Internet trolls are an online nightmare for women

[davidn3600]

That the Internet crawls with trolls is not surprising.

That so many teens and young women feed those trolls is shocking, and inexplicable.

Girls fill the ugly maw of the most exploitive websites, either willingly with porn-y self-portraits — “selfies,” as they’re called — or inadvertently because they let their boyfriends shoot them in compromising positions, or because they were careless with privacy controls.

There’s nothing a cybercreeper likes better than catching a revealing Instagram shot on an unprotected Facebook page and then posting it on a “parasite porn” site.

And there are the comments. Oh, the comments. Sick, obscene and hateful. Vicious and violent.

But then, that’s what much of trolling is about, pressing on the bruises of a person’s political or personal beliefs, just for the attention, the disruption, the cruelty or the “LULZ” (laughs.)

Trolling, which has been part of the Internet since the first anonymous comment was ever posted, took a turn in 2012 that exposed just how much of a dark dangerous alley the online world is for women, especially young women.

Rest of article at:
http://www.thestar.com/news/insight/article/1317081--internet-trolls-an-online-nightmare-for-young-women

[Recursion]

1. Fairfax County Schools does some PSAs on this

Unfortunately it's along the lines of "don't take pictures for your boyfriend" rather than "don't post your girlfriends' pictures online"

[Sherman A1]

2. While I completely agree with your feelings

that their approach is one sided, it is a start in prevention.

I am sure that we agree that it needs to be both, "don't take pictures for your boyfriend" and "don't post your girlfriends' pictures online".

But I would applaud them for at least doing something.

[Recursion]

3. Oh, sure, it's at least a start

And there probably is some sense to reminding people that once something's on the Internet, it's there forever.

[CitizenPatriot]

4. But your original point is beyond valid

until we shift the onus of responsibility to the person behaving badly, we will continue to let them off and put the burden on others to "stop them" from being bullies.

So, at the very least, they should first warn the bullies not to do this, and then warn the females to be judicious in sharing photos.

[Confusious]

6. 1.Bullies don't give a shit about what you want

2.You can tell them until you're blue in the fucking face, they won't listen to you.

3.That's why they're bullies.

4.Criminals don't give a shit about what you want.

5.You can tell them until you're blue in the fucking face, they won't listen to you.

6.That's why they're criminals.

Now you could have a giant 'awareness day,' but they're not going to listen to you, see point 1,2 and 4,5.

So you talk to people who don't want to be victims of bullies and criminals.

Seems like common sense, but I guess that's becoming more lacking around here.

Oh, yea, bullies don't wear a big B on their shirt, and criminals don't wear a big C. So how do you propose 'they should first warn the bullies'?

[CitizenPatriot]

8. Here's a hint - it's not about getting the bullies to listen

It's about getting the public to hold the proper people responsible so they stop enabling the bullies. That's why you warn the bullies.

I guess you are the common sense police around here, though it's hard to hear you through the condescension. Seriously, take a breath.

[Daemonaquila]

5. No, they're not.

They may be a nightmare for freaking idiots, but not for women in general. Doing something as dumb as taking nude shots of yourself and either posting them or giving them to someone who might post them is STUPID. This is not a feminist issue. It's about basic common sense, and gender is immaterial. The Internet is chock full of bullies, and exposing one's self not only figuratively but literally is staggeringly bad judgment.

[Confusious]

7. They're a nightmare for anyone

Give any opening, and they'll use it against you.

Have a soft spot for animals? They'll talk about skinning cats or dogs... etc.

That's what bullies do.

You just have to ignore it.

Whining about it makes it worse. It gives them attention, and that's what they want.