How do you feel about exposing dirt bag Internet trolls?

[trumad]

I just read that Ashley Judd is on a campaign to expose the trolls who are harassing her on Twitter with some nasty vile misogynist shit.

Recently the former baseball player Curt Shilling went after the trolls who were posting nasty vile shit about his daughter on Twitter. He found a few, contacted their employers and they were promptly fired.

I think it's fantastic...oh sure the 1st ammendment comes into play....but that does not stop a person being harassed from exposing the scumbags who are doing it.

Thoughts?

[SidDithers]

1. I think all dirtbag internet trolls should be exposed...

Even the ones at DU, who get banned and come back over and over and over.

Sid

[MrScorpio]

2. I have absolutely no sympathy trolls...

And every bit of sympathy for their victims.

Exposed the scumbags, I say.

[valerief]

3. Bullies all deserve a punch in the nose. nt

[phil89]

24. Such a mature response

violence is not ok.

[rock]

30. Then don't be a bully

It may not be a mature response but it sure is fair.

[Hekate]

59. "Not okay"? Neither is stalking, window-peeping, threatening with rape. Engage in crime...

...expect consequences. If someone punches a perp like that in the nose, I have no sympathy.

[Stargazer09]

4. I'm all for it

Most of those jerks would keep their nasty thoughts to themselves if they were in the same room with the person they want to taunt.

They need to get a few lessons in how to act in society, instead of being allowed to post that garbage anonymously.

[calimary]

40. The whole idea of consequences. Because there are none, you have assholes like ted cruz mouthing off

all the time. Because there are none, you have assholes like the Traitor Tot sending shit letters like that and there are no consequences.

I say do it. I'm for it. Absolutely. Taste of their own medicine. See how they like it. If they have thoughts like that - FINE. But they should keep it to themselves. PERIOD.

You don't want repercussions raining down on you all over the internet for something you posted? Well, then, DUH! DON'T POST THAT SHIT TO BEGIN WITH!!!

[Scuba]

44. +1,000

[Marr]

55. I read an interesting little study, where half the participants were

required to use a photo of themselves as an icon in any forum/chat/web application they used. Long story short, they were markedly better-behaved, even though no one they were interacting with knew their real name. Just that small element of identity was enough to put their little internal monster back in it's cage.

[calimary]

71. Yeah, I'd suspect as much. The internet lets you hide and be a stealth bomber, figuratively

speaking. It's the anonymity that's their friend. That's why I rage about those assholes overseas beheading people and smashing priceless artwork and shooting and killing and creating mayhem everywhere - and they're all hooded-up so you can't see their faces. To me that's just chicken-shit. Show your damn FACES, dammit! Same thing for the Klan assholes. Get that hood off and SHOW YOUR DAMN FACES! You do this shit, and claim to be proud of it and strut it all over the internet and all over Youtube, with your face hidden. You're not so tough. You're a chicken-shit. You're a coward. If you're so proud of it, SHOW YOUR FACE. SHOW US WHO YOU ARE. And they won't. Because they're basically chicken-shit. So are these people, too - who bully and harass online, under the cover of anonymity. Same thing. That's a very instructive study you speak of, Marr. GREAT point.

When you have to show your face, then that's something very different altogether.

[Blue_Adept]

5. The potential for collateral damage is scary

The egregious ones certainly need a smack down, and hard, but there's so many ways this gets so out of control, especially with the way trolling and humor get mixed and people are so offended at so much these days, that you can see a lot of abandonment of social media in general over it.

[trumad]

6. I agree

But sometimes it is super obvious...some of the stuff posted against Ashley are pretty vile and a bit threatening.

[Blue_Adept]

9. Oh, I agree

There's the blatantly obvious stuff. And it needs to be dealt with.

But you can see it also as a dangerous rabbit hole to go down with how it can spiral out of control.

Which in some ways may not be a bad thing. But "we" as a society tend to do things the wrong way a lot longer than the right way.

[Gman]

7. They don't have the guts to do what they do

In front of a crowd of people. They are fucked up people with fucked up issues who would get the crap bear out if them if they did it in person. So they hide behind their computer or phone. They are usually found to be some weasely little wimp. Expose 'em and they'll be we do it again. At least under the same name.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

8. But isn't she pretty busy managing truck stops right now?

How can she have time to do that?

[SidDithers]

12. LOL...

Memories.

For those who don't get the reference:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022739118

No way, now how should that post have been hidden.

Sid

[Tommy_Carcetti]

14. One of my all time favorite DU moments.

That and the Bomb the Moon flamewar.

It was even better when the poster attempted to substantiate his claims with pictures.

[SidDithers]

16. OK, you're gonna get a kick out of this...

On the Chuggo front. I work with a guy who used to be a bartender at the Manhattan Strip - the place that appears in the Fuckin' Guy video.

The place is gone now, but he's got some "fond" memories of the club.



Sid

[Tommy_Carcetti]

17. A favorite stop on the Chuggo bus tour.

Complimentary mayonnaise and Molson Dry.

[hifiguy]

73. The Moon-Bombing flamewar

was truly epic. One of the Best All-Time DU Moments, up there with Walt Starr's demand to be tombstoned. Which was promptly granted.

[trumad]

15. oh snap. ...

That's funny as hell.

[Lochloosa]

10. Of couse the First Amendment comes into play.

Just be prepared to suffer the consequences of your words.

[Hekate]

48. "Consequences" like being sued for libel, and the like? I'm referring to the trolls, mind you.

I cherish my internet anonymity, the same way I regard a curtain on my window, a lock on the front door, and a fence that separates the street-facing portion of my house from the side and back yards. I like my neighbors and they like me, but they're not the only people who live in our region or travel our streets.

Certainly a determined thief, arsonist, vandal, or drunk driver could destroy all of that -- but there would be consequences for them. Most certainly.

[mopinko]

11. 1st amendment is not in play.

unless it is the government outing them.

i am all for it. they love to do it to others. i have had it done to me. they think it is funny. sauce for the goose and all that.

and threats should def be exposed.

[phantom power]

13. Something needs to be done. Trolling isn't a victimless crime.

[Nye Bevan]

18. It's countering speech with more speech.

Exactly how it should be done. Being exposed as a disgusting piece of shit, and having your misogyny showing up for the rest of your life whenever you are Googled, is probably worse than being arrested and fined.

[Sheldon Cooper]

19. I don't have a problem with it. More people would get what they deserve, if I ran the world.

The only exceptions may be for the very young teens, who perhaps have no real grasp on how damaging their words can be. I think there should be consequences for them, but I think ruining them for their entire life may be a bit harsh.

[Pacifist Patriot]

20. I consider it holding people accountable for the consequences of their speech rather than censorship

I'm also not sure how the First Amendment comes into play if we're talking about non-governmental parties involved.

[barbtries]

21. i'm for it

especially if it gets them to stop.
there's no 1st amendment issue involved. they say what they want, their victims say what THEY want.

[tridim]

22. Mass Internet ridicule when done right is something I truly enjoy.

But obviously only when it is 100% deserved.

I like it because it works!

[Ineeda]

23. I'm for it. Burn 'em. (figuratively, of course)

First Amendment says nothing about the consequences from friends, family, society, employers, etc. All have the right to react. And threats are exempt from the First, I believe.

[Adrahil]

25. For it.

People have a right to say damn near anything they want. They do not have the right to do so without consequence.

[Xyzse]

26. That's fine. They are welcome to say whatever they want...

They should be willing to submit themselves to the judgement and consequences of their words as well.

Problem with many is that they can just dish their words on others while unable to take it themselves.

[blm]

27. For it. There's a hateful white supremacist on FB who's had dozens of fake group pages

and fake identities taken down. He keeps coming back up with more as his answer. A Facebook Hydra.

He's probably running at least a half-dozen pages at this moment and several fake identities. He posts prolifically on the MSNBC pages.

He's been doing this for at least 20 years, and he's been named by owners of websites who he has attacked since the 90s.

The blatantly racist, misogynist, hate-filled postings are as grotesque as they come. Sometimes FB takes them down, often times they don't.

[d_legendary1]

32. Hail Hydra!

?itok=_kyhgO7o|

[ieoeja]

28. They should get the death penalty.

Note: this post is parody. I believe trumad will know to whom I refer.

As I actually said, my personal hope is that YES.......i would prefer people who commit premeditated trolling are put to death,.... I ALSO think people who commit premeditated trolling but are not able to come up with the words ARE ALSO PUT TO DEATH.

I also think ...... racist troll = bullet in the ear. Anti-gay trolling = bullet in the ear. Concern troll = bullet in the ear. Drunk fuckers that troll = choice, life in prison .......... -or- bullet in the ear...... offenders choice.

Useless, dangerous, violent animals that are unable to be around other animals without harming them are put down, people are JUST ANIMALS, some need to be put down, not hugged and allowed to keep harming innocents.

[trumad]

31. I can't believe that troll is allowed to exist here.

[ieoeja]

37. There were multiple alerts on really bad posts in that thread. None even came close to hide!

Even Discussionists, where racism is encouraged, will hide personal insults. I alerted one of those and it was left by a 0-7 vote!

I thought that thread was an epic flameout. Instead, it seems he has a bunch of supporters.

[blm]

36. lololol

.

[niyad]

29. all for it. and the first amendment does NOT come into play, unless the government is

the one doing the outing, etc.

[Sheepshank]

33. No problem with outing Trolls -

so many are excessivly nasty and clearly think they're ok to hide behind the anonymity of the Web. The more that are outed, the rest will realize they could be next. Civility isn't always the first reaction for posters.....but it may become a second thought right before hitting the "send" button.

[cyberswede]

35. lol

Of course *you'd* be against it.

[greatauntoftriplets]

42. I got a good laugh out of that....

then

[LeftishBrit]

38. Depends on the seriousness of the trolling...

If it's something that you'd be in trouble for saying/doing in more traditional style, then you should not be able to get away with it just because you're doing it by a more hi-tech method.

[stevenleser]

39. I think this needs to happen. Internet trolling and harassment is out of control. nt

[riqster]

41. Those who live by the post, and all that.

Proportionate and appropriate.

[ashling]

43. How, pray tell, does the 1st Amendment come into play?

Where is the government action? Did Kurt Schilling find these guys with the help of the NSA?


Anyway, there have been exceptions carved out for the 1st Am. and a case could be made that some could be applicable.

This is very interesting, however, and does present sort of a conundrum



I'd write more, but I feeling sort of scattered right now.

[marble falls]

45. Free speech is speech made without prior restraints. Free speech is not without consequences.....

and consequences are to be expected when that free speech has no specific protections. If the response stays within the law then the free speaker has no recourse in law except to speak freely. My speaking to your employer is free speech, too. And as long I don't break any laws both of our speech was free and protected. If you get fired consider it an opportunity for even more free speech.

The fired were not fired over speech, they were fired for work related infractions in their pursuit of the speech. That anyone thinks shaming young women they do not know with false and salacious accusations is protected and what the Constitution has in mind is ridiculous, and to do it on work time with work computers is ignorant.

[Cirque du So-What]

46. Thom Hartmann just mentioned this thread on his show

Trumad will now be insufferable - more so than usual.

[trumad]

66. Snarf

What did he say?

[Cirque du So-What]

68. He agreed

that trolls need to be exposed - a notion with which I agree wholeheartedly.

[GusBob]

72. I heard it. He referenced this post with your name and commented briefly

mentioned it was an interesting question, and stated when he hosted forums he had to deal with his fair share of trolls, that was about it. Kinda threw it out for his listeners to comment. It was at the 22 past the first hour. I think there is a podcast available. I tuned out so don't know if anyone called in later when he started taking calls

he refers to DU all the time

[mreilly]

47. Expose them. Rub their noses in their crap. Show no mercy.

I have dealt with trolls online for over 20 years both during individual discussions and as an author for a tech website. I have nothing but disgust and contempt for these trolls, who hide behind anonymous names to harass, belittle, torment or bully others. These are disgusting lowlives I hesitate to even call human.

I have seen trolls hurl sexist, racist, mysoginistic, murderous death threats at people, chuckling to themselves over their safe little position posing as "ObamaH8ter2016" or some such cowardice.

I have seen trolls post deliberate lies and run from any proof refuting their lies, squawking incessantly that it's the person posting the proof who is the liar. This includes a pregnant mother of 3 who claimed she had "evidence" that Obama was a Muslim when what she was posting was an intentionally doctored video. And then when I calmly pointed out the video was bogus she descended into shrieks and sobs that I was bullying her and woe was her. How unfair that a right-wing pregnant troll (if she was even pregnant) not be allowed to lie and lie and lie with vicious impunity!

I have seen trolls that didn't even bother to read my articles sneer and nitpick over some detail they didn't like (fanboys who despise a certain OS for instance), while hurling insults at my intellect. To which I would like to respond, "Well, asshole, I got paid to write that article. Did you get paid to write your whiny BS?"

I have seen trolls start campaigns to harass and ruin others, or hound them into silence, whether female video gamers or some bar that "dared" to card Jenna Bush when she was underage.

In short, I have seen humanity at its worst and it's always in the form of trolls: cowardly, sneaking, manipulative, disgusting individuals who deserve every consequence they get.

Expose them. Turn the tables on them. Dish back the crap they gleefully love hurling at anyone so they can feel better about their nothing little lives.

[Hekate]

63. Don't hold yourself back; tell us how you really feel!

Excellent rant, by the way.

[hrmjustin]

49. I am all for dealing with trolls.

I think I will sign up for mirt again.

[zappaman]

57. I must warn you...

MIRT has been insane lately.
Just cleaning up the inbox takes forever!

[hrmjustin]

58. Sounds like fun.

Lol.

[zappaman]

61. Sure!

If you love Whack-A-Mole!

[greatauntoftriplets]

62. I love Whack-A-Mole!

Planning to sign up for the next term.

[frogmarch]

50. The First Amendment may give them

the right to say most things, but it doesn't protect them from repercussions.

Go for it, Ashley.

[Aerows]

51. If you follow the

golden rule, you have no problem.

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

52. Well sure, if they get it right. Internet lynch mobs aren't known for their due dilligence.

A guy I work with is getting harassed online because he was identified as some voyeur weirdo. It seems unlikely he commutes 1600 miles to a town without an airport to take pictures of drunk women on a university campus, but the mob has spoken.

[Marr]

53. Zero pity.

People who take pleasure in bullying others online, making death threats, etc... they deserve whatever they get in return.

[blackspade]

54. You have a 1st Amendment right to say what you want....

and not be persecuted by the government, but you also get to accept the consequences of that speech.

So, boo, hoo internet trolls. When you go after people with resources, well, someone's coming for you.
Unfortunately, those of less means have to suck it up and take it.

[Hekate]

56. How do I feel? Take'em down. Everything in a civil society has its rules....

Driving --> no drunk driving
Walking on the public streets --> no stalking

Speech --> no libel, or shouting "Fire!" in a crowded theater or "Hi, Jack!" for a joke in an airport. It goes on and on. Not everything that comes out of a person's piehole or from a person's keyboard is "protected," not by a long shot.

There's nothing innocent about what trolls do. They destroy boards, reputations, lives; they threaten rape and murder; they stalk.

They aren't a joke. Our mockery of the ones here is good. But it's not enough, and we know it, which is why they get banned sooner or later. Then the SOBs come back. No they are not a joke.

[arcane1]

60. I don't mind if an asshole encounters difficulty due to their assholishness.

[jeff47]

65. Yes, but only with extreme care.

There has to be a hell of a lot of caution that you are "outing" the correct person.

I happen to share the name of a not-very-famous actor (roles like "man on street", etc). So Googling for my name is going to come up with information about him - he wants to be found, I'm not particularly interested. So someone trying to "out" me is more likely to "out" him instead.

[Rex]

67. I just wish they would all alert on themselves and get it over with.

Save us some time...

[Iggo]

69. The dirt-bag ones? Go get 'em!

The smartass ones? I'm okay with them.

[BubbaFett]

70. I wish I had enough time

to worry about shit that doesn't really matter.

[hifiguy]

74. Shine the light on the cockroaches. nt

[Warpy]

75. The First Amendment doesn't save you from retaliation by individuals

or organizations online and it doesn't save you from a knuckle sandwich in real life.

The First Amendment protects you from being arrested over unpopular speech.

If you want to try to drive someone's daughter to suicide by getting all your little shitbag friends to bully her online and her father comes after you, tough shit. Maybe you need to stop being heartless, talentless, cowardly little punks (of all ages).