Internet troll gets 18 months in prison

[TwickenhamCyclist]

Internet troll gets 18 months in prison and a 5 year asbo banning him from social network sites


I know most of the trolling on here isn’t that extreme, but I’ve seen plenty of disgusting and what could be termed cyber bullying posts on member’s of this forums youtube cycle videos – anyway – food for thought – interesting that he gets a bigger sentence for insulting the dead than many a dangerous driver gets for killing... but i suppose were all used to that on here – link http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-berkshire-14894576

 

[accountantpete]

He got 18 weeks - which on the MP scale of justice will equate to 3 days in nick.

 

[TwickenhamCyclist]

He got 18 weeks - which on the MP scale of justice will equate to 3 days in nick.

dough - beg pardon - read that bit a little too quick!! Thanks for pointing out -

 

[Firm Button]

He does look like a troll though....


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I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=45.226823,0.012987

 

[oldfatfool]

Deserves a good kicking (which he will probably get now and then sue the jail service) but a custodial sentance sets a dangerous precedent imo.

 

[Yellow Fang]

What a charming chap, not!

What a waste of a young hottie woman too.

 

[swee'pea99]

That's insane. He's clearly a disturbed if not deranged individual, and a nasty piece of work toboot. But sending him to jail is as stupid as it is pointless. It's some idiot magistrate, totally cut off from the real world, trying to 'set an example'. As if anyone likely to follow such a lead is the kind likely to suddenly think: 'Ooh. Maybe I'd better not.' Cretinous.

 

[al78]

[quote name='swee'pea99' timestamp='1315935941' post='1839787']
That's insane. He's clearly a disturbed if not deranged individual, and a nasty piece of work toboot. But sending him to jail is as stupid as it is pointless. It's some idiot magistrate, totally cut off from the real world, trying to 'set an example'. As if anyone likely to follow such a lead is the kind likely to suddenly think: 'Ooh. Maybe I'd better not.' Cretinous.
[/quote]

The reason people troll is because they think by hiding behind a keyboard they can't be held accountable for their actions. A case like this casts doubt over that so it may (I say may) make one or two think twice about their online conduct.

 

[GaryA]

Thats the problem with the internet and social networking in general; it does give a voice to the terminally inadequate and sad narscissistic specimens of society...the ones who pre-internet had no voice and little influence apart from the unfortunates who encountered them in real life.

 

[NormanD]

I'm sure he'll understand his mistake when he becomes "Bubba's Bytch" in prison and walks out after he's served his time with a John Wayne stance .. one can only hope!

 

[Red Light]

It does seem the tide is turning though. With the recent high profile arrests of hackers, social network users in the riots and now this and some other cases of anonymous harassment on the internet, hiding behind the keyboard is no longer the safeguard it once was and will hopefully moderate the more extreme behaviour. OTOH, while some are just cowardly bullies, there is no doubt a proportion who have mental problems that need help not punishment.

 

[Seigi]

Part of me disagrees with the lessened anonymity on the internet, as I have always valued the internet as a place of freedom of speech where you could express your political, religious or moral views without much consequence. In the real world, freedom of speech is often nullified by you not being allowed to be radical, or, being frowned upon by your peers, and while political correctness does serve it's purposes it is sometimes taken over the top or misunderstood.

I personally don't think someone should be given a custodial sentence for being an 'internet troll', if that were the case the jails would be full of 4chan users. I can't claim that I've read or seen what was posted by this individual, but my gut instinct tells me it was probably something which some would consider 'sick', but on the other hand was probably blown out of proportion.

No one likes a bully, and I'm sure many of us were bullied in school or in the workplace myself included, but I'm not so sure I'd like to see them thrown in jail for it, I've never felt that much maliciousness towards other people, and if they are as they say he is - an aspergers sufferer - he's socially awkward, not that this is an excuse by any means, but it must be taken into account.

 

[Flying_Monkey]

1. We shouldn't let extreme cases like this which are basically about an odious individual harassing people, which happens to be carried out via a particular communication method, influence broader policy on communication rights, i.e. if this guy had done this by sending letters, we wouldn't seriously demand changes to the postal service. There was a similar mistake made by several people in reaction to the alleged use of Blackberry smartphones during the riots.

2. We also shouldn't start mixing up all kinds of different things like hacking, hate-speech, harassment etc. etc. as if they are all part of the same problem or even family of issues. This generally leads rather smoothly into the acceptance of broad and rather authoritarian regulation.

 

[cisamcgu]

Well, I think it is a waste of time and money putting Duffy in prison. He needs help and support not punishment; as the article says

"Duffy had been diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome at an early age and one of the characteristics was an inability to judge the reaction of others"

What is the point of locking him away for 9 weeks ? He will still be the same person when he comes out, still sad, confused, lonely with alcohol problems. When society can help and support people, rather than a knee-jerk reaction of imprisonment, this country will become a better place.

 

[GaryA]

1. We shouldn't let extreme cases like this which are basically about an odious individual harassing people, which happens to be carried out via a particular communication method, influence broader policy on communication rights, i.e. if this guy had done this by sending letters, we wouldn't seriously demand changes to the postal service. There was a similar mistake made by several people in reaction to the alleged use of Blackberry smartphones during the riots.

2. We also shouldn't start mixing up all kinds of different things like hacking, hate-speech, harassment etc. etc. as if they are all part of the same problem or even family of issues. This generally leads rather smoothly into the acceptance of broad and rather authoritarian regulation.

One crucial difference is that thousands or millions of people couldnt have read his letters..... its more like posting them up in the local shopping centre. I'm of the opinion that the internet is a curse as well as a gift.