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History of Feminism
In reply to the discussion: What happened when I confronted my cruellest troll [View all]mother earth
(6,002 posts)5. Excellent article, TY for posting this. This kind of behavior is not limited to the internet, so I
will disagree with parts of this, but one thing is for certain. There is a mentality that some feel entitles them to be an asshole, plain and simple, as though the perp has perfected what it is to be "human" and if you are the scapegoat, sucks to be you. I've seen this in the workplace plenty enough. One doesn't have to be fat, skinny or anything really, it's not about the victim, it's the perp's mentality & what they perceive they are getting from their actions.
The big piece missing is that it speaks volumes about the perp, no matter what they think they are gaining by this sociopathic behavior, or if they even feel they are gaining anything. I think it's done for sport more often than not.
I didnt mean to forgive him, but I did.
This story isnt prescriptive. It doesnt mean that anyone is obliged to forgive people who abuse them, or even that I plan on being cordial and compassionate to every teenage boy who tells me Im too fat to get raped (sorry in advance, boys: I still bite). But, for me, its changed the timbre of my online interactions with, for instance, the guy who responded to my radio story by calling my dad a faggot. Its hard to feel hurt or frightened when youre flooded with pity. And that, in turn, has made it easier for me to keep talking in the face of a mob roaring for my silence. Keep screaming, trolls. I see you.
This story isnt prescriptive. It doesnt mean that anyone is obliged to forgive people who abuse them, or even that I plan on being cordial and compassionate to every teenage boy who tells me Im too fat to get raped (sorry in advance, boys: I still bite). But, for me, its changed the timbre of my online interactions with, for instance, the guy who responded to my radio story by calling my dad a faggot. Its hard to feel hurt or frightened when youre flooded with pity. And that, in turn, has made it easier for me to keep talking in the face of a mob roaring for my silence. Keep screaming, trolls. I see you.
Above taken from the conclusion of the article.
Yeah, absolutely, we see you. Like in the movie, The Avatar, good or bad, what you put out into the world tells everyone who you are. But then, one has to be capable of empathy to understand that.
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This: "...it doesn't negate their responsibility for the culture they are fostering."
CrispyQ
Feb 2015
#18
Excellent article, TY for posting this. This kind of behavior is not limited to the internet, so I
mother earth
Feb 2015
#5
years ago there were a few trolls on du, who decided to photograph themselves
La Lioness Priyanka
Feb 2015
#9
There are a few truly nasty people out there, who will go to ANY length, to make others feel like...
AverageJoe90
Feb 2015
#41
"it’s not illegal to reach elbow-deep into someone’s memories ... and twist them and weaponize them"
phantom power
Feb 2015
#44