BBC Tracks Down And Confronts An Internet Troll

from the in-case-you're-wondering dept

Lots of people wonder what internet trolls are thinking in trying to get their kicks out of being as obnoxious as possible online... and some folks at the BBC apparently were able to track down and confront an individual who had a reputation for highly obnoxious trolling -- writing mean messages on Facebook tribute pages for people who were murdered. I'm not a huge fan of "confrontation" journalism, which feels pretty manufactured, but there is something amusing about watching the guy try to ignore the issue for a while, before realizing he can't resist and he has to respond. It's kind of a form of reverse trolling, where he fell for it...
When asked if he thinks about the people he's hurting online he responds, "Yeah, I think fuck 'em." Then he goes on to talk about how it's nothing illegal, and that Facebook is an open forum so he can say whatever he wants. The BBC points out that some of what he's saying may be illegal (under UK law), and he brushes it off, apparently responding to an earlier point that said someone got nine weeks in jail for similar statements, by saying "nine weeks, what's that?"

It's not the most enlightening of interviews, but given the general interest some people have in trolling, I figured some folks might find it interesting.
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Filed Under: internet, trolls


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  • identicon
    ashley sheridan, 9 Feb 2012 @ 5:29am

    I'm not going to be the only one here who sadly thinks this will be used to make a better case for not allowing anonymity online. :(

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 9 Feb 2012 @ 5:41am

      Re:

      If facebook was anonymous, they couldn't have tracked him down.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Anonymous Coward, 9 Feb 2012 @ 6:49am

        Re: Re:

        Except, despite Facebook is not meant to used "anonymously", really pseudonymously, he did use "anonymously" and BBC broke thought that so-called "anonymity" and tracked him down anyways.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Anonymous Coward, 9 Feb 2012 @ 12:57pm

        Re: Re:

        "If facebook was anonymous, they couldn't have tracked him down."

        Says the anonymous coward.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 9 Feb 2012 @ 7:34am

      Re:

      If anything, this makes a better case why we need it.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • icon
        vancedecker (profile), 9 Feb 2012 @ 3:12pm

        The Internet should be sorted by Intelligence.

        I've been saying this since the beginning...but my ideas were too dangerous.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 9 Feb 2012 @ 7:51am

      Re:

      How?

      They were able to track him down, without any new laws being made.

      That's all that matters, right?

      I mean, let's take the case of the guy who's wife came up missing, then 2 years later, after his kids were taken away, he still managed to kill them, and himself, and blow the house up.

      You will NEVER stop freaks, you will NEVER stop murder.

      The only thing you can do is make sure there is a legit path to tracking them down and making sure justice is done.

      Even sometimes, there isn't anything you can do. Adding more laws won't help.

      The same can be applied to copyright....

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • icon
        vancedecker (profile), 9 Feb 2012 @ 3:32pm

        Re: Re:

        so now trolling is like murder?

        link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Anon, 24 Apr 2013 @ 12:28pm

        Re: Re:

        If u think that freaks an' murder can never be stopped, think again, u deluded and self-righteous asswipe. It sounds to me like u support freaks and murderers enough to let 'em run amok in this world. Well, I'm sick to fuckin' death of them enough to want 'em all gone forever.

        If I own this world, I'd get rid of u an' all ur kind. It would fuckin' serve u an' them right, u shit head.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    blakey, 9 Feb 2012 @ 5:47am

    Don't feed the troll

    There are just some rules that take time to sink in: Dont use Internet Explorer for anything, No bank sends you emails, No one is giving you squillions of dollars, don't feed trolls.
    You do not need new laws banning anonymity, just a bit, a tiny bit, of sense.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      MAJikMARCer (profile), 9 Feb 2012 @ 5:53am

      Re: Don't feed the troll

      You don't give the Nanny governments enough credit.
      "We have to protect the {stupid} people from doing stuff online that might upset them."

      Whatever happened to personal responsibility and having a backbone? If you sent a scammer money, well I hope you learned your lesson. If a troll hurts your feelings, get over it, they don't know you, you don't know them, fuck'm.

      We don't need laws protecting peoples feelings and there are already laws in place for the scams. People just need to pay attention to what they are doing.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • icon
        aguywhoneedstenbucks (profile), 9 Feb 2012 @ 6:48am

        Re: Re: Don't feed the troll

        Agreed! People get their panties in a wad over stuff that doesn't matter. Sadly, that's what makes trolling so much fun. Watching someone you don't know get all huffy about a few semi-anonymously typed words on the internet is actually kind of funny.

        From Half Baked: Fuck you, fuck you, fuck you, you're cool, and fuck you, I'm out!

        link to this | view in chronology ]

        • identicon
          guest, 13 Jan 2013 @ 7:46pm

          Re: Re: Re: Don't feed the troll

          you think that trolling's fun? then how about you get the shit beaten outta you in real life for being a dickhead? you won't think that trolling's fun if one, more, or all of your victims find out that you've been sending crap to them online.

          link to this | view in chronology ]

      • icon
        nasch (profile), 9 Feb 2012 @ 8:02am

        Re: Re: Don't feed the troll

        I was amazed that he said "Some of it's racist, so yes it's illegal." Making racist comments is illegal in the UK?

        link to this | view in chronology ]

        • identicon
          Anonymous Coward, 9 Feb 2012 @ 1:51pm

          Re: Re: Re: Don't feed the troll

          "inciting racial violence" is a crime in the UK

          link to this | view in chronology ]

      • icon
        John Fenderson (profile), 9 Feb 2012 @ 9:33am

        Re: Re: Don't feed the troll

        "If you sent a scammer money, well I hope you learned your lesson."

        Wait, are you saying you disagree with the laws against fraud?

        link to this | view in chronology ]

        • identicon
          Anonymous Coward, 9 Feb 2012 @ 2:02pm

          Re: Re: Re: Don't feed the troll

          Personal responsibility is his message.

          MAJikMARCer stated "...there are already laws in place for the scams."

          PT Barnum - "There's a sucker born every minute."
          John Wayne - "Life's hard, its harder when your stupid."

          link to this | view in chronology ]

          • identicon
            Upshot Baker, 9 Feb 2012 @ 3:11pm

            Re: Re: Re: Re: Don't feed the troll

            John Wayne - "Life's hard, its harder when your stupid."


            Nyuk nyuk.

            link to this | view in chronology ]

            • identicon
              no one, 11 May 2013 @ 12:18am

              Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Don't feed the troll

              if u think that's funny, think again, dumb ass.

              link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Anonymous, 30 May 2012 @ 3:57pm

        Re: Re: Don't feed the troll

        Do you have any idea how hypocritical you sound?

        I say to hell with free speech if you're going to misuse it. If people aren't careful not to fuck with other people online or offline, they deserve to have their asses ahnded to them.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        guest, 13 Jan 2013 @ 7:44pm

        Re: Re: Don't feed the troll

        what a hypocrite you must be. trolls don't deserve to be online for all the stupid stuff they put online.

        you think that's alright to be a jerk to everyone online? you might get your ass handed to you.

        laws deserve to be made and used on people who are dickheads to others. didn't your teach you that if you can't say something nice, you shouldn't say anything at all? it's sad that not many people seem to know that nowadays.

        i mean, what i someone's threatening you online? that person deserves to be sent to jail. and the ones who tell trolled victims to grow some balls are the ones who need to grow balls. same thing goes for trolls.

        if trolls don't like stuff being said to them, then they shouldn't say it online.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

        • identicon
          guest, 8 Jul 2013 @ 1:01pm

          Re: Re: Re: Don't feed the troll

          dang it! i forgot to put "parents" between "didn't" and "your." sorry about that mistake.

          link to this | view in chronology ]

        • identicon
          guest, 26 May 2016 @ 7:25pm

          Re: Re: Re: Don't feed the troll

          oops. i accidentally typed the "if" between "what" and "someone's" as "i." my bad.

          link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Anonymous, 1 Mar 2015 @ 5:34pm

        Re: Re: Don't feed the troll

        Sounds to me that you're an inconsiderate asswipe, you prick. If I'm you, I'd be more considerate to other people.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Matt, 9 Feb 2012 @ 6:35am

      Re: Don't feed the troll

      The trouble is that many people these days are lacking in that tiny bit of sense.
      Common Sense
      Common Courtesy
      Common Decency
      What's the common theme? None of them are all that common any more!

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Anon, 24 Apr 2013 @ 12:29pm

        Re: Re: Don't feed the troll

        Sadly, that's true. But I refuse to lack those things even though I'm not perfect.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 9 Feb 2012 @ 6:03am

    Troll Study

    I'd be very interested to see a physiological and psychological study on Trolls. I'd like to know what they're social & economic background is, mental state, and general characteristics that make someone say the things they do.

    I know some of it is the lower inhibitions that come with being somewhat anonymous and the physical and mental distance one is from the person they speak of. But I wonder if there is a societal aspect to trolling that could be studied if more are identified and confronted.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      E. Zachary Knight (profile), 9 Feb 2012 @ 6:46am

      Re: Troll Study

      Penny Arcade has already done that: http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2004/03/19

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      E. Zachary Knight (profile), 9 Feb 2012 @ 6:46am

      Re: Troll Study

      Penny Arcade has already done that: http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2004/03/19

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 9 Feb 2012 @ 7:31am

      Re: Troll Study

      A society of angry dudes.

      That is the background of most trolls.

      People who can't accept something and want others to know how they feel about it.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      John Fenderson (profile), 9 Feb 2012 @ 9:34am

      Re: Troll Study

      Trolls are nothing more or less than your plain old bullies with internet access.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      G Thompson (profile), 9 Feb 2012 @ 9:03pm

      Re: Troll Study

      John Suler, Ph.D. did one ages ago after studying the Palace, http://users.rider.edu/~suler/psycyber/psycyber.html that has in part 2 all about individual behaviour online.

      There have been a lot of others specifically about Trolling though mostly 5-10yrs old now. They are still relevant, though places like Facebook being not as group interactive as older places like "The Palace", Geocities, Biancas, or "The Well" et.al are a lot different for troll-like behaviour since the troll really gets a different style of feedback nowadays

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Tom Forrest, 1 Apr 2013 @ 8:48pm

      You are a Troll, let's dissect your sick brain.

      Hello Anonymous Coward,

      You are one of the worst Internet trolls I have ever seen.
      Maybe someday someone will figure out a good way to fix your wagon. Yes like I read you say, you are an asshole, the sick part of it is that you are proud of it.

      You think you are so clever, when in fact you are a worthless piece of shit.

      Why are you pretending you are not a troll?
      Does that make you feel better about your prevented sick existence?

      By the way you are wrong about WWII, the Germans were winning and if the USA did not come into WWII we would all be writing in German now.

      Trolls like you should learn what they are talking about.

      How many people do you think would like to see you in jail?

      I bet many hundreds of people wish you were in jail.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Tom Forrest, 1 Apr 2013 @ 9:16pm

        Re: You are a Troll, let's dissect your sick brain.

        Hello Anonymous Coward (aka piece of shit troll),

        I know it is debatable about WWII and some experts do agree with you that the tide had turned to the Allied Forces, however I talked with people that were in WWII and they said it could have gone either way.
        I mean how does one know exactly when you go from losing to winning?
        It is not binary, and for sure if the USA did not enter the war many more lives would have been lost and the war would have continued longer. Also what if the nuclear bomb was not developed, then WWII would have lasted much longer, or what if the Axis powers would have developed the nuclear bomb first?

        So I want you to see that I even treat sophisticated clever evil trolls like you fairly.

        Just because you are full of shit and do not know what you are talking about most of the time, in this case there is merit to your arguments about WWII.
        Also it helps me figure out where you may originally be from. I wonder if you are living in America?

        I think you were not born in America, maybe you come from the UK?

        Please do not misunderstand me, even though you are clever, I still think you are a worthless piece of shit and your threats of what you might do to me just make me laugh at you.

        What are you going to do about that AssClown?

        link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Anon, 24 Apr 2013 @ 12:24pm

        Re: You are a Troll, let's dissect your sick brain.

        Do u even know what the hell ur talkin' about? U don't sound like a true anti-troll to me. U claimed that ur against trolls when u sound just like one urself. Oh, the irony.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    Mesonoxian Eve (profile), 9 Feb 2012 @ 6:03am

    I was disappointed I didn't see Hagrid falling from the sky whilst riding a motorcycle and carrying a baby (most assuredly illegal).

    I don't fault trolls for their behavior. I fault those who can't ignore them. When they get it in their heads the trolls are the ones with the bad behavior, it's amazing there's still room left to get to the bottom of the barrel.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Screw trolls, 30 May 2012 @ 4:01pm

      Re:

      You backstabbing hypocrite. You actually think that trolls can always be ignored? Think again.

      There are trolls are who so disruptive that they deserve to be banned. Hell, they spam so much that no one can take it naymore. Therefore, you should be faulting trolls instead of people who can't ignore them.

      I mean, suppose there are trolsl who make good on their threats. What if you're one fo thsoe victims who gets antagonized by trolls in real life?

      You should be ashamed of what you typed 'cause it sounds like you want to side with trolls. For that, you oughtta get hanged.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      JC, 16 Aug 2013 @ 11:17am

      Re:

      But trolls ARE the ones with the bad behaviour. How would YOU feel if it were done to you ?? you wouldn't stop going onto a website...trolls shouldn't be given in to.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    Violated (profile), 9 Feb 2012 @ 6:10am

    Bloody Journalists

    I am not surprised by this. Those people mocking the families of the recently deceased, or others on their disabilities, are some of the most vile Internet users around who make an easy journalistic target.

    This investigation I know well would be passed on to the Police and forms a first step in what could well be a Court case.

    I should also add that some journalists misuse this investigative power to promote their own biased goals. For example they may focus on hammer attacks in one region and notice how some third party mugging website says you can buy really good hammers at such and such a place. Then despite this exact store selling thousands of hammers for a vast array of lawful purposes, and publicly condemning very rare unlawful use, these journalists can still report this store to the Police as the supplier of violent weapons! Not to forget this example journalist did not even talk to said store to get their input.

    Oddly enough my exact electronics situation based on that journalistic example, in an 3-page article wrote by Paul Malley, was also something I discussed directly with one BBC journalist who just wrote it off as "old news"

    The point to all this off-target rambling is that the Police and the main victim took this news report all too seriously resulting in a raid and seizure of my own company hardware. They were of course wrong in their failed case, once the record could be set straight, but there was still millions in damages done.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 9 Feb 2012 @ 6:20am

    "When asked if he thinks about the people he's hurting online he responds, "Yeah, I think fuck 'em."

    You could ask the same question to pirates about ripping off musicians, and you'd get the same answer.

    Not a coincidence.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      Makoto (profile), 9 Feb 2012 @ 6:27am

      Re:

      "When asked if he thinks about the people he's hurting online he responds, "Yeah, I think fuck 'em."

      You could ask the same question to music labels about ripping off musicians, and you'd get the same answer.

      Not a coincidence.


      Fixed that for you.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Anonymous Coward, 9 Feb 2012 @ 6:36am

        Re: Re:

        "When asked if he thinks about the people he's hurting online he responds, "Yeah, I think fuck 'em."

        You could ask the same question to music labels about ripping off musicians and the rest of the public, and you'd get the same answer.

        Not a coincidence.

        Fixed it even better for him.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      The Logician (profile), 9 Feb 2012 @ 6:33am

      Re:

      And, AC 8, you have just shown yourself to be no better than the troll which this article is about. Attacking those who oppose you merely illustrates your own lack of ethics and your inability to defend what you claim to believe.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        your mother isnt worth touching, 12 Oct 2012 @ 6:49am

        Re: Re:

        are you inbread?

        link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        no one, 11 May 2013 @ 12:23am

        Re: Re:

        what a self-righteous and deluded lie that is. so what ur trying to type is that people whoa re antagonized should just let their enemies walk all over them. if so, that's utter and complete bullshit.

        suppose i terrorize u all i want and order u not to defend urself. would u want 'n' like that. if so, don't be surprised once u end up dead.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      abc gum, 9 Feb 2012 @ 6:34am

      Re:

      Not even similar.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 9 Feb 2012 @ 6:56am

      Re:

      You seem to have quite the obsession with piracy.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Pixelation, 9 Feb 2012 @ 7:34am

      Re:

      Is that you, Nimrod?

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 9 Feb 2012 @ 6:32am

    Put him in jail for 9 weeks then. He clearly thinks that's nothing.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Michael, 9 Feb 2012 @ 6:44am

    This isn't good news

    I don't like the idea that a news agency (nor any other) can take it upon itself to track down an internet user for things he said online. Right now they're justifying their actions by going after somebody who said detestable, hateful things (and therefore can play up to the public contempt), but this is setting a precedent to justify more of the same in the future.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      Marcus Carab (profile), 9 Feb 2012 @ 7:18am

      Re: This isn't good news

      But... that's what news agencies do! Track people down, ask questions, get the story. That's the whole point!

      We can question their motives in a given situation - and that already happens: trashy papers face a lot of public backlash when their tactics get too dirty - and legal backlash if their tactics break the law. But the simple concept of tracking someone down to get an interview? That's fundamental to journalism.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      isaac Kotlicky (profile), 9 Feb 2012 @ 7:20am

      Re: This isn't good news

      Silly argument.
      A news organization can take it upon itself to investigate whatever it wants. There's no reason to stop them.

      If you do something they find newsworthy, then they can report on it. That's their job.

      If it isn't newsworthy, then it'd be stupid for them to track you down.
      Not really a problem here.

      You're afraid that a NEWS AGENCY will try to perform a d0x? The people interesting enough to make the news will either not care, or be smart enough to avoid it. How many hackers work for CNN?

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Michael, 9 Feb 2012 @ 7:59am

        Re: Re: This isn't good news

        "Silly argument.
        A news organization can take it upon itself to investigate whatever it wants. There's no reason to stop them."

        That's not the issue. The issue is that they're playing 'thought police' with internet users. If they can do it, who can't? People object whenever private parties go hunting internet users, so why is this ok? The person in question may've been out of line with his comments but that's still not justification because there's nobody drawing a line in the sand. Now, if it were a pedophile or a murderer, that would be different.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

        • icon
          nasch (profile), 9 Feb 2012 @ 8:06am

          Re: Re: Re: This isn't good news

          The issue is that they're playing 'thought police' with internet users. If they can do it, who can't?

          As long as the government doesn't do it, and as long as it's not harassment, anyone can do it. To say otherwise is taking away their free speech rights.

          link to this | view in chronology ]

          • identicon
            Michael, 9 Feb 2012 @ 8:08am

            Re: Re: Re: Re: This isn't good news

            Oh really? So now tracking down anonymous internet users is considered 'free speech?' I dispute that.

            link to this | view in chronology ]

            • icon
              Marcus Carab (profile), 9 Feb 2012 @ 8:24am

              Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: This isn't good news

              Oh really? So now tracking down anonymous internet users is considered 'free speech?' I dispute that.

              I don't know about free speech: it's just freedom.

              There is no law against tracking someone down. There are laws against plenty of things one might do in the course of tracking someone down (hacking their accounts, for example) and obviously doing any of those things is illegal. But to simply track someone down using whatever legal, publicly available means and information you can find? How is that not right smack dab in the middle of the definition of "freedom"?

              Now, if you're motives are bad, then people are going to think you're an asshole even if your methods are sound. And that's good: shame is a powerful social tool. But there's no law against being an asshole. Freedom would be meaningless if you were only free to do nice things that everyone approves of.

              link to this | view in chronology ]

              • icon
                Marcus Carab (profile), 9 Feb 2012 @ 8:25am

                Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: This isn't good news

                ugh hate to grammar nazi my own comments but naturally I meant your not you're - that one embarrasses me :)

                link to this | view in chronology ]

              • identicon
                Michael, 9 Feb 2012 @ 8:29am

                Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: This isn't good news

                Some of your arguments are sound. Nevertheless, I don't like the precedent being set here.

                link to this | view in chronology ]

                • icon
                  nasch (profile), 9 Feb 2012 @ 9:53am

                  Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: This isn't good news

                  Nevertheless, I don't like the precedent being set here.

                  Meaning you don't approve of what was done, or you think it should be illegal to find someone and ask him questions? (I'm just assuming the reporter didn't do anything illegal in finding this guy)

                  link to this | view in chronology ]

                • icon
                  Marcus Carab (profile), 9 Feb 2012 @ 10:41am

                  Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: This isn't good news

                  That's totally fair - and I think you are responding in the right way: by expressing your personal disapproval.

                  It's when you start wondering whether they "can" do this or are "free" to do so that I get concerned - because they absolutely can, and absolutely are. But, if you feel they're being jerks about it, then I fully encourage you to do condemn them for their choices, so long as you recognize they had every right to make those choices.

                  link to this | view in chronology ]

                • icon
                  TtfnJohn (profile), 9 Feb 2012 @ 6:02pm

                  Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: This isn't good news

                  I don't see a precedent here. The Beeb tracked this guy down from information supplied by a third party and a thumb drive they may have gotten from that third party.

                  The reality is the someone, somewhere knew who this guy was before they went to the Beeb and the Beeb outed him. Someone in the REAL world.

                  Those few trolls I've met in the real world are quite proud of what they do and will spill it out to anyone who will listen about how "tough" they are and how they're putting people in their place who need to be put there. I wouldn't say they're all that hard to find by the media or, if necessary, the police.

                  They lose their anonymity the moment they open their mouth in a bar, pub or coffee shop. I suspect that's what's happened here.

                  link to this | view in chronology ]

              • identicon
                anonymous, 30 May 2012 @ 4:03pm

                Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: This isn't good news

                That sounds self-righteous to me. If you misuse freedom, don't bother having it.

                To have freedom, you have to use it responsibly and appropriately.

                link to this | view in chronology ]

          • identicon
            Michael, 9 Feb 2012 @ 8:08am

            Re: Re: Re: Re: This isn't good news

            Oh really? So now tracking down anonymous internet users is considered 'free speech?' I dispute that.

            link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    B, 9 Feb 2012 @ 6:47am

    Troll Hunting

    good way to get killed. just sayin.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous, 17 Dec 2014 @ 5:44pm

      Re: Troll Hunting

      That's comin' from a guy who seems to support trolling. What if troll haters met trolls in real life and found out that they (the trolls) posted shit to them online? They (the anti-trolls) would beat their enemies to death.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    B, 9 Feb 2012 @ 6:47am

    Troll Hunting

    good way to get killed. just sayin.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous, 17 Dec 2014 @ 5:45pm

      Re: Troll Hunting

      Says the guy who sounds like he supports trolls. If you like those dumb-asses so much, then you and them can fuck each other to death for all I care.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    B, 9 Feb 2012 @ 6:47am

    Troll Hunting

    good way to get killed. just sayin.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 9 Feb 2012 @ 6:48am

    This shoul be a TV show . Trollbusters.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    xenomancer (profile), 9 Feb 2012 @ 6:49am

    They see him trollin', they hatin'...

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    ASTROBOI, 9 Feb 2012 @ 6:51am

    Congratulations......

    You just met a genuine sociopath.

    Bear in mind; you could put him in jail or hospital for 9 weeks or 9 decades and he wouldn't change. He can't. It's something we just must deal with. Could be worse. He might have been elected or become a cop.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anon, 24 Apr 2013 @ 12:35pm

      Re: Congratulations......

      No way should anyone ever deal with sociopaths. To do so is to allow them to do whatever they want even if it means harmin' and killin' others.

      What if I'm sociopathic and can do whatever harm I want to u? Woudl u want to deal with me all ur life? If so, dont' blame me if I end put an end tou.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • icon
        nasch (profile), 24 Apr 2013 @ 2:51pm

        Re: Re: Congratulations......

        What if I'm sociopathic and can do whatever harm I want to u?

        This isn't text messaging, you should learn how to use the word "you".

        link to this | view in chronology ]

        • identicon
          Anon, 8 May 2013 @ 10:57pm

          Re: Re: Re: Congratulations......

          Yeah, you're right. I don't know what I was thinking when I misused u when I should have replaced it with "you." Thanks for telling me. And I'm NOT sarcastic. Instead, I'm honest.

          link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    davebarnes (profile), 9 Feb 2012 @ 6:56am

    And, it is getting worse

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Michael, 9 Feb 2012 @ 7:06am

      Re: And, it is getting worse

      Pretty disturbing how much legal abuse is going on with this kind of stuff. Michael Doyle's case represents everything that is wrong with the current system and why it needs to change.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    isaac Kotlicky (profile), 9 Feb 2012 @ 7:14am

    Maybe take a lesson from Twitter...

    And create a method to "unfollow" or "opt out" of specific individuals comments? That way a troll like this would only be capable of truly insulting you once before you can just decide that you have no interest in what they have to say?

    Loosing an audience for your trolling won't stop you entirely, but it DOES limit the overall volume of offensiveness while simultaneously not imposing on anyones right to speak freely.

    You can speak, I just have a right to ignore.

    On the other hand, this has the potential to exacerbate "echo chamber" issues on the net. Every solution has its unintended consequences, I guess.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 9 Feb 2012 @ 9:13am

      Re: Maybe take a lesson from Twitter...

      1) In a situation like what Nimrod did to that kid's funeral, once is more then enough.

      2) Unless that list was able to contain the ENTIRE facebook community, it simply wouldn't work. There will always be some new asshat who's wondering if Metroid's gun is attached to his hand or if it's a part of his suit.

      You can ignore and try to block out trolls all you like, but I've seen situaions where trolls have posted things in forums or in chats in games, gotten no reaction, and just repost sometime later. At this point they believe the whole world is under their bridge.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • icon
        nasch (profile), 9 Feb 2012 @ 10:03am

        Re: Re: Maybe take a lesson from Twitter...

        There will always be some new asshat who's wondering if Metroid's gun is attached to his hand or if it's a part of his suit.

        How long before someone shouts at you about this one? :-)

        link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Anonymous Coward, 9 Feb 2012 @ 10:54am

        Re: Re: Maybe take a lesson from Twitter...

        Metroid? Don't you mean Samus Aran and her instead of his.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

      • icon
        nasch (profile), 9 Feb 2012 @ 12:58pm

        Re: Re: Maybe take a lesson from Twitter...

        Metroid? Don't you mean Samus Aran and her instead of his.

        Looks like it took about 100 minutes (though that wasn't really shouting).

        link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 9 Feb 2012 @ 7:17am

    Wow, and all this time I thought Marcus Carab was in Canada.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Steve, 9 Feb 2012 @ 7:47am

    Grow up!

    As someone who has had their fair share of REAL WORLD abuse, I’ll tell you all what my parents told me when I was getting said abuse as a child, you may have heard it before but I think it works.
    Sticks and stones may break your bones but words will never harm you. Unless you let them (I added that bit).
    If you stand up in front of the world shouting "look at me, look at me!"
    Then you need to expect abuse no matter what it is you're exposing to the world, and that includes grieving.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Steve, 9 Feb 2012 @ 7:52am

      Re: Grow up!

      You're irony is very much appreciated. ;)

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous 314159, 9 Feb 2012 @ 8:17am

      Re: Grow up!

      Obviously, you have never dropped a dictionary on your foot.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      vancedecker (profile), 9 Feb 2012 @ 3:02pm

      Re: Grow up!

      Exactly, why are internet trolls any less respectful than real world trolls like Sarah Palin?

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • icon
        TtfnJohn (profile), 9 Feb 2012 @ 6:07pm

        Re: Re: Grow up!

        They're not. but the real world variety are held up to ridicule which often sails a yard or two over their heads. The same thing happens here as trolls often don't get the ridicule aimed at them. It flies a few yards over their skulls.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

        • icon
          vancedecker (profile), 9 Feb 2012 @ 7:24pm

          Re: Re: Re: Grow up!

          Actually I meant to say 'why should Internet trolls be any less respected' than real world trolls like Sarah...

          Sarah is making millions, while this guy is being hunted down like he is some sort of child predator...

          link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      anonymous, 30 May 2012 @ 4:07pm

      Re: Grow up!

      why don't you grow up, you insensitive dickhead. that sticks and stones phrase is a load of crap. accepting abuse if for spineless weaklings.

      it seems to me that what you're doing is expecting others to be unemotional and unquestioning robots. well, how woudl you like it other people do that to you?

      think about i'm telling you.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 9 Feb 2012 @ 7:49am

    tl;dr

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    MrWilson, 9 Feb 2012 @ 8:42am

    I'd say I'd want to see the trolls on this website tracked down and interviewed, but security probably wouldn't let journalists into the lobbying offices.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      Endtimer (profile), 9 Feb 2012 @ 9:17am

      I wonder

      If the majority of the community approves of an outrageous and trollish comment, is it still trolling?

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        MrWilson, 9 Feb 2012 @ 11:00am

        Re: I wonder

        The traditional folk definition for trolling includes that it intentionally goes against the commonly held perspectives of the community at large, so no, it probably wouldn't be trolling. Or at least, if it were intended to be trolling, it would have failed if it gained approval. Trolling is also perceived as being intentionally offensive or adversarial.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

        • icon
          vancedecker (profile), 9 Feb 2012 @ 3:11pm

          Re: Re: I wonder

          One problem with ceteris paribus based 'folk wisdom' is that it's an oxymoron. If common folks had wisdom then we wouldn't have needed a Constitutional Republic.

          The riff raff cannot be expected to understand nuance and ironic humor.

          Many look up the word troll on a site most likely authored by one and/or find some simplistic and literalist definition to then enable themselves to troll the internet in a desperate cry for attention.

          link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    NyukNyukJohn, 9 Feb 2012 @ 1:12pm

    oh, the humanity

    I feel sorriest for his young child and then for his wife/girlfriend/whatever. That poor baby will have to listen to his hate spewing ignorance and have very little chance of becoming an actual normal human. Mom......take the baby and RUN!

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    vancedecker (profile), 9 Feb 2012 @ 3:00pm

    What about all the good things trolls do?

    As prominent Internet Troll myself, I find this article offensive.

    Have we learned nothing from the Wizard of Oz?

    If Dorothy had melted Glinda, the Good Witch of the North, then she might never have gotten home.

    The BBC, like the Wicked Witch of the West is just dispatching a gang of flying monkeys and hoping one of them will hurl feces at the correct target.

    Why even bother explaining to these cyber-hysterics, that, like assholes, in the real world, they come in a variety of off color flavors.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      troll hater, 23 Nov 2019 @ 7:29pm

      Re: What about all the good things trolls do?

      That's bullcrap. Trolls don't do anything good. All they do is fuck with innocent people. And so, they can blow their damn brains out for all I care.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    kurisu7885, 10 Feb 2012 @ 3:13am

    You know, i think the main character in Saints Row: The Third said it best

    "In real life you're just a bitch with a keyboard."

    The only reason they say a quarter of what they is no one has figured out how to punch their noses in through the internet yet.

    Get them in real life and they would back off real quick.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 10 Feb 2012 @ 5:57am

    Just lie about it not being you. If a reporter comes up to you and says "Are you blah-blah-blah on Facebook who said yakkity-yakkity" just act surprised, demand to see the "evidence" and scream that your account was cracked. It isn't like there isn't a ton of info on the net on how to do it, and it'd be completely possible.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous, 1 Mar 2015 @ 5:29pm

      Re:

      Do you have any idea what you just suggested? Lying for that reason is wrong. All it will do is get you into unnecessary trouble.

      If you lie, you only do that for a really necessary reason.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Meh, 10 Feb 2012 @ 8:35am

    Sounds like a dr.Jackel and mr.Hide personality disorder, he can't stand straight for even two seconds and answer a few simple questions. I don't think he's a troll trolls are most unorganized and spam to put down someone on the spot, he has motives and targets dead people and is thus a complete douche bag.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Dave, 10 Feb 2012 @ 12:01pm

    Thick or what?

    Er.....doesn't seem to rate too highly in the intelligence department, does he?

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Mary, 10 Oct 2014 @ 4:12am

    trolling confrontation

    how can someone hurt someone they've never met! What a joke! What if he had beat your ass for putting him on video or humiliating him in public especially when you ARE NOT related to the case? Wow! People need to stop being out there telling others how to feel about races either! Mind your own business!!!

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous, 17 Dec 2014 @ 5:40pm

      Re: trolling confrontation

      Why don't you mind your own business instead, you insensitive dick?! If you keep being an asshole to many people, they'll likely hunt you down and kick the crap outta you!

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    apgwilym83, 4 Nov 2014 @ 5:34am

    troll tracking

    I honestly think this is a great idea to do - track down people who have no backbone and confront them.

    When people brush it off as a "tiny bit of criticism" and "just a few words" it's often much more vile trolling like the lady who had some troll sending her pictures of her dead son hanging himself! I think the sort of person who does that deserves to be tracked down and confronted. If that happened to one of my family members, I wouldn't be able to just brush it off and we all know the police don't bother these days.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous, 17 Dec 2014 @ 5:38pm

      Re: troll tracking

      That's something I mostly like to read from you. Anyone who puts up with trolling is just encouraging them to be jerks. Therefore, they should be hunted to extinction.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous, 1 Mar 2015 @ 5:25pm

      Re: troll tracking

      I'm really sorry for what I replied to you. I thought that you were against trolled victims. But now that Is aw how wrong I was, I apologize.

      To make up for you my nasty replies, I support you your anti-trolling attitude. Besides, I was victim of some trolls before and I hate it.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous, 1 Mar 2015 @ 5:27pm

      Re: troll tracking

      Oh, I thought that you were Mary. My apologies.

      I never posted anything bad to you. So there's no need for me to apologize. But if I did post nastily to you, I'd owe you an apology.

      link to this | view in chronology ]


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