According to the former Reddit site CEO,the sheer numbers of harassing,bullying and hate messages have caused users to feel intimidated enough to eventually leave.
"Fully 40 percent of online users have experienced bullying, harassment and intimidation, according to Pew Research. Some 70 percent of users between age 18 and 24 say they’ve been the target of harassers. Not surprisingly, women and minorities have it worst. We were naive in our initial expectations for the Internet, an early Internet pioneer told me recently. We focused on the huge opportunity for positive interaction and information sharing. We did not understand how people could use it to harm others" said Ellen Pao.
http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technolog … ar-AAd47vO
I found a number of articles stating that she and others were suffering with online trolls attacks, and wonder if it was just her and people that were unhappy with her.
No, it's not excuse to behave badly; what do others who used the Reddit forums think?
It's all about anonymity on the Internet. People feel empowered on the web when reality is knocking them down. Why do bullies bully others? They're dealing with insecurities and personal issues so they take it out on other people. The internet works the same way, and I'm surprised many are so shocked by this.
That's what you have to keep in mind when communicating on the Internet. So it's best to ignore the hateful comments and know the person behind the computer is likely completely different offline. The nicest people outside the web may be angels but the persona online could be a disgusting troll.
Bottom line is you better have tough skin and not take things so personally online. I know I myself have touched on negative feedback and trolling in a few of my articles, and the message is always the same. Also don't be a troll to get back at someone, just be yourself.
My experience has been that many people are bullies when given the opportunity. Some, considered the nicest people others know. Many times the only thing that holds that bully in is the fact that acting it out would cause them to lose their standing in the social group they are in. I've seen people with the potential to be incredibly nice degrade into a pack mentality when it becomes acceptable within that group to target individuals for bullying. I think your study may have simply identified a problem group and then searched for reasons, unique to them, as to why they were a problem group. The problem is much more pervasive than many who have never been targeted believe.
The problem I see with the internet causing more bullies to be exposed is that
a. What is said can easily be verified. It isn't a 'he said, she said' scenario. So, those people can neither deny their actions or somehow spin their words into something else.
b. These people don't have the safe guards which have historically been the norm for toning down aggressive behavior in many. Many people act in accordance with what they believe those around them expect or would approve of. People at computers are normally alone, with no eyes on them, and don't seem to be able to grasp the concept that the internet allows all eyes on them, after the fact.
by Ralph Deeds 14 years ago
Where Anonymity Breeds Contempt"...Trolling, defined as the act of posting inflammatory, derogatory or provocative messages in public forums, is a problem as old as the Internet itself, although its roots go much farther back. Even in the fourth century B.C., Plato touched upon the subject of...
by ryanpugs 8 years ago
Just a broad question really, has the internet become boring? It feels like the internet used to be dominated by discussion (anonymous) and humour, and the outright weird. Now it feels like the internet serves primarily as a means of news consumption, for shopping, or for work based programs in the...
by Dr Billy Kidd 12 years ago
Internet Trolls bastardize every comment section in which they respond. The trick they pull is to cut down the author and to attack the person of those who have commented already. Interrnet Trolls do this without posting any facts that are actually relevant to the original discussion. Rather they...
by Sondra Rochelle 10 years ago
I've been online for almost 4 years, 2 1/2 of which have been spent writing for HP. There are a few thoughts I would like to share with my fellow writers that I feel might be helpful to them.First, we should never forget that behind all of the figures are real people. People who seek...
by Edwinoel Tanglao 11 years ago
While we cannot avoid living in this world using money and material things in life, may we learn to be of value to one another in providing help and assistance to those in need as we post our concerns and views, our suggestions and possible solutions as we strive to help one another in any honest...
by Chasuk 12 years ago
Why are there so many of them?
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