Internet trolls: What to do about the scourge of the Web?

[Audley Strange]

Maybe we're not working on the same definition of "arbitrary."

Arbitrary, as in random, not considered or chosen, determined by chance.

[Audley Strange]

I had some fucking nutcase on RatSkep make repeated snide comments about my family members.

This after he registered an account on a political forum I posted on under my real name. Proper stalker shit.

Actually, I'm not sure I'm allowed to call him a fucking nutcase, as he's a member here? But he is a fucking nutcase. And a shithouse.

Well since you never named them I don't see how they could take it personally.

[Seth]

Well the article is specifically a case of someone getting death threats. I was commenting in that context. And I support the boxer in scaring the shit out of the cowardly twat who threatened him.

Dangerous though. It could be considered harassment or disorderly conduct by the boxer. Much better to report the info to the police and only interface with the troll if he comes to YOU. And that's when it's nice to have a concealed handgun, because you never really know just how dangerous such mental patients can be until they go off.

[Seth]

Just for the record, I don't want to increase regulation. I just want to punch the shit out of some of those fucks. Putting them on 'ignore' is...well, effective, but not quite as satisfying. That said, I've learned how to deal with them effectively, so none of them can hook me into a confrontation anymore.

And THAT said, limits on freedom of speech should not be somehow exempted just because it's online.

They aren't. The boxer could have filed criminal harassment charges here in Colorado. It's a crime to make such threats, as the kid in Texas discovered when he made a bad joke.

Why the police didn't handle this is an open question. It appears the boxer didn't report it. But he should have.

Neither criminal laws nor libel/slander laws are suspended on the Internet, they are just difficult sometimes to get into play.

[Seth]

I had some fucking nutcase on RatSkep make repeated snide comments about my family members.

This after he registered an account on a political forum I posted on under my real name. Proper stalker shit.

Actually, I'm not sure I'm allowed to call him a fucking nutcase, as he's a member here? But he is a fucking nutcase. And a shithouse.

Yeah, there's a couple of those out there...and in here too...that have done some pretty egregious things to me...which is why I protect my privacy.

[Cormac]

I'm with Audley on this.

Internet trolls and bullying is massively overstated.

And a great deal of the serious bullying that happens is directly to do with real.world relationships. In other words, the web was not the cause our even a catalyst for bullying. In fact I'd argue that the net is a positive thing as far as bullying goes. Bullying, by its nature is an insidious, largely invisible abuse. The web makes it starkly visible, and creates a nearly permanent record of it. For the first time, the bullied have significant leverage - the issue is learning how to use it.

[Audley Strange]

The good lady and I were discussing this earlier. Her point was that the net, unlike schools or workplaces is not mandatory. To enter into a place which is hostile and complain that people are hostile to you is pity-mongering, masochism or ignorance. She also made the point that if you were in a pub with your mates having a nice night and one of them started bombarding you with "oh look here's another picture of my cat. And my dinner. Look at this awesome photo of me. Now did I tell you that I'm great" time and time again, it would be likely that you would (well she and I would) ridicule them.

Which I suppose is the same as some trolling. Comparing that to vindictive sociopaths (and teenagers) who delight in actually harassing people is like saying "fuck you" is as bad as a sexual assault.

[Cormac]

The good lady and I were discussing this earlier. Her point was that the net, unlike schools or workplaces is not mandatory. To enter into a place which is hostile and complain that people are hostile to you is pity-mongering, masochism or ignorance. She also made the point that if you were in a pub with your mates having a nice night and one of them started bombarding you with "oh look here's another picture of my cat. And my dinner. Look at this awesome photo of me. Now did I tell you that I'm great" time and time again, it would be likely that you would (well she and I would) ridicule them.

Which I suppose is the same as some trolling. Comparing that to vindictive sociopaths (and teenagers) who delight in actually harassing people is like saying "fuck you" is as bad as a sexual assault.

Quite.

[Daedalus]

I'm with Audley on this.

Internet trolls and bullying is massively overstated.

And a great deal of the serious bullying that happens is directly to do with real.world relationships. In other words, the web was not the cause our even a catalyst for bullying. In fact I'd argue that the net is a positive thing as far as bullying goes. Bullying, by its nature is an insidious, largely invisible abuse. The web makes it starkly visible, and creates a nearly permanent record of it. For the first time, the bullied have significant leverage - the issue is learning how to use it.

^This. The fact is that anonymous trolling can just be ignored after all.

[Brian Peacock]

[Azathoth]

Please tell me that is a musical mug

[Brian Peacock]

Wouldn't that be purrfect?




I'll get my coat.

[Audley Strange]

I see that trollolol thing about a lot, especially in games but I have no idea what it actually means, is it "your being trolled hahah" or "this person is a troll laugh at them" or is it just another internet craze that you need context for? Should I even remotely care?

[Sean Hayden]

I've never been targeted by a troll or bully or if I was I hardly noticed. I have seen others dealing with them and in my experience loads of people deal with it poorly. One thing in particular I think a lot of people fail to do is trust others to get them and to see what's happening. I've managed to get to the point where I think you either get me and what I'm doing/saying or you don't and I'm alright with that. I'm even guilty sometimes of to myself because I see the "wrong" ways to take what I'm doing/saying and I know some will do just that. Many don't seem to handle that as well and I bet a troll takes full advantage.

[Audley Strange]

Just a quick question before I'm off, this might be best answered by staff here. Would revealing private information about a member publicly be a breach of the data protection act in the U.K. do you think?