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[ThatStupidLion]

If you are being called out for something thats being misconstrued do you:

ignore it?

or

publicly try to explain that you are being misrepresented?

or

say nothing publicly and (expensively) lawyer up?

 

[LordCBH]

Step 1) NEVER APOLOGIZE. For anything. Don’t even say something that could possibly even sound similar to an apology. We’ve seen too many times where someone accused of absolute obvious bullshit from lying harpies goes “I never meant to make anyone uncomfortable.” Which just triggers more attacks.
Step 2) Lawyer up if you’re able to.

 

[thief183]

Ignore it, who cares what other ppl thinks?

 

[synchronicity]

I smile and think, yeah, that's never happened before.

 

[Happosai]

If you are being called out for something thats being misconstrued do you:

ignore it?

or

publicly try to explain that you are being misrepresented?

or

say nothing publicly and (expensively) lawyer up?

Ignore it. I can't tell you how many people I know who have been defamed by rumours or even journalistic lies. Don't lawyer up, don't apologize, just stay away. They want a person to fight back so they can say, "Oh look! He/she's doing it again!"

 

[-Arcadia-]

I'm not sure of the situation, but I think hostility is appropriate in a personal situation.

If someone is falsely accusing you of something, or portraying your actions as something they're not, it's best to immediately strike back. Don't waste your time refuting -- that just makes you look guilty. Call out their tactics and absolutely verbally smack them.

They're expecting you to fall into their trap and debate the false point. By going for the throat, and going after the methods, you deny them that, and put them back on their heels.

However, there are legal and professional situations that, due to what can be lost, may need to be handled differently. I'm less sure about those. I would advise lots of common sense, and avoiding situations and people that can bring about this kind of thing in the first place.

 

[Tesseract]

my instinct is to fight and win regardless of circumstances

 

[DrJohnGalt]

Of course it depends on the situation. Something online? At work? At home? Is it a criminal matter? A civil matter? Or just something that might come up in the "court of public opinion"?

Some general guidelines: Be honest. Make a statement (or get on record somehow) and move on. Don't engage, as it can often make things worse. If you need to fight back, get an attorney to do it (or somebody that knows what they're doing and not directly involved in the initial incident). Don't apologize and don't try to make excuses. It's so cringeworthy to see public figures who've done nothing wrong apologizing and going out of their way to explain something. They look like fools and I lose respect for them.

 

[Rockondevil]

Own it.

 

[Kadayi]

 

[SLoWMoTIoN]

I'll visit you guys in jail.

 

[Stilton Disco]

Go and discover what actually happen, come back with proof and demand a god damned apology, usually.