5 ms·

My impression is that’s only one half of the story. If you look at some of the subreddits where he’s mentioned he’s basically turned into a lolcow. Lolcows are

My impression is that’s only one half of the story. If you look at some of the subreddits where he’s mentioned he’s basically turned into a lolcow. Lolcows are essentially terminally online people that are made fun of (up to cyber bullying, real life stalking and swatting) on websites like kiwifarms and reddit. The most famous lolcow that you may have heard of is Chris Chan. This is not to defend the terrible things being done to this guy, but if he just went dark people would lose interest/age out of fucking with him. What gives a lolcow longevity and notability is their continuance to post weird stuff and actively engage with their bullies.

richbell 3y ago
> This is not to defend the terrible things being done to this guy, but if he just went dark people would lose interest/age out of fucking with him. It's my understanding that he flagrantly disregards law-enforcement's advice. Any time he is tweeted at — let alone SWATed — he makes a large public spectacle. He often compulsively replies to every single person on Twitter, including branded company accounts, accusing them of being criminal stalkers. To reiterate, that is in no way a defense of what people are doing to him, but he is by no means doing himself any favours by how he reacts. Though, how a police department can be so incompetent that they continually respond to phony calls is beyond me.
- Sunspark 3y ago
  That's crazy. So indirectly, he is actually incentivizing others to keep on looking for a reaction out of him.
  - opportune 3y ago
    Yeah. It’s the bullying feedback loop - there would be no point in bullying someone if you didn’t get a reaction out of them. If you reliably freak out in a grandiose way you’re just reinforcing yourself as a good bullying target by providing entertainment for your bullies.
    - hef19898 3y ago
      And if you do not defend yourself, you are just an easy victim. Can we please just stop victim blaming here?
      - opportune 3y ago
        As I've said, I cannot excuse the swatters or police for this behavior. It's clearly unacceptable. I'm merely trying to explain why someone would be targeted like this to begin with - because they provide a consistent source of entertainment for the swatters. It's not solely because of a random comment on Twitter.
      - pointedcube 3y ago
        There is a subtle difference between "victim blaming" and pointing out the (unpleasant yet real) mutual behavioral effects in such a situation. Everyone has the right to defend themselves, but however they act can have potentially unintended effects beyond their control on the other party. The main takeaway here is that it might be beneficial to consider these social mechanisms in ones reaction, independent of the fairness aspect.
      - cozzyd 3y ago
        The charitable take is that it's advice on how a victim could react in such a situation to minimize further harm. Similar to how police typically recommend that victims of armed robbery not attempt to resist. Of course it is not the victim's fault they are in that situation. Perhaps GP could have phrased it better...
  - richbell 3y ago
    Sadly, yes. He's rightfully pissed off — and I don't think victims of harassment should have to go dark online or isolate themselves — but the reaction and the spectacle is usually what the perpetrators want. The old adage "don't feed the trolls" exists for a reason (see also, "grey rock method"). With torswats in custody, hopefully no one else is dumb enough to pick up where he left off.
    - valleyer 3y ago
      Bad news, then, from TFA: > Their relief was short-lived. A new Telegram channel named “Torswats Return” was created by someone claiming that their “partner has been arrested”, according to posts viewed by The Independent. > The channel stated that it would continue offering “swats” for as little as $40, and offered returning customers a discounted rate. It also posted derogatory photographs and text about Mr Tomlinson — noting that there would be no charge for requested swats against him. > “And of course swats to Patrick… are free,” read the Telegram message.
      - richbell 3y ago
        I read the article. Anyone can create a Telegram channel and post messages, that just reads like the work of an edgy troll. I suppose only time will tell.
- throwawy4546765 3y ago
  The funniest thing the trolls did was buy the copyright to his headshot he uses as his twitter profile picture and DMCA him.
hef19898 3y ago
Freedom of expression is a thing. And while freedom of speech does not mean freedom of consequences (a concept I absolutely believe in), those consequences have to be in line with other basic rights. In this case, this would be the right of security at your home, protection from mental and bodily harm among others. A mob, online or not, is nothing that society should accept. Putting the blame on Lolcows is classic victim blaming, and a capitulation before an online mob. Quite often actively or passivley supported by courts, judges and police.
tjpnz 3y ago
FWIW Kiwi Farms is more observe and report and doesn't condone harassing people, that's especially true of Chris Chan. Some of the biggest "lolcows" in recent years have been trolls who posted about their exploits online and shared enough about themselves to be identified.
- mnau 3y ago
  Byuu (author of bnes emulator), would disagree about harassment Kiwi farms. But he is dead (by his own hand), so...
  - graphe 3y ago
    Take down this info or I'll kill myself is pretty extreme.
prvc 3y ago
So if this comment and its parent are accurate, then the tweet was not a joke, and it was not the sole motive for the attacks. Making the headline inaccurate in at least two respects.
timeon 3y ago
> essentially terminally online people that are made fun of (up to cyber bullying, real life stalking and swatting) on websites like So 'terminally online people' are accusing other 'terminally online people' being 'terminally online'?
- bombcar 3y ago
  The “internet drama” groups on YouTube are basically the same thing.
- graphe 3y ago
  Everyone and their grandma knows about Chris Chan.
hasbot 3y ago
This Chris Chan: https://www.businessinsider.com/chris-chan-saga-timeline-incest-charges-arrest-2021-8#christine-chandler-was-arrested-on-august-1-2021-1 https://www.businessinsider.com/chris-chan-saga-timeline-inc...?
BryantD 3y ago
He’s a writer. Going dark would kill his career. That’s not a reasonable course of action.

richbell 3y ago

> This is not to defend the terrible things being done to this guy, but if he just went dark people would lose interest/age out of fucking with him. It's my understanding that he flagrantly disregards law-enforcement's advice. Any time he is tweeted at — let alone SWATed — he makes a large public spectacle. He often compulsively replies to every single person on Twitter, including branded company accounts, accusing them of being criminal stalkers. To reiterate, that is in no way a defense of what people are doing to him, but he is by no means doing himself any favours by how he reacts. Though, how a police department can be so incompetent that they continually respond to phony calls is beyond me.

Sunspark 3y ago
That's crazy. So indirectly, he is actually incentivizing others to keep on looking for a reaction out of him.
- opportune 3y ago
  Yeah. It’s the bullying feedback loop - there would be no point in bullying someone if you didn’t get a reaction out of them. If you reliably freak out in a grandiose way you’re just reinforcing yourself as a good bullying target by providing entertainment for your bullies.
  - hef19898 3y ago
    And if you do not defend yourself, you are just an easy victim. Can we please just stop victim blaming here?
    - opportune 3y ago
      As I've said, I cannot excuse the swatters or police for this behavior. It's clearly unacceptable. I'm merely trying to explain why someone would be targeted like this to begin with - because they provide a consistent source of entertainment for the swatters. It's not solely because of a random comment on Twitter.
    - pointedcube 3y ago
      There is a subtle difference between "victim blaming" and pointing out the (unpleasant yet real) mutual behavioral effects in such a situation. Everyone has the right to defend themselves, but however they act can have potentially unintended effects beyond their control on the other party. The main takeaway here is that it might be beneficial to consider these social mechanisms in ones reaction, independent of the fairness aspect.
    - cozzyd 3y ago
      The charitable take is that it's advice on how a victim could react in such a situation to minimize further harm. Similar to how police typically recommend that victims of armed robbery not attempt to resist. Of course it is not the victim's fault they are in that situation. Perhaps GP could have phrased it better...
- richbell 3y ago
  Sadly, yes. He's rightfully pissed off — and I don't think victims of harassment should have to go dark online or isolate themselves — but the reaction and the spectacle is usually what the perpetrators want. The old adage "don't feed the trolls" exists for a reason (see also, "grey rock method"). With torswats in custody, hopefully no one else is dumb enough to pick up where he left off.
  - valleyer 3y ago
    Bad news, then, from TFA: > Their relief was short-lived. A new Telegram channel named “Torswats Return” was created by someone claiming that their “partner has been arrested”, according to posts viewed by The Independent. > The channel stated that it would continue offering “swats” for as little as $40, and offered returning customers a discounted rate. It also posted derogatory photographs and text about Mr Tomlinson — noting that there would be no charge for requested swats against him. > “And of course swats to Patrick… are free,” read the Telegram message.
    - richbell 3y ago
      I read the article. Anyone can create a Telegram channel and post messages, that just reads like the work of an edgy troll. I suppose only time will tell.
throwawy4546765 3y ago
The funniest thing the trolls did was buy the copyright to his headshot he uses as his twitter profile picture and DMCA him.

hef19898 3y ago

Freedom of expression is a thing. And while freedom of speech does not mean freedom of consequences (a concept I absolutely believe in), those consequences have to be in line with other basic rights. In this case, this would be the right of security at your home, protection from mental and bodily harm among others. A mob, online or not, is nothing that society should accept. Putting the blame on Lolcows is classic victim blaming, and a capitulation before an online mob. Quite often actively or passivley supported by courts, judges and police.

tjpnz 3y ago

FWIW Kiwi Farms is more observe and report and doesn't condone harassing people, that's especially true of Chris Chan. Some of the biggest "lolcows" in recent years have been trolls who posted about their exploits online and shared enough about themselves to be identified.

mnau 3y ago
Byuu (author of bnes emulator), would disagree about harassment Kiwi farms. But he is dead (by his own hand), so...
- graphe 3y ago
  Take down this info or I'll kill myself is pretty extreme.

prvc 3y ago

So if this comment and its parent are accurate, then the tweet was not a joke, and it was not the sole motive for the attacks. Making the headline inaccurate in at least two respects.

timeon 3y ago

> essentially terminally online people that are made fun of (up to cyber bullying, real life stalking and swatting) on websites like So 'terminally online people' are accusing other 'terminally online people' being 'terminally online'?

bombcar 3y ago
The “internet drama” groups on YouTube are basically the same thing.
graphe 3y ago
Everyone and their grandma knows about Chris Chan.

hasbot 3y ago

This Chris Chan: https://www.businessinsider.com/chris-chan-saga-timeline-incest-charges-arrest-2021-8#christine-chandler-was-arrested-on-august-1-2021-1 https://www.businessinsider.com/chris-chan-saga-timeline-inc...?

BryantD 3y ago

He’s a writer. Going dark would kill his career. That’s not a reasonable course of action.