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I think we're overestimating the "anonymous internet snark" aspect of this phenomenon. Back before most people lived in large cities and could be anonymous, th

I think we're overestimating the "anonymous internet snark" aspect of this phenomenon. Back before most people lived in large cities and could be anonymous, this sort of thing still happened. People got reputations, and they rarely lived down embarrassing things that became public knowledge. Is it really worse for some random person thousands of miles away to laugh at a mugshot and a story (someone who could meet you a week later and not even recognize you), or to hear "Got anything interesting up your ass today?" from people you run into on the street for the rest of your life?

kenjackson 16y ago
It is worse when its something embarrassing (rather than criminal). Like the lady who fell in the fountain. Now every employer, boyfriend, colleague will know about this. It's no longer anyone in your small circle in your hometown, but anyone with an internet connection.
- Semiapies 16y ago
  I think you overestimate the lifespan of these things. When we're inundated with a dozen new public humiliation memes a day, people just won't remember. Who looks to see whether some person you've met is the subject of embarassing YouTube videos? Do you really think you'd recognize the Star Wars Kid if you passed him on the street?
  - kenjackson 16y ago
    Not if I passed him on the street, but if he joined my company, I'd Google him. I've probably searched for every person I know. Takes five seconds and on occassion yields something really interesting.
uvTwitch 16y ago
The internet simply increases the reach that stories like this have. It reminds me of an old joke, appropriate before the net: "You know son, I was a volunteer fireman in this town, put out many blazes, but they don't call me Billy the Fireman. I also build quite a few bridges in my time, and they're still standing to this day, but they don't call me Billy the Bridge Builder. But you fuck one goat..."
- Semiapies 16y ago
  "The internet simply increases the reach that stories like this have" And drowns each needle in a steadily-growing haystack of other stories.

kenjackson 16y ago

It is worse when its something embarrassing (rather than criminal). Like the lady who fell in the fountain. Now every employer, boyfriend, colleague will know about this. It's no longer anyone in your small circle in your hometown, but anyone with an internet connection.

Semiapies 16y ago
I think you overestimate the lifespan of these things. When we're inundated with a dozen new public humiliation memes a day, people just won't remember. Who looks to see whether some person you've met is the subject of embarassing YouTube videos? Do you really think you'd recognize the Star Wars Kid if you passed him on the street?
- kenjackson 16y ago
  Not if I passed him on the street, but if he joined my company, I'd Google him. I've probably searched for every person I know. Takes five seconds and on occassion yields something really interesting.

uvTwitch 16y ago

The internet simply increases the reach that stories like this have. It reminds me of an old joke, appropriate before the net: "You know son, I was a volunteer fireman in this town, put out many blazes, but they don't call me Billy the Fireman. I also build quite a few bridges in my time, and they're still standing to this day, but they don't call me Billy the Bridge Builder. But you fuck one goat..."

Semiapies 16y ago
"The internet simply increases the reach that stories like this have" And drowns each needle in a steadily-growing haystack of other stories.