Recently an internet user, by the name of Pressfarttocontinue spammed and generally harassed, a YouTuber called Dodger. You can see Dodger’s response to that here. This user, Pressfarttocontinue, has been caught by TotalBiscuit (TB) once again stirring up trouble. TBs concern is that they are seemingly one of the “…most publicly involved [people] with the recent Gamergate drama.”
So TB has taken to TwitLonger to publicly denounce, and call out this user. Within the post I think this section sums it up the best:
His recent attempts to ingratiate himself with me are in my view purely self-serving and I want people to be fully aware of this very recent behavior and my negative interactions with him and also to be extremely wary of his obsessive nature. This is a person I genuinely believe needs real help. I pity him, but I also know what he is capable of. I hope he gets the opportunity for self-reflection and changes himself for the better.
Without talking about this post, or person in particular, I wanted to ask questions on the issue of internet stalkers, and internet trolls.
The too familiar troll face, and “you mad bro?” meme.
Is what they are doing really helping them?
I honestly have no idea why trolls do what they do, can enraging people over the internet really give them that much self-satisfaction?
Take this example, a stalker starts following someone at every possible avenue, to the point of trying to find their IP address and physical location and tries to call friends and relatives. Does this really make that person more inclined to think that the stalker cares about them? No it just makes the person want to stay further away from them.
If you take the actions of internet trolls, and stalkers and transpose them to everyday life what would happen to them?
Well this would happen to them, hopefully.
Who really knows their motivations except themselves, but like TB says, I also feel pity for everyone who does this, and think they do need some real help.
Or is it societies fault, maybe school for shunning them out of normal social interactions, and bullying them to the point that they see no way out?
What do you think? Should we pity these people? Should we ignore these people? Should we even acknowledge these people?
And lastly, what do you think we can do to help? As help is likely what they need the most.
Please put your thoughts in the comments below.
Published: Oct 29, 2014 10:30 am