Online Comment Abuse: A Punishable Offense

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Online Comment Abuse: A Punishable Offense

Posted on November 1st, 2008 in Online Writing by CHAN LEE PENG

Abuse and humiliating comments have been expanded by means of the expansion of the Internet, in which they’re electronically empowered to torture or even mistreat others. Using the advantage of modern technology, the pranksters disseminate the menacing and offensive comments anonymously and rapidly until the affected writer becomes a victim in a short time. These comments though not hurt the affected writer physically they can have a destructive and negative emotional effect on those who have received.

According to the definition from Merriam-Webster’s Online Dictionary, comment refers to a note of explaining, illustrating, or criticizing the meaning of a writing, or “an observational or remark expressing an opinion or attitude.” Specifically, a good and constructive comment should have a positive idea or suggestion that benefits writers from upgrading their quality of writings. Unfortunately, writing platform as like other types of cyber bullying (or net bullying) has been used as a medium by the pranksters or a hateful predator group to leave bullied, embarrassed, threatened, sexual, lewd or harassed texts so that the innocent writers are targeted for humiliations. The contents of the comments are designed to enrage, inflame, and cause hatred (including prejudice, sexism, racism etc.), create false criticism and patronising sarcasm among the writing community. They do this purposely to smear the writer’s reputation.

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The presence of these pranksters is annoying and disturbing. They send writer’s profile to other sites like blogs, discussion boards, forums, online chatting with the aims to insult the writers. They are here not for a serious writing but making trouble and creating misunderstanding instead. Sometimes they are bored and looking for entertainment by posting nasty and abuse comments. And sometimes they exist at some writing platforms to hurt the other. They may perceive that they are righteous avengers, and righting the faults and wrongdoing of the targeted writers. They are such a harsh people lack of civilization as they will strike back the only way they could. The pranksters themselves prefer to abuse others out of their jealousy, hurtful and revengeful emotions by spreading the misunderstood comments to the world.

Abuse comments are indeed scary and horrible. Whoever has gone through the conflict firsthand can tell you the nightmare. There are moments that will send chills down your spine. Below are some examples of abuse comments:

I wish you were dead!

I’ll kill you if you’re still there writing!

If you try and report me, I’ll hack into your computer!

I hate you! You’re stupid and dumb, get out here!

I’ll spread your rumors and abuse your image so that people won’t believe on you…

I’ll use your name to leave hurtful and threatening comments so that people will boycott your writings….

Imagine how hurtful for writers who read these comments from the comfort of their home. How frightening and distressful this would be for the writer! I’m sad to learn that the similar threats and vicious comments are circulated very rapidly via the internet every single day.

I respect the freedom of speech. But even, every one of us is given a right to say anything we’d like to say, please don’t abuse the value behind the right to speak. It’s not always a pleasant lesson to have spiteful and derogatory comments circulated around the writing world. The freedom of speech that fosters the bad consequence of comments or communications shouldn’t be allowed but they must deserve the punishment.

The internet has fulfilled everyone’s dream to voice their opinions with ease. Nevertheless, the pranksters have misused their comments either to criticize people in a hateful way or make fun of them in some vicious means. They have abused their rights by using these hateful and derogatory comments as a form of harassment and aggressive behavior intended to harm others via technological means. Their objectives are achieved when they send threatening and malicious comments directly to a person, or they may send humiliating or hurtful comments to other sites in order to harass and/ or threaten others online. Even though the comments may not be getting innocent writers hurt physically, but they will cause them hurting emotionally. When they hurt physically, their scars or wounds will heal. What if they are hurt emotionally? These comments will stay with them for the rest of their life and may not be easily healed. They’re here causing trouble for writers and just would like to see the writer torn apart. The abuse comments are indeed hurting and distressing! It is emotionally devastating for the innocent writers!

The action of these pranksters – rumors, threats, gossip, humiliation – are nothing new, as their wicked campaigns have started to move to e-mails, blogs, websites, chat rooms, and even text messaging. Among the internet users, these vicious gossips, racists and threatening comments are growing so rampant and quickly that most of the targeted writers are affected emotionally. With wireless technology, they are distributed much more quickly than you could ever imagine as they’re being put up and shared around the world. Their wicked motives are shielded as most of the websites and screen names give them a mask of using “unknown” names, making them difficult to trace. Bullies and abuse are often anonymous, and sadly to say, most of the harassment takes place off. The bully then sits back laughing from seeing the affected parties engage in destructive behavior towards each other. The pressure could be felt by the innocent writers when their names are misused somewhere by these irresponsible parties and that means bullies can even extend their harassment into their lives, jobs and studies. It’s indeed horrible enough, if someone made a joke about you, or said something to degrade your sacred personality.

Their objectives to leave such hateful and spiteful comments are clear that they want to control, manipulate, dominate and colonize their “territories”. They take revenge by seeing you react, and they try to control whatever ways they could. And their final aims are watching the affected writers wearing down. In this case, the affected writers become their “Baiting Game”. They stay there, watching and stirring the pot with additional “ingredients” (provocation) and they’d laugh with a sense of gratification upon seeing the affected parties indulge in destructive interaction and behavioral pattern.

When you come across writers being threatened by these pranksters, please give your utmost support and encouragement to boost them to a level they should be. With regards to the recent abuse among the Triond community, Triond has acted promptly and timely by introducing the add-in new feature for their commenting system. They even put this issue on their blog Your Comments, Your Identity. But, I’m sad to find it not to be a compulsory requirement for every Triond user here. I hope every writer here can make full use of this new feature to curb the intention of using our name for leaving hateful and nasty comments by some irresponsible and immoral parties.

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Tags: abuse, Blog, comment, communication, community, conflict, dictionary, e-mail, emotional, forum, harassment, Internet, offense, online, Opinion, profile, Racism, reputation, Speech, text, website, writer, Writing

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22 Responses to “Online Comment Abuse: A Punishable Offense”

BC Doan
November 1st, 2008 at 7:49 am

I’m so sorry to know that you have to endure this torment. It’s so unnecessary, and ill manner! Stay strong, and keep doing what you love to do: writing!
estrella 2008
November 1st, 2008 at 9:15 am

Un aplauso para tu trabajo y dedicación eres un gran escritor.
eddiego65
November 1st, 2008 at 10:13 am

There will always be people who are jealous of your success; and they will attempt to ruin you by whatever means possible. Such people need not be given even a second of our attention. Just keep on doing what you love! Pursue your dreams!
valli
November 1st, 2008 at 11:44 am

Why people misuse the technology? One should not hurt the emotions and feelings of other people. It is very sad thing to receive such abusing comments. Please ignore such comments (though it is difficult) and keep on publishing. Happy writing!
goodselfme
November 1st, 2008 at 1:18 pm

glad to see you posting this. You have not been the only one from whom I have known this to happen. Consider the source as being not grounded on the great principles you are! I am glad to see you again.
Kathryn Vercillo
November 1st, 2008 at 3:46 pm

This is a really important issue in the blogging / web writing world and I’m glad to see that you aren’t afraid to bring it to light. It’s important that we support each other with positive and contructive comments!
aisaellis
November 1st, 2008 at 3:58 pm

very good writing here..you’re right..others are abusing their comments by threating the writers.
Liane Schmidt
November 1st, 2008 at 6:30 pm

Dear CHAN,

I am SO glad that you wrote this STRONG, IMPORTANT, INVALUABLE article. This community would not be the same without YOUR kind, good, positive voice. Always remember that whatever comes your way, you will ALWAYS come out younger, stronger, and wiser than EVER before!!!!!!!!!!

Even the smallest flame in a room will illuminate darkness.

Blessings sweet angel.

Sincerely,

-Liane Schmidt.
Inna Tysoe
November 1st, 2008 at 10:31 pm

Thank you for posting this. It really is sad to see the Internet (which ideally should be a place to exchange ideas) often become a kind of hurtful sewer.

All the best,

Inna
Judy Sheldon
November 1st, 2008 at 11:17 pm

Chan, you have more talent in one finger than the prankster(s) has in their whole body. They are jealous because you are brilliant not just in one language, but in several. They cannot understand the purity of your motives.

If you allow them to hurt you, they have gained their malicious victory, even if only temporarily. Do not allow that to happen. I know that hateful words hurt, but I and other Triond writers who consider you as family are here to support you. The intruders need our prayers as they are not equipped with the necessary ethics to act in a responsible manner.

I have received hatefully obscene comments, and deleted them immediately. I am grateful for that option. It is not available at eHow. We must not allow these individuals to get into our minds and lurk their like poison. Our minds, like our bodies need to have a wholesome diet.

Thank you for coming back to your family. Take care & God bless.
nobert soloria bermosa
November 2nd, 2008 at 5:40 am

nice post,welcome back Chan,all nasty and abusive comments should be reported to Triond authorities so that they can do prompt actions to these soulless praksters.
Swapna P
November 2nd, 2008 at 8:00 am

welcome back, chan..
please ignore such comments and happy publishing…
LP Jardine
November 3rd, 2008 at 8:35 am

It is too bad people take something we work so hard for and then turn around and insult us because they lack talent. Keep up the good work.
Balzac
November 3rd, 2008 at 1:13 pm

Excellent article! You are a hundred percent right.
Chris Stonecipher
November 5th, 2008 at 3:13 pm

Chan,
I am sorry you went through this. I respect and admire your works and talent. Your were the first person to seek me out as a Triond friend and with the stature of a writer like you, I am grateful. I know you are a kind hearted person and I follow all of your works.
Ruby Hawk
November 5th, 2008 at 6:13 pm

Chan, I am so glad you didn’t let the pranksters stop you from publishing on Triond. I always enjoy reading your interesting articles.Keep up the good work. Your friend, Ruby
Brian Daniel Stankich
November 11th, 2008 at 11:12 pm

If a person has nothing positive to say, he/she should say nothing at all. But in the end, liars, blasphemers, cheaters, and those who intentionally hurt others will go down.
Brian James
November 14th, 2008 at 1:01 pm

Those are some crazy comments people leave. People should realized that freedom of speech does not extend to physical threats.
PR Mace
November 16th, 2008 at 7:16 pm

I don’t understand why people feel the need to be nasty and hurtful. If you don’t like or agree with an article or story, don’t leave a comment. You are the second person I have checked out because of the bandwagon. Let’s keep rolling.
CA Johnson
December 1st, 2008 at 4:08 pm

I’m sorry that you have to indure that. People can be so rude sometimes. It’s good that you didn’t stop writing your articles. I’m new to your work and I would hate to see you stop. Keep up the great work on your articles.
Erin Cree
December 20th, 2008 at 6:43 pm

Hi Chan, Im a newbie here. Im so sorry that you have been through such a distressing time. Although I have yet to read any more of your work, I applaud the emotive quality of this article. Erin.
Matt H
December 21st, 2008 at 3:33 pm

Hi Chan,

Great work! Thanks for being so positive!!! It’s cool that you speak your mind like that

-Matt