Have your feeling’s been hurt by a complete stranger online?

[Chazmatazz269]

Let’s be perfectly clear here. I’m not referring to being doxxed and reasonable threats of real world physical violence that originated online. I’m referring to WORDS online that significantly changed the way you felt about yourself and lived your life offline.
Some exceptions may apply, obviously.
I’ll reserve my opinion for later.

[Paul_in_Indy]

No. Random people on the internet do not hurt my feelings. I don’t mean to imply that cyber bullying is not a serious problem. It is. —but I am a grown man who does not “have feelings” about what people say on the internet. I am not the person who is in danger of cyber bullying.

I am often left bemused and confused; because I DO have thoughts about what people say on the internet. …but thinking about what people say will not “give me feelings.”

Again, I know it is a serious problem. -but not for me.

[Chazmatazz269]

I’m curious how you manage to reconcile the idea that cyber bullying is a “serious problem”, but that you’re somehow invulnerable to it.

[Paul_in_Indy]

You haven’t seen people fall victim to cyber bullying? I certainly have.

No, I am not vulnerable to feeling bad about what strangers type online. That doesn’t mean I am not sympathetic to those who are.

[Chazmatazz269]

As suggested in the question, i’ve seen meaningful threats exchanged online. I’ve seen harassment, doxxing and swatting. All of which should be illegal and some of which are in some states. I don’t believe in cyber bullying because bullying is a physical assault in my world. I grew up understanding that “sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me”. If you can’t break me physically, you’re no threat to me. Mean words, especially from a complete stranger, ESPECIALLY “someone” who might not even be a real person anywhere in the world isn’t bullying. It’s a breeze through the trees. It’s the humming of a transformer. It’s the sound of water running. It’s just white noise. It’s meaningless unless i let it be more.
If you’re not somehow superhuman, then anyone can be immune to cyber bullying. Suggesting that something is extremely dangerous but that you’re not at risk suggests to me either that you think you’re extraordinary or you think that others are inferior, maybe both. At least that’s all i can conjure. Maybe i’m missing something. How do you reconcile that something is a serious threat, but you are somehow above it?

[Paul_in_Indy]

You are hilarious! Is your thesis that all people are the same and react the same to any given stimulus? Ergo, everyone in the world is the same as you and feels the same as you? Ergo, anyone who believes that people are different from each other is claiming that the is a superhero? That makes me chuckle. :)

Nope. People are different. People react differently. You can’t absolve yourself of bullying people online by saying that YOU don’t think it’s a big deal (and no one else could be different from you!), nor by reciting trite aphorisms.

People are harmed by words. Some people are harmed by the words of strangers on the internet. You and I may not be, but you KNOW that some people are. Internet bullying is cruel and it can be deadly. You can’t make yourself innocent by blaming the victims.

People are different. Regardless of what you think you are trying to argue, you know that. We all know that. You won’t change anyone’s mind by trying to suggest that everyone is the same and anyone who says otherwise thinks they are Superman.

Don’t be cruel to people online. It’s wrong and it’s dangerous. I think you know that.

[ShiftingMonke]

Yes, I've had my feelings hurt by things said to me online. How do I deal with it? I just ignore it or go offline for an amount of time.

[Chazmatazz269]

I can relate to this. Hurt my feelings and i ignore you. Badger me and i block you. Find your way around that and i report you. I triple dog dare anyone to come beyond that and find me.

[MidnightOwl57]

Yeah at times, this site makes me lose my faith in humanity.. I can't fathom how cruel/mean people can be to each other. It's really sad

[Chazmatazz269]

Does your real-world experience match what you’ve experienced here?

[SnowedIn]

Not for what someone said but in a couple cases what they didn't say.

[Chazmatazz269]

That’s extra interesting! Do you feel comfortable sharing?

[SnowedIn]

I appreciate you asking, Chaz, but I'll let this one go. It's in the past.

[FilmGuy93]

A couple times, yeah. Usually someone I've had on-going interactions with for a while, who just turned out to be a totally not understanding asshole.

[msc545]

Yes. I got a death threat from a person here yesterday.

[SnowedIn]

Damn... for real? That's over the top even for GaG.

[msc545]

This was not a casual threat. It was credible and I took it seriously but didn't report it to admin as I thought that would do no good and perhaps make things worse.

[OfMiceandMen]

Seriously? That's not cool.

[SnowedIn]

I'm sorry. That seriously sucks.

[msc545]

@SnowedIn For real. This was (is) a very disturbed individual who completely misinterpreted a question I posted.

[SnowedIn]

@msc545 ... what's even more bizarre is that you're a rational guy. Hard to believe someone doing that to you of all people.

[msc545]

@SnowedIn Thanks. Sadly, I get so much of this at work I am used to it...

[Chazmatazz269]

I’m sorry you experienced that but i specifically omitted that from this topic for good reason. There is a HUGE difference between being called names online and someone suggesting that they know where you live or work and intend to hunt you down.
These issues should not be conflated.

[msc545]

@SnowedIn Thank you. He literally misinterpreted what I meant by a question I posted, and accused me of "attacking the Constitution".

[msc545]

Yes. Fortunately, he has no idea where I live or work or what my real name is as far as I can tell. Sorry if I mis-posted this - you can delete it if you wish.

[SnowedIn]

Wow to all of this. Just unbelievable and yet, sadly, believable.

[Chazmatazz269]

I’m not deleting because it’s relevant. It’s just not to my point.
People who threaten others absolutely should be dealt with exactly as people who have followed through on similar threats.
But that’s not what i intended here.

[msc545]

@SnowedIn😒😒😒😒😒😒

[msc545]

ok thanks.

[Chazmatazz269]

It’s also worth mentioning that only about a quarter of states have laws governing threats published online. You absolutely should follow through on reporting the threats you received. The law is unlikely to change without such data.

[msc545]

It is kind of a calculated risk to report it, and by my calculation, I place myself in more danger if I report it than if I don't in this instance.

[the-mad-german]

Not really... often i get annoyed but thats about it.

[GoodGuyBreakingBad]

I've been a victim of cyberbullying and harassment.

[SaoirseS]

No, not at all.

[Guardian45]

Yes, and I blocked them