This whole Twitter troll rape threat thing

[Old Hack]

People are more inclined to be braver on the internet, than they are in real life. You can easily see who was bullied at school on the internet, just by their actions.

[billybiro]

Interesting to see arrests are being made. I do wonder what goes on in people's heads that makes them behave in these ways when they are hiding behind a keyboard.

And it's good to see the splendid Mary Beard hitting back. Mary Beard silences offensive Twitter troll | Books | The Guardian

Penny Arcade hit the nail on the head back in 2004 regarding this. It's the "Greater Internet F$%&wad theory".

Such is the de-humanizing effect of the internet. I'll bet 99.9% of these people tweeting such vile things would be the meekest and most cowardly people should they be face-to-face with the very people they're trolling.

[original PM]

I agree - but also it's just 140 letters on a computer screen....

if you do not like it do not use it...

some people put some effort and time into their various social networking accounts and yet in reality it is just a waste of effort and time.

imho

[cojak]

I disagree, normal person + anonymity = anonymous normal person. Total twunt masquerading as a normal person in real life + anonymity = total twunt unleashed. I don't think it's showing a distorted view of the person, I think for once the mask has slipped and we see what nasty scumbags some people are.

Which is pretty depressing really

Actually Nick's article had a gem buried in it, and it says that it's not as simple as straight anonymity, I think your addition to the mix is another part of it Bunk.

Anita Sarkeesian and the gamification of misogyny

[rhubarb]

I disagree, normal person + anonymity = anonymous normal person. Total twunt masquerading as a normal person in real life + anonymity = total twunt unleashed. I don't think it's showing a distorted view of the person, I think for once the mask has slipped and we see what nasty scumbags some people are.

Which is pretty depressing really

Have to agree with this too.
I was playing Arma2 Wasteland last night, some guy got killed by another player and he sent a message straight away saying, "**** you man, I'm a gonna rape your mom".
last week, I killed some guy twice so he then said to me "I hope your mother contracts lung cancer". He thought about it for a few seconds and came back with "terminal".

It IS pretty depressing.

[original PM]

yes but its just letters arranged in such a way as to make offensive words.

it means nothing

[Bunk]

yes but its just letters arranged in such a way as to make offensive words.

it means nothing

That's not really an argument. Any hate speech is just sounds coming out of someone's mouth, or letters on a page or sign, but we still don't allow it. Why should Twitter be exempt?

[Old Greg]

yes but its just letters arranged in such a way as to make offensive words.

it means nothing

Words do mean something. That's the purpose of arranging the letters.

HTH

[rhubarb]

yes but its just letters arranged in such a way as to make offensive words.

it means nothing

So is that how things are now then perhaps ?
Gone are the days when people would react to something by just saying "You're talking tulip" or "you bastard, you killed me".
Things have developed so people now throw out remarks like "I'm going to rape you" or "I hope your mother dies" as a flippant comment.

That really IS depressing.

[minestrone]

There is no way twitter want to get involved with this, as soon as they put in a report button it will be used like crazy, also then twitter become partially responsible for content and blame can be put on them.

They will just make some noises in agreement until it all blows over.