Time Up For Trolls?

[Just-Jude]

Would you risk this savage sentence for having a different point of view?

Will it also lead to job losses for the mods who control many sites?

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-29678989

[factor-fiction]

I don't think penalties will make much difference. It's a bit like using mobiles when driving- people think there's little chance of being caught

[Zacs-Master]

I don't think it's about disagreeing with someone.

[factor-fiction]

Another problem is that those who do this sort of thing are obsessed and often don't think rationally.
I hope I'm wrong though

[Prudie]

I'd assumed this is aimed more at those who troll celebrities. As for Mods, is it a job? I thought it was for the their love of power but given freely ;-)

[andy-hughes]

This is another example of the government trying to sound 'tough' as an election approaches - but it means very little in real terms.

The way to deal with trolls is to advise Twitter and Facebook users to block them - the simple equivalent of turning the TV over if a programme upsets you.

I have said before, and will say again - if we are breeding a generation of people to be terminally upset by something they read on a computer or mobile phone screen, then, something is wrong somewhere.

The term 'Sticks and stones ...' was always used to me as a child - it's time it was resurected.

[Peter Pedant]

// I have said before, and will say again - if we are breeding a generation of people to be terminally upset by something they read on a computer or mobile phone screen, then, something is wrong somewhere.//

quite right
give this man best answer

( after correcting resurrection to 2 'r's )


lets have a first amendment for free speech for chrissakes

[ChillDoubt]

Would you risk this savage sentence for having a different point of view?
---------------
There's a world of difference between having a different point of view and threatening someone with violence, rape or wishing death upon them, sometimes during a prolonged campaign.
Sadly, the keyboard warriors are unable to differentiate between the two.

[ummmm]

I don't think it's that simple, Andy. Being threatened with rape can be quite unsettling.

[Peter Pedant]

As a pinko wet liberal commented


what you might say in a pub - if you put it on the internet could get you arrested....

more free speech and not less - as unsettling as such a thought may be !

[jno]

resurrection has three Rs, PP.

I would have thought it would mean more moderators, all with the power of life and death.

[Svejk]

lol@prudie;0) well spoted, jno.

[andy-hughes]

ummmm -"I don't think it's that simple, Andy. Being threatened with rape can be quite unsettling."

I think it is that simple ummmm.

It's words on a screen, it can simply be ignored for what it is, stupid malice from sub-normal nonentities.

Giving such nonsense creedence allows fear and loathing to flourish.

We need to educate people that this sort of nonsese literally does no harm, unless it is allowed to - and that is in the hands of the receiver.

[ummmm]

It wouldn't bother me but it clearly bothers some. Not everyone is the same, you only have to look at how sensitive some users of this site are.

[ChillDoubt]

It's words on a screen, it can simply be ignored for what it is, stupid malice from sub-normal nonentities.
------------------
Is that meant to be serious????
If I were in a heated debate online with someone via social media and they made a threat to rape, maim or murder me I would take such comments with the gravitas that they deserve! Thankfully I don't do social media and never will but for someone like Chloe Madeley, in her position I'd be a bit fearful and be looking over my shoulder for the next few months.
You really do need to visit planet Earth from time to time Andy and join the real world. There are a few nasty people out there prepared to go to any lengths to exercise the power they percieve themselves to have as a result of a spat over social media.

[Slapshot]

The nanny state strikes again, very much against this as it all cuts against the nub of free speech.

Internet security and how it interacts with "Trolls" is a subject that can best be tackled by the owners of the sites and social media sites having the integrity to create a set of robust rules and sticking to them. If you stop the trolls having the media to hand, you stop the abusive stuff.

Knowing the tories someone saying " I curse you and hope something mildly unpleasant happens to you" will end up in jail while some of the major stuff will go unpunished... wrong way to tackle it

[Svejk]

Some people are always offended by something or other, ummmm. We can't make everything an offence.(unless Labour get back in power.)

[andy-hughes]

ummmm - fair enough.

I would suggest that if individuals find the concept of insults or threats from strangers someething they would prefer not to deal with, then they have the option of not dealing with the medium at all.

I prefer not to go into my local town on a Saturday night because of the potential for witnessing drunken violence. Of course, I have the option to simply turn and walk in the opposite direction - the equivalent of turning off my computer screen, but I opt not to put myelf in the situation in the first place.

[jno]

CD, agreed, Chloe Madeley is unlikely to be any more comfortable knowing that the people making threats are strangers - that makes it worse, not better. Threats are threats.

[Retrochic]

It depends what degree of anonymity you have. If someone threatened me with violence on here for example, I would probably report it as inappropriate but it would not 'bother' me. If however someone threatened me with violence and I was a well-known celebrity then that's different as there is a remote chance they could follow through. Sometimes I think some of these high profile 'victims' are frightened and outraged for the publicity it gets them. Just turn block the trolls or better still don't do Twitter.

[woofgang]

Its difficult isn't it? Yes much of what is said comes under the "sticks and stones" heading, but there is no doubt that when it gets to the point of "I know where you live/work/where your kids go to school" whether true or not and "I am going to come to your house and xxxx" then I think its gone beyond just words.