Is It Still Web Rage If You Have To Drive 70 Miles To Attack Someone?

from the seems-like-garden-variety-rage-to-me dept

Tue, Oct 17th 2006 10:31pm — Mike Masnick

We've all heard stories of crimes or accidents where technology is unfairly blamed, simply for playing a part of the event. The latest is that the BBC is talking up the "first" web-rage attack in Britain. However, the details should make you wonder why the web is being blamed. It appears that two guys had a disagreement in a chat room, and one of them proceeded to drive 70 miles to the other's home to attack him. When you think of other types of "rage," such a road rage, it's usually very much about a spur of the moment thing, brought on by what happened immediately prior. Once some type of rage involves waiting for someone to travel 70 miles to attack you (and not having whatever anger wear off by that point), it would suggest that there's a bit more involved here than rage caused by the web. At the very least, you'd have to think that a lot more was involved than a simple online flamewar. So, it's hard to see how this can be attributed to the web in any way -- but I guess that doesn't make for as interesting a headline.

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33 Comments

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Anonymous Coward, 17 Oct 2006 @ 11:15pm

Semantics...
Why defend it? Who cares if its web rage or not? You dont have to be apologetic for technology in EVERY case
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Unanimous Howard, 17 Oct 2006 @ 11:40pm

In that case, I guess I've endured a few cases of my girlfriend's phone rage.
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blink4blog, 18 Oct 2006 @ 1:05am

care to fly to Asia?
well, you can travel 70 miles away, care to book a flight to Asia to do it?
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corosus, 18 Oct 2006 @ 2:19am

Re: Semantics...
well euhm, in the olden days people used to talk in person, and sometimes they get mad at eatch-other, maybee we should abolish talking. blaming the conduit for the content or even the result of the content is never a sollution, no matter how easy it is. The responcible party here IMHO is the guy that drove 70 miles. once in a while you need to shrug and let things go.
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Sohrab, 18 Oct 2006 @ 2:40am

blame the net, not society. much easier to blame video games then ask "where were the parents, did they actually teach their children anything?"

same here, why actually find out what happened and would the same thing have happened if it was over a phone? text messeges?
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Matthew, 18 Oct 2006 @ 4:11am

FTA: 2 details
A: The attacker, Gibbons, is a 47 yo male has a violent past.
B: Gibbons had an machete-wielding accomplice. So certainly that person had something to do with stoking the fire over the 70-mile trip.

The fact that it took place in a chat room about muslim faith may or may not be relevant, but it sounds to me that Gibbons & Co. were looking for a fight. Furthermore, he defender answered the door with a knife in his own hand. He knew what was coming.

This does not seem rational for a man of nearly 50. But the article is so overblown about the evil Internet I believe it is a good topic to bring up here. I don't see TD being apologetic, but rather forcing this discussion to be brought to light.

The article's closing "It demonstrates how easily other users can put two and two together and also shows how children could also find themselves in danger." is a rediculous diversion from the fact that crazy and stupid people are all over. They speak of protecting one's anonmity, but you know that Gibbons was given an address to chase down. We're not talking about some hack job, or pre-texting scandal.
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Zwxphtt, 18 Oct 2006 @ 4:17am

That's It!!
I detest all of your comments please post your home address so I can drive, fly, walk over to your house.
Weapon of choice
Barrett sniper rifles at 900 meters!!
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Daniel Morritt, 18 Oct 2006 @ 4:33am

the anger would have well worn off by then, at 70 miles doing the legal limit of 70 thats 1 hour, bearing in mind theres a lot of lights, roundabouts and lower speed limits i would say 1.5 hours is the minimum he could travel that far in.

typical emotional anger lasts what a few minutes (need refernce for this but i cant find it right now)? so for someone to stay angry for 1.5 hours? i think not, for anger to last any longer than a few minutes you have to actively work yourself into it and keep yourself angry. plus the concentration of driving has to be taken into consideration (maybe that kept him worked up if he was speeding and driving recklessly?)

so all in all its unfair to slate it as web rage, its just someone getting annoyed with someone else and taking it too far, leave the web out of it as it was just the transport of their feelings.
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The Swiss Cheese Monster, 18 Oct 2006 @ 4:48am

I wonder
How he figured out where they guy lives.
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JustMe, 18 Oct 2006 @ 4:52am

I suspect the McDonalds Key Logger with cheeze has something to do with this...
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precaryus, 18 Oct 2006 @ 5:11am

figures that it involved a muzzie.
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FinMotherFer, 18 Oct 2006 @ 5:15am

Yeah, the Pedophile Muzzies suck ass!
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bentman78, 18 Oct 2006 @ 5:15am

I once got into a disagreement with a fellow in a forum once, He lived in NJ and I live in Virginia. He wanted to drive down to VA to fight me. I told him be my guest...PM me and i'll give you my address. I told him that 4 hours is a long time to drive to come here and get your ass whipped. Needless to say he didn't ask for my address... Regardless, it's funny how some people take stuff to seriously...people need to lighten up.
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Mike, 18 Oct 2006 @ 5:19am

Right on!
I dunno, I wish more people would drive over and beat the snot out of people shooting their mouths off in chat rooms, put some fear into the internet tough guys, I know I'd love to pummel a few of the idiots I've run into on the net... anyway violence is WAY underrated as a problem solving tool... fear of pain is a base instinct, and besides, some people just need a beating...
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Scott, 18 Oct 2006 @ 5:28am

Real Web rage
The web rage that BBC reported is certainly not web rage. Web rage would be when you try to do a normal routine on the internet, like accessing a web page, but for some reason the web page is not working, so you get up and slam your fist into the wall. It's quite obvious that the story BBC had, was not a case of 'web rage', but more a case of 'life rage', because the mans rage was based of the actions of another person. Silly BBC.
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Evil_Bastard, 18 Oct 2006 @ 5:28am

The BBC is great organization in many respects, but they do the Brits no favor when they continue to foster the "victim" mentality that is so omnipresent in their sphere of influence. Sadly, its SOP for the BBC. Blame the web? That's really quite insane.
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Joe, 18 Oct 2006 @ 5:53am

Re: Right on!
LOL....I love your comment
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Mike S., 18 Oct 2006 @ 6:23am

Re: Real Web rage
If your response to a 404 error is to stand up and punch the wall then you have more serious issues than the definition of 'web rage', my friend.

Go outside.
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jsnbase, 18 Oct 2006 @ 7:12am

Re:
typical emotional anger lasts what a few minutes (need refernce for this but i cant find it right now)? so for someone to stay angry for 1.5 hours? i think not, for anger to last any longer than a few minutes you have to actively work yourself into it and keep yourself angry. plus the concentration of driving has to be taken into consideration (maybe that kept him worked up if he was speeding and driving recklessly?)

You're going to find it difficult to locate references in support of baseless supposition.
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Trouble Maker, 18 Oct 2006 @ 7:14am

two cents worth
To bad Gibbons and his pick-axe handle and his machete-wielding accomplice were not met at the door with a smile and a Flame-Thrower.

The MS software used for the operation of the computers and communication interface leading up to the attack is to blame, or do we demand personal responsibility?

When will the world wake up and again hold people responsible for their actions and inactions?
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Anonymous Coward, 18 Oct 2006 @ 7:39am

not only the software, but the physical devices used to make it. and any subsequent item used in prouduction.

food made the guys live, cables carried electrical signals, factories made cases/mice/keyboards...

i could go on for eveer and ever....
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Anonymous Coward, 18 Oct 2006 @ 7:44am

The internet just gives ignorant morons another way to start fights with eachother. Like corosus said, blaming the conduit is stupid. The problem is the ignorant moron who wants to bring violence into the disagreement.
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Dutch_expat, 18 Oct 2006 @ 7:49am

Mike,

Quick story about Soccer rage. Here in Holland, they have "mechanized" the way one sees a football game, due to the ludicrous amount of fighting that occurs at them. The "mechanization" has reduced the amount of fighting that occurs tremendously.

Now, in order for those same clowns (the ones who like to fight) to get their kicks (pun intended), they hold organized fights. My understanding is that the groups will meet a so-and-so park-n-ride at whatever time. They meet, they fight, they go home.

-Dutch_expat
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rager, 18 Oct 2006 @ 7:52am

you want some?
WTF did you say to me??? why don't you come over here so we can nerd it out in person!@#!@#$ come on punk!!! but seriously, wait until 9... my mom will be going to work then...
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that guy..., 18 Oct 2006 @ 7:57am

Sue
Sue the internet.

Didn't Al Gore invent the internet? Sue Al Gore!

Same as when people sue a bar for giving a guy too much to drink, he drives off and kills himself.

Get my lawyer on the phone...
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Xiera, 18 Oct 2006 @ 8:11am

Grr...
But one of the many beauties of the internet is that it's easy to escape these situations because all you have to do is leave the chat/game/whatever else.

This is a clear-cut case of "people who need to grow up and get lives".
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Xterra, 18 Oct 2006 @ 8:20am

Web Rage or not you still do not have the right to place your hands on someone without their consent or in an attempt to do bodily harm.
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Anonymous Coward, 18 Oct 2006 @ 8:44am

an islamic chat room...
Proof that its a religion of peace....
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Jetakai, 18 Oct 2006 @ 9:14am

How did he know the guys address?
Did they know each other? Flame wars in a chat room and this thing gets blamed on the internet...If this idiot was face to face with anyone he would have tried to hurt them...
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DanL, 18 Oct 2006 @ 9:57am

Re:
You are an idiot. It's dangerous to make a broad sweeping assessment about anything let alone how long the typical person stays angry. This case is the perfect example...this guy OBVIOUSLY did stay angry for the 70 mile journey.

Labelling of any type typically does nothing positive. "Web Rage" is just an attention grabber that is now out there for better or worse. Deal with it. Don't you feel a little ridiculous defending a machine and/or technology as if its feelings were being hurt?
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Evil_Bastard, 18 Oct 2006 @ 10:04am

No one is defending a machine you asshat. We are advocating that the guy take responsibility for his actions instead of the typical search for something/someone else/some "condition" to shift blame to. Case in point, the entirely fiction "web rage".
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DanL, 18 Oct 2006 @ 10:17am

Re:
If you read the article, which it seems you didn't, you would see that the guy didn't blame the web for his rage...he did claim responsibility for his actions and only noted that it was in a chat room where the initial exchange took place.

It was the police that labelled it "Web Rage" asshat, not the dumbass that drove 70 miles to get his ass beat.
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Evil_Bastard, 18 Oct 2006 @ 10:40am

Not talking about the guy, talking about the article.

Context shift, it's a great tool when you want to intentionally miss the point.
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