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IdaBriggs

(10,559 posts)
Thu Mar 5, 2015, 05:16 AM Mar 2015

Who knew threatening to rape a 17-yr old girl could get you fired?

http://madworldnews.com/angry-dad-revenge-bullies/

Angry Dad Goes Full BEAST MODE, Gets REVENGE On Daughter's Bullies

An angry father, who also happens to be baseball legend Kurt Schilling, went into beast mode to get revenge on his daughter’s bullies, and now they’re running scared.

Schilling, a former Boston Red Sox pitcher who’s won a World Series MVP award, posted an innocent tweet congratulating his daughter on getting accepted into the Rhode Island college Salve Regina, where she’ll be following in her father’s footsteps and pitching for their softball team, the Seahawks. However, rather than follow in his praise for the 17-year-old girl, Twitter users started attacking her with sexually explicit messages, and the New York Daily News reports that so far nine of them have paid the price for it.

(snip)

These boys have yet to understand one of life’s most important lessons. In the real world you get held accountable for the things you say and if you are not careful that can mean some different things.

(snip)

This is a generation of kids who have grown up behind the monitor and keyboard. The real world has consequences when you do and say things about others. We’re at a point now where you better be sure who you’re going after.

(snip)

These aren’t thugs, tough guys or bad a**es, these aren’t kids who’ve had it rough, they aren’t homeless or orphans, these are pretty much ALL white, affluent, college attending children, and I mean children.


And more details....

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/ex-boston-pitcher-schilling-plays-hard-ball-trolls-article-1.2134914

Former Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling fires back after trolls’ violent, sexual tweets about teen daughter

As many as nine Twitter users paid the price for their posts after Schilling’s proud tweet congratulating daughter Gabby on her acceptance to the Rhode Island college Salve Regina devolved into sexually explicit online comments directed at the teen.

“As a father, besides providing for my family, what other job do I have? Loving my kids and protecting my family,” Schilling told the Daily News Monday night.

He said he is aware of nine trolls who lost their jobs or got kicked off athletic teams — “and we’re not done.”

The unrelenting father, who wrote an angry response on his personal blog (38 pitches) after the social media maelstrom, told The News, “Lost in all of this is, my daughter is 17. She’s a minor. And these guys are all adults. I’m pursuing legal recourse on a couple of them because they broke the law. What they did can have them labeled as a sex offender for the rest of their lives.”






LOVE IT!!! That should help clean up the Internet!

ON EDIT: At his personal blog, Mr. Schilling says he is a Republican, but I agree with him that his political views and professional sporting career do not make the sexually explicit threats against his daughter acceptable or appropriate. I especially liked this bit of his blog posting --

https://38pitches.wordpress.com/2015/03/01/the-world-we-live-in-man-has-it-changed/

P.S. Gabby I know you’re likely embarrassed and for that I apologize. But as we have talked about, there is no situation ever in your life, where it’s ok for any ‘man’ to talk about you, or any other woman this way (and truth be told no real man would ever talk this way anyway). It truly is time this stopped. I don’t know where it started because it sure as hell didn’t happen much when we were growing up. Like any dad reading this the only thing I need you to leave this home with when you head to college is the knowledge that I love you more than life itself and there is NOTHING I would not do to protect you. And while it may sound corny, it’s nothing I’d ever be shy about saying in public, ever.


59 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Who knew threatening to rape a 17-yr old girl could get you fired? (Original Post) IdaBriggs Mar 2015 OP
This Yankee fan thinks this is awesome. nt msanthrope Mar 2015 #1
This Yankees fan does too and I publicly tweeted them my support and hope that the harassers stevenleser Mar 2015 #18
Gotta give this one a big K&R! Enthusiast Mar 2015 #2
I'm glad he caught them but this pisses me off. Are_grits_groceries Mar 2015 #3
Grits, there's a Tumblr out there justiceischeap Mar 2015 #4
And Dorian Gray Mar 2015 #5
I wish. Are_grits_groceries Mar 2015 #7
It has to start somewhere, and bless the man for publicizing it. IdaBriggs Mar 2015 #6
Gamergate will catch my hair on fire. Are_grits_groceries Mar 2015 #8
This is unfair - and I agree that there needs to be help for any person threathened karynnj Mar 2015 #17
I like the precedent. DirkGently Mar 2015 #20
absolutely agree. niyad Mar 2015 #24
Amen. Didn't hear Schilling speak out during Gamergate and he's big into gaming. Dark n Stormy Knight Mar 2015 #29
And why does it have to be a man saying something to get taken seriously? REP Mar 2015 #33
One possible reason: these idiots aren't going to listen to a woman. arcane1 Mar 2015 #54
That's What Kate Fagan Said On "Around The Horn" ProfessorGAC Mar 2015 #43
Curt Schilling's daughter is LUCKY to have a masculine symbol for a Dad. BlancheSplanchnik Mar 2015 #9
Women's voices aren't heard or aren't taken seriously REP Mar 2015 #34
So infuriatingly true. SunSeeker Mar 2015 #40
Denigrating him does not help the female cause, for God's sake!! juajen Mar 2015 #46
I'm not denigrating him. no one in this sub-thread is, at least that I've seen so far. BlancheSplanchnik Mar 2015 #47
+ 1 Sheldon Cooper Mar 2015 #55
This quote: betsuni Mar 2015 #10
yeah except he thinks it was Democrats... druidity33 Mar 2015 #11
I read that as he is aware his profession and expression of a political view IdaBriggs Mar 2015 #12
I'm no fan of his, but I read his blog where he talks about this, and to me Arugula Latte Mar 2015 #27
I hate what happened to her, there is no excuse. Marrah_G Mar 2015 #13
Agreed. And, again, he did not speak out against the bullies of Gamergate, which Dark n Stormy Knight Mar 2015 #30
If only people listened when the women themselves called out the trolls. Brickbat Mar 2015 #14
Truth. IdaBriggs Mar 2015 #15
This.^^^^ DamnYankeeInHouston Mar 2015 #16
BINGO - the difference in reaction between this case and the GamerGate horseshit bullwinkle428 Mar 2015 #19
The cult of celebrity is strong. Dark n Stormy Knight Mar 2015 #31
this is the world our girls have walked into, created by our men. this is what we call out seabeyond Mar 2015 #21
^^^ This^^^ sheshe2 Mar 2015 #32
+ a gazillion. chervilant Mar 2015 #39
I assume threatening to rape anybody would have that result mythology Mar 2015 #22
Not so much. jeff47 Mar 2015 #23
See My Post Above ProfessorGAC Mar 2015 #44
hell, actually RAPING someone frequently results in no negative consequences. niyad Mar 2015 #36
"and in truth, no man would talk like this anyway" raven mad Mar 2015 #25
That's a first step for a Republican daredtowork Mar 2015 #26
"I don’t know where it started because it sure as hell didn’t happen much when we were growing up." Hissyspit Mar 2015 #28
I think he is making a point about the "public acceptability" factor. IdaBriggs Mar 2015 #35
more likely he finally "gets" it now that he has a daughter Skittles Mar 2015 #41
Mm, hmm. Hissyspit Mar 2015 #57
These cockroaches do not deserve to be called "men" gregcrawford Mar 2015 #37
Sadly he still votes for men to control and make all decisions for his daughter. onecaliberal Mar 2015 #38
A bully bullying bullies is still a bully. PedXing Mar 2015 #42
getting the asshole fired makes him a bully? seabeyond Mar 2015 #45
That's a valid question. I supposed I reacted more to the title than the content of the article. PedXing Mar 2015 #48
so considerate of you to "allow consequences" to men threatening rape, violence, death to our girls seabeyond Mar 2015 #49
Oh, please. It's the internet. PedXing Mar 2015 #50
silly girls, why be bothered with rape and death threats. meh.... seabeyond Mar 2015 #51
Not at all my point, but you are intent on picking a fight. PedXing Mar 2015 #52
thru out, your post was dismissive of the issue of women and girls continually being addressed in seabeyond Mar 2015 #53
Better step off your high horse. PedXing Mar 2015 #56
really? so you threaten me with said abuse, because i suggest you are dismissive of the issue? seabeyond Mar 2015 #58
A New England team called the Seahawks?! KamaAina Mar 2015 #59
 

stevenleser

(32,886 posts)
18. This Yankees fan does too and I publicly tweeted them my support and hope that the harassers
Thu Mar 5, 2015, 10:31 AM
Mar 2015

go to jail.

Are_grits_groceries

(17,111 posts)
3. I'm glad he caught them but this pisses me off.
Thu Mar 5, 2015, 06:41 AM
Mar 2015

Many women get this shite regularly. Some are unlucky enough to attract some real nuts who stalk them. Death threats can't just be brushed off.

He got such a big reaction because he is Curt Effing Shilling. He was contacted by the police and the FBI. Women have trouble getting any help in a lot of cases. Would they have been fired if a woman with no connections made the same complaints? Maybe but don't count on it.

Now Shilling is being lauded by everybody. Eff that. The women who are harassed just as badly as his daughter need help too and they have few resources.

justiceischeap

(14,040 posts)
4. Grits, there's a Tumblr out there
Thu Mar 5, 2015, 07:41 AM
Mar 2015

of an ordinary guy who goes after people like this but for racism instead of sexism. http://racistsgettingfired.tumblr.com/

I don't see why ordinary people couldn't start a tumblr (or something else) about sexists getting fired.

I agree the Mr. Shilling got special treatment and that's not right but I think a community can do the same thing if they're motivated to do so.

Are_grits_groceries

(17,111 posts)
7. I wish.
Thu Mar 5, 2015, 07:57 AM
Mar 2015

However, nobody cares. Unless women show them the threats then they shrug it off. Even then, they say 'don't read them' or 'brush it off.'
Google Brianna Wu. She has had to leave her home because of threats.

In addition, if you complain to Twitter, they either ignore you or wait until you have complained forever.

I avoid the comments because of what I will read.
One man went online with a profile as a woman. He couldn't take it. He had never gotten such vile comments before.

I do not want Twitter shut down. I do wish there was a way to expose more of these cretins. When they hide behind anonymity, it can be a chore.

 

IdaBriggs

(10,559 posts)
6. It has to start somewhere, and bless the man for publicizing it.
Thu Mar 5, 2015, 07:51 AM
Mar 2015

Am I unhappy this is common place? YES! Don't even get me started on GamerGate.

I want this to become normal - consequences for horrific behavior.

I appreciate him using his celebrity to help women everywhere.

Are_grits_groceries

(17,111 posts)
8. Gamergate will catch my hair on fire.
Thu Mar 5, 2015, 08:00 AM
Mar 2015

I want more and more people to help expose these cretins. Until then...

karynnj

(59,475 posts)
17. This is unfair - and I agree that there needs to be help for any person threathened
Thu Mar 5, 2015, 10:27 AM
Mar 2015

I think that the fact that Schilling is using his name and his daughter's very sympathetic case -- and PUBLICLY getting attention and real consequences. The fact that he says that people have lost jobs or college athletic positions and there might be potential lawsuits MIGHT have a deterrent affect on this atrocious behavior. Even if a small number of jerks stop to think they could be ruining their lives and don't write a similar threat to a woman, there is a real gain.

As to his fame making the punishment more likely - that is undeniable. However the problem is NOT that he is getting a response, but that so many people aren't -- and many likely don't even try because they assume (maybe from past experience) that they won't get help.

While it would be great if Schilling made sexual internet threats an issue, I see no reason not to praise him for taking public action on this. Not to mention, for those making tweets under their real names, I think that ANY woman could get some reaction if the offending tweets were from known college students - because no school administrator would want that garbage associated with their school. The hard part in some cases is getting the identities of the people making the tweets.

DirkGently

(12,151 posts)
20. I like the precedent.
Thu Mar 5, 2015, 10:50 AM
Mar 2015

Somewhere along the way, anonymous "troll" culture has gone from people being a little snarkier than reasonable adults might be face to face, to a contest to see who can be the most vile and terrifying, particularly as to threatening women.

There's a beat in there somewhere too that there is some kind of new civil right to anonymously harass and debase people.

I'm just glad to a well-publicized incident where that "freedom" to be anonymously vile is shown to be vulnerable. I hope it's the beginning of a trend where we start drawing a line past which people -- "kids" or not -- understand they may have to actually be publicly associated with the threats of rape and murder they find so amusing.

Sunshine is the best disinfectant.

Dark n Stormy Knight

(9,760 posts)
29. Amen. Didn't hear Schilling speak out during Gamergate and he's big into gaming.
Thu Mar 5, 2015, 06:51 PM
Mar 2015

Suddenly when it affects his family it matters.

REP

(21,691 posts)
33. And why does it have to be a man saying something to get taken seriously?
Thu Mar 5, 2015, 09:03 PM
Mar 2015

Don't get me wrong; I'm happy for the outcome. But why does it take a male voice to get taken seriously?

 

arcane1

(38,613 posts)
54. One possible reason: these idiots aren't going to listen to a woman.
Fri Mar 6, 2015, 01:17 PM
Mar 2015

At least a sports figure might serve as a positive role model for dumb-asses who think it's cool to act this way.

A woman saying "real men don't act like this" might not have the same effect on people with this disordered mentality.

ProfessorGAC

(64,425 posts)
43. That's What Kate Fagan Said On "Around The Horn"
Fri Mar 6, 2015, 08:52 AM
Mar 2015

While she was glad Schilling did what he did, she said that this stuff happens all the time, and the consequences only hit home when a rich, famous guy, with powerful friends, took umbrage over what was done to his daughter.

I can't stand Schilling but he did a good thing here, and Kate is right. I don't get how anybody thinks what these guys did is ok.

BlancheSplanchnik

(20,219 posts)
9. Curt Schilling's daughter is LUCKY to have a masculine symbol for a Dad.
Thu Mar 5, 2015, 08:02 AM
Mar 2015

She gets taken seriously by way of her Dad's defense of her honor.....and the school is taking legal action against the abuser as a result.

MOST ATTACKS ON WOMEN RESULT IN---THE WOMAN HAVING TO LIVE WITH IT, go into hiding, avoid the abusers, learn self-defense, move to a new location, get therapy the rest of their lives, be told by people supposedly on their side that they're lying........

While the trolls and abusers usually go on their merry way. Their smirking, ego-maniacal, destructive, unrepentant, merry way.

I posted this before,http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=6300404

REP

(21,691 posts)
34. Women's voices aren't heard or aren't taken seriously
Thu Mar 5, 2015, 09:14 PM
Mar 2015

I don't have to tell you that even in everyday matters, having a female voice means not being heard or being taken seriously. Just an example: new in town, I took a car to a nearby place and told them the master cylinder was out. The guy grabs the keys, jumps in it, and tells me he'll see what's really the matter with it and drives it on the street with a 40mph speed limit. He gets the car back in the lot, looking shaken, and tells me, "Your master cylinder is out! That's pretty dangerous!"

Duh. I have a much better mechanic (and car) now.

If we aren't heard when we're trying to buy services, it's not a surprise when we're not heard when we demand that threats end.

juajen

(8,515 posts)
46. Denigrating him does not help the female cause, for God's sake!!
Fri Mar 6, 2015, 10:12 AM
Mar 2015

Here's a man of stature who is attempting to help women, and we are mad because he did not do something better, or sooner? Get a grip, women. He is doing something, which is 100% better than most men in our lives are doing or have ever done.

BlancheSplanchnik

(20,219 posts)
47. I'm not denigrating him. no one in this sub-thread is, at least that I've seen so far.
Fri Mar 6, 2015, 11:01 AM
Mar 2015

There are plenty of Schilling bashings elsewhere in the thread, but THIS post is about *Social Norms*, in which women's voices are ignored, not taken seriously.

Only when a man of stature, an Alpha, steps in on her behalf against attackers, is the ATTACKER dealt consequences. The social response is in relation to HIM. She and her humanity, dignity, feelings, trauma, repercussions to her, are actually invisible in the interchange.

Capisce?

betsuni

(25,132 posts)
10. This quote:
Thu Mar 5, 2015, 08:11 AM
Mar 2015

"These aren't kids who've had it rough, they aren't homeless orphans, these are pretty much ALL white, affluent, college attending children, and I mean children."

druidity33

(6,435 posts)
11. yeah except he thinks it was Democrats...
Thu Mar 5, 2015, 08:12 AM
Mar 2015

and Yankee fans. (seems incongruous, right?) Glad he exposed them... i'd go further and prosecute the ones that threatened harm. But still, he says:


"So I look at it like this. Democrats, Yankee fans, people that don’t like the sound of my voice, that’s a pretty big group.
Those folks for the most part don’t like me even a little bit.
Democrats for their own reasons, Yankee fans for theirs and the rest of them hate me for who I am or what I say, and that’s not going to change."


Most of my NY friends are Mets fans... just sayin'.





 

IdaBriggs

(10,559 posts)
12. I read that as he is aware his profession and expression of a political view
Thu Mar 5, 2015, 08:43 AM
Mar 2015

are both issues he is aware may cause people to voice strong opinions.

But - and I agree with him - threatening to rape his daughter is over the top REGARDLESS OF ANYTHING ELSE especially over what should have been a non-controversial "yeah, my daughter has been accepted at college" tweet.

I hate Junior with the passion of the righteous, but NEVER said, let alone thought, such things about his daughters.

 

Arugula Latte

(50,566 posts)
27. I'm no fan of his, but I read his blog where he talks about this, and to me
Thu Mar 5, 2015, 02:46 PM
Mar 2015

it seems like he's saying: "I'm no 'sensitive' guy -- I am used to getting dissed by Democrats and Yankees fans and I can take that, but these attacks on my daughter were way beyond the normal trollish insults I usually receive."

Part of the problem is he's not the best writer in the world.

Marrah_G

(28,581 posts)
13. I hate what happened to her, there is no excuse.
Thu Mar 5, 2015, 08:55 AM
Mar 2015

Shilling is a fucking tool. A typical hypocritical tea party asshole who cost the people of RI millions. He isn't just a republican, he is a politically active tea party guy with dreams of holding office.

That doesn't excuse what happened to his daughter. The internet can be a vile place.

Dark n Stormy Knight

(9,760 posts)
30. Agreed. And, again, he did not speak out against the bullies of Gamergate, which
Thu Mar 5, 2015, 06:54 PM
Mar 2015

would have potentially helped many women. Only when it affects him personally. I happen to know him personally and that's typical of him. He's a total dick.

Brickbat

(19,339 posts)
14. If only people listened when the women themselves called out the trolls.
Thu Mar 5, 2015, 09:03 AM
Mar 2015

Somehow, that just seems to bring more.

 

seabeyond

(110,159 posts)
21. this is the world our girls have walked into, created by our men. this is what we call out
Thu Mar 5, 2015, 11:00 AM
Mar 2015

and the incredible damage it is doing to our girls.

every girl, that uses any of the hi tech instruments.

there is nothing ok, about this.

i wonder if this falls into the category of us wagging our fingers, or being the purity police that a handful of men on du have such a problem with. that we are suppose to shut the fuck up about, not call out, cause after all, some men do not like to hear this. it makes them feel bad.

repercussions to this behavior will take us a long way.

jeff47

(26,549 posts)
23. Not so much.
Thu Mar 5, 2015, 12:49 PM
Mar 2015

Someone famous can get results.

Random 17-year-old with run-of-the-mill parents that don't have fame or political power? Not gonna get any help from law enforcement.

In their defense, it's hard for law enforcement to actually go after the trolls. The communications almost always cross state lines, and so it becomes difficult for a local police department to pursue it. And arresting trolls isn't going to advance anyone's career at the FBI, or get them more funding from Congress.

Really fixing the problem is going to require fixing that last part.

ProfessorGAC

(64,425 posts)
44. See My Post Above
Fri Mar 6, 2015, 08:54 AM
Mar 2015

I heard Kate Fagan say exactly what you're saying on Around The Horn. She got the 2 minutes of face time yesterday and she used this situation as her piece.

The rich and powerful have more means to fix an issue like this than all the rest of folks.

daredtowork

(3,732 posts)
26. That's a first step for a Republican
Thu Mar 5, 2015, 02:34 PM
Mar 2015

The second step is imagining Dad's with fewer resources than you and reaching out a helping hand to help them protect their daughters, too.

Hissyspit

(45,788 posts)
28. "I don’t know where it started because it sure as hell didn’t happen much when we were growing up."
Thu Mar 5, 2015, 04:23 PM
Mar 2015

Oh, really? You mean just not in public, so you didn't know about it.

 

IdaBriggs

(10,559 posts)
35. I think he is making a point about the "public acceptability" factor.
Thu Mar 5, 2015, 10:07 PM
Mar 2015

I have no memory of this type of language being acceptable in public ANYWHERE but it is all over the Internet and these kids obviously saw no reason to worry about their behavior (until now).

Poor manners or common misogyny? Or a raving sense of entitlement and the "freedom" to display it?

gregcrawford

(2,382 posts)
37. These cockroaches do not deserve to be called "men"
Thu Mar 5, 2015, 11:15 PM
Mar 2015

They are filth beneath contempt. I don't care about Schillings' politics at this point; that's a discussion for another time. Right now, I just want him to know that I, for one, stand by him in his defense of his daughter, and in defense of all the women who have been victimized by these slimy little cowards.

onecaliberal

(32,489 posts)
38. Sadly he still votes for men to control and make all decisions for his daughter.
Thu Mar 5, 2015, 11:57 PM
Mar 2015

Including men who think there are illegitimate forms of rape.

 

PedXing

(57 posts)
48. That's a valid question. I supposed I reacted more to the title than the content of the article.
Fri Mar 6, 2015, 11:33 AM
Mar 2015

However, in typical Republican fashion he is also considering lawsuits, which he normally vehemently opposes in his desire to end "frivolous" lawsuits with tort "reform".

Also, as repulsive as the comments were, these trolls are exercising their free speech rights. Certainly consequences are permitted, but I've heard equally repellent commentary from his fellow conservative friend, and apparent gal pal, Ann Coulter, and he hasn't gone beast mode on her or conservatives like her.

In other words, treat others like shit, but not people I consider important.

But, yeah, I'm glad he stood strong for his daughter. And I guess I respect him for that.

If she were the Sandra Fluck, and the troll was Limbaugh, well we know what Schillinf would not do, because he didn't do, anything.

 

seabeyond

(110,159 posts)
49. so considerate of you to "allow consequences" to men threatening rape, violence, death to our girls
Fri Mar 6, 2015, 11:45 AM
Mar 2015
 

seabeyond

(110,159 posts)
51. silly girls, why be bothered with rape and death threats. meh....
Fri Mar 6, 2015, 01:06 PM
Mar 2015

see. not really off your mark, are you?

 

PedXing

(57 posts)
52. Not at all my point, but you are intent on picking a fight.
Fri Mar 6, 2015, 01:10 PM
Mar 2015

I explained how arrived at my statement because I thought you raised a valid question. You replied with snark about me allowing this or that. I pointed out that the internet is full of vile rhetoric. And of course you conclude, I suppose, that rape and threat of violence is meaningless. On the internet, it mostly is.

Your move.

 

seabeyond

(110,159 posts)
53. thru out, your post was dismissive of the issue of women and girls continually being addressed in
Fri Mar 6, 2015, 01:13 PM
Mar 2015

this manner, on the net.

i find it an unhealthy manner to raise our girls in. it is their reality. it goes way beyond these boys. i take it seriously.

yes. i call out your dismissiveness. and though your say they could suffer consequences, your posts show more dissatisfaction with the father, than the issue.

move? whatever. i do not apologize for taking the issue seriously. even on the net. we have girls across the nation, in other countries, killing themselves because of this shit. lives matter.

 

PedXing

(57 posts)
56. Better step off your high horse.
Fri Mar 6, 2015, 02:38 PM
Mar 2015

I have real experience with real sexual assault and I'm not sure I won't launch into an internet tirade that will sound a lot worse than any action actually taken.

Please don't reply.

 

KamaAina

(78,249 posts)
59. A New England team called the Seahawks?!
Fri Mar 6, 2015, 08:30 PM
Mar 2015
congratulating his daughter on getting accepted into the Rhode Island college Salve Regina, where she’ll be following in her father’s footsteps and pitching for their softball team, the Seahawks.


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