Liberal MP and root vegetable Tim Smith, who clearly does not understand how either Twitter or defamation work, has threatened to “send a letter” to a literal child who retweeted his Tweet about the overturning of Roe v Wade with a quote from said original Tweet.
The child in question was Leonardo Puglisi, the 14-year-old journo who founded 6 News Australia and famously schooled former prime minister and human bin Scott Morrison during a batshit interview.
The way this lad simply talks to fully grown, adult politicians and makes their brains malfunction. It’s a gift.
Tim Smith on Roe v Wade being overturned: “Aren’t you glad we live in a constitutional monarchy with a largely British constitution?” https://t.co/pq6WYhIg24 https://t.co/vMcPK1ZQoQ pic.twitter.com/w70C4Wdq1T
— Leonardo Puglisi (@Leo_Puglisi6) June 25, 2022
Standard, factual and informative without even a whiff of defamation. I would go as far as saying it smelled clean and fresh, like after you give your dog a bath.
But Smith somehow picked up on the nuances of the EDT (eau de Tweet). He smelled the unique fragrance notes and his brain short-circuited, causing him to commit a truly remarkable self-own.
If you’re trying to verbal me on my opinion regarding the substance of the Supreme Court’s decision, you may be getting a letter in the post. Be very careful.
— Tim Smith (@TCS1983) June 25, 2022
Smith’s reply reeks of that Come Dine With Me episode where the bloke lost and recited that clearly rehearsed monologue, which absolutely no human being could ever come up with on the spot.
Smith typed and deleted those Twitter replies at least 376 times. He sent them to the group chat to get some feedback on his delivery. But in all honesty he genuinely could have said: “What a sad little life, Leonardo,” and it would have had the same meaning as: “Be very careful.”
The young king clapped back very politely and authoritatively, asking Smith to retract his comment.
Tim, I’m a 14-year-old journalist who’s been reporting reactions from Aus MPs to the Roe v Wade decision all day
I simply tweeted about yours too
I’m disgusted that you’ve made a blatant threat to me & I’m asking you to withdraw your comment
— Leonardo Puglisi (@Leo_Puglisi6) June 25, 2022
At the time of writing, Smith has not withdrawn his comments and the jury is out on whether he will.
But he has been ratioed by Puglisi and his dad, which is just as satisfying.
damn even my dad ratioed him pic.twitter.com/2jIb10SS15
— Leonardo Puglisi (@Leo_Puglisi6) June 26, 2022
Ratioed, might I add, by a young lad whose Twitter display picture is him wearing a santa hat in front of a green screen.
According to my media law and ethics training at uni, being ratioed on Twitter isn’t a valid way to settle defamation threats.
But for us watching at home, there’s a certain thrill in watching two people without driver’s licences beef on Twitter. Timbo the bimbo… did you really think we forgot about that little drink-driving whoopsie doodle?
