminal law definition...
. Users of the website had the ability to browse through The Rat Book's online crime database by clicking their location on an interactive map, allowing them to view crime
Crime
Crime is the breach of rules or laws for which some governing authority can ultimately prescribe a conviction...
and criminals specific to where they are from in the UK.
In July 2010, the Rat Book ceased to exist after its owner, Johnny Morrissey, was publicly revealed by angry victims of miscarriages of justice whose details appeared on the site. The Rat Book was also criticised for naming people before being convicted, and for retaining details of people who had been found not guilty of the offences they were accused of.
Drug-related crimes were conspicuous in their absence on the site. It was later claimed by members of the site's forum that the reason for this was because Morrissey was a drug-dealer himself, and that he would accept payments from anyone named on the site in order to have their name removed.