#cyberhate

[tobi-rx]

Hollow Knight fixation reawakened so I thought I’d turn the funny robots into Hollow Knight bugs as a fun little thing

So far we got Bee (Hive Scout), Optibug, Bugatron, Buglita

Shockbug.

Dragonfly Trine: ThunderCharger, Bugscream, and FlyWarp

Soundweb and his weaverlings: Rumble and Frenzy, and Laserbeak and Ravage

(NOTE: I updated this image a couple times since I first posted it, but I think that’s about it for the first set of transformer bugs. Please lmk who else I should turn into a bug! :D)

EDIT: I imagine that they’re not so much taking the place of the bugs in Hallownest, as they exist as another kingdom of bugs out in the wastelands beyond Hallownest.

The Kingdom of Cybernest? Cyberhive?

I’ve been imagining hypothetical boss fights against these bugs also, might illustrate those later.

[greengoddesssmoothie]

I had a dream Musk was “put in charge” of the housing crisis, and by “put in charge” I mean he was putting up shitty developments Americans were forced to rent. The really bad ones were called cyberhousing, which were made of metal and structurally unsound, but I got corrected when I called a box of an apartment complex that shined like flimsy particle board cyberhousing. Apparently, that was facebook housing.

So that’s how my morning is going.

[slxughterhaus]

.::. ALL JUST GEARS .::. Calpernian "Odd" Harker

Citizen profile loading. . .

Profile loaded.

This citizen profile brought to you by our WONDERFUL sponsors.

NAME: CALPERNIAN HARKER ALIASES: ODD, CAL, MR. HARKER, THE HYDRA AGE: 42 YEARS OLD. [OCTOBER 13TH] GENDER/PRONOUNS: CIS MAN HE/IT SEXUALITY: PANSEXUAL // PANROMANTIC (MASC PRESENTING PREFERENCE) // OPEN MARRIAGE HUMAN // HOST: HUMAN (AT LEAST, SOME PIECES ARE STILL) OCCUPATION: HOST OF THE HOLO-SHOW "SLAUGHTERHAUS!!!" AND 'SEMI RETIRED' COWBOY. AFFILIATIONS: NONE, BUT HE HAS A NUMBER OF LUCRATIVE CORPORATE SPONSORSHIP DEALS SO HE'S CLEARLY BIASED.

.::. SAW THROUGH THE SELFISH .::. going deeper.

PERSONALITY: SHOWBUSINESS ISN'T FOR EVERYONE, BUT IT'S PERFECT FOR ODD HARKER. THE SPOILED, FILTHY REMAINS OF WHAT HAD ONCE BEEN AN AMERICAN BOUNTY HUNTER WHO'S WORK BROUGHT HIM TO JAPAN FIFTEEN YEARS AGO, THIS EX-COWBOY'S CHARM IS SHINY AND POLISHED TO A PERFECT SHEEN, INTENDED TO LULL THOSE WHO MIGHT ERR TOO CLOSE TO TRUSTING HIM INTO A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY. THE CHARISMATIC 'MAIN' HOST OF SLAUGHTERHAUS!!! IT IS ODD'S ELECTRIC APPEAL, SMOOTH WIT AND EFFORTLESS CULT OF PERSONALITY THAT GOT THE HARKERS' FOOT IN THE DOOR OF THE FAME MACHINE- HOSTING THEIR MONSTROUS TAKE ON 'ENTICING ENTERTAINMENT.' A MAN WHO COMMANDS A ROOM, EVEN WITHOUT DISPLAYING ANY OF HIS SUBSTANTIAL, IMPRESSIVE CYBERNETIC MODIFICATIONS, ODD'S LOVE OF THE FINER THINGS AND EFFORTLESS DRAW ARE MATCHED ONLY BY HIS SAVAGERY, AS MARRIED TO SILVAINE'S TWISTED IDEALS OF WHAT VALUE A LIFE MIGHT HOLD HIS MASOCHISTIC INVENTIONS AND TASTE FOR SUFFERING IN OTHERS IS FED WELL.

AESTHETIC: SEVEN POUNDS OF FLESH IN HUNDREDS OF POUNDS OF STEEL || THE ID FREE OF THE EGO A MINDLESS THING SMILING THROUGH PERFECT TEETH || THE CLACK AND RATTLE OF FALSE PANELS MOVING BACK INTO PLACE AS THE BEAST RETREATS- THE SWEET TANG OF BLOOD ON SYNTHETIC TONGUES || THE ONE HEAD SEVERED THAT GREW BACK MORE VICIOUS THAN THE HYDRA COULD HANDLE.

KNOWN CYBERWARE: IT IS EASIER TO DESCRIBE THE THINGS THAT ARE NOT CYBERNETIC ON ODD HARKER. THEY ARE AS FOLLOWS: ONE (1) HUMAN BRAIN, HUMAN SKELETAL STRUCTURE/BONE, 40LBS ASSORTED INTERNAL ORGANS. CYBERPSYCHOSIS ALL BUT PROMISED SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN CIRCUMVENTED BY BEING A SOULESS PSYCHOPATH BEFORE THE AUGMENTATIONS AND A SELL-OUT CELEBRITY SHILL AFTER.

HISTORY: PLEASE PAY THE 10000 YEN FEE FOR ACCESS TO SEALED RECORDS THROUGH THE SLAUGHTERHAUS!!! FAN CLUB! [Input Payment Information]

[Plaintext Doc for mobile friends here!]

.::. BUT SAW NO SOUL .::. connections.

THE FABULOUS PRIZE: YOUR LIFE.: A WC for a previous contestant who survived SLAUGHTERHAUS!!! who came out the other side a little... cracked. You endured, you struggled, you bear scars and stories and trauma you'll never unravel. The wild eyed, vicious hosts were right, you're thankful for your life in a way you never considered before. Did you apply to the show for a life-changing operation? Money to get you off the streets? Something else you thought worth a pound of flesh? Or were you forced to participate? No matter what, you won your show, you could live a life trying to forget what you endured. You've found yourself seeking out Calpernian, instead. You've seen the thing lurking underneath, a beast of augmentation tucked beneath a shiny veneer of fame and fortune- Curiosity surfaced, not fear. You want to get closer- for any reason that might be.

CYBERH-EX.EXE: Unlike the other ex connections listed under 'additional'- this ex was long term, and recent. While the Harkers are not secretive about their open marriage, Odd was secretive about you. It was for your sake, he insisted, the public eye would frown upon anyone else on his arm not noted for their depravity, and you... were something good. A cherished part of his life slowly turned coveted- possessed. He did his best, to restrain overprotectiveness- but like the dragons he shares a name with, Odd's personality didn't allow for a relaxed grip on the life you shared. You parted ways. His fondness for you remains, despite it all, and where most are met with cold bloodthirst, a cut of meat to feed to the grinder- something softer lives in cold steel, when you give him the time of day.

FROM OUR FABULOUS SPONSORS: a connection to Odd through SLAUGHTERHAUS!!! this person has long been the go-between for their company and the producers of SLAUGHTERHAUS, long enough to have formed a tentative friendship to the Harkers themselves, whatever that may entail. For you, it's been the benefit of seeing how the 'upper crust' live, expensive dinners, fabulous vacations, cars, jewelry, anything the heart might desire- all for being someone Odd and Silkie have taken an interest in. But fame and favor are fickle beasts, and a falling out between you and the company has left you destitute, and of no use to the Harkers, if they find out, cutting you off from the high life... Time to play cover up.

SEVER ONE HEAD: a connection for a solo or cowboy who made an attempt on Odd's life at one point- Bounty Hunters aren't known for not making enemies- and be you one with a legitimate beef from his time as an active cowboy as well, or simply somebody to whom the almighty yen speaks volumes, you've met Calpernian on the grounds of intent to kill- and barely escaped with your life. You were satisfied, however, with your work, Odd left a sparking, shattered mess of cybernetics and flesh, seemingly dying-verging-on-dead. Imagine your surprise- and that of your possible client- when the Hydra seemed unharmed in time for the next broadcast of SLAUGHTERHAUS. That sparking heap was Odd Harker- there's no questions about that- And now he knows someone wants him dead... and his avenue to who, is through you. Things just got a little more... 'hercules' 12 labors' in Tokyo.

ADDITIONAL CONNECTIONS

Siblings: He's probably got a few of them.

Exes: He's got a lot of these, it's no secret Silvaine and Calpernian are not beholden to each other, and they've both had a number of high-profile relationships.

Ichibangase/Eisher Employees: They'd know Odd- the man's a living testament to the kind of augmentation that can be pulled off- albeit a particularly extreme amount of it not recommended for the currently sane.

Friends from back when the Harkers were Cowboys

Friends from their time in America 15 years ago.

[davidlu123]

Week 11: Digital Citizenship and Conflict: Social Media Governance

Digital citizenship is more than using technology responsibly. It includes active, informed participation in digital society and the negotiation of power and identity online. While it’s often portrayed as empowering and inclusive, it can also reflect existing inequalities and exclusions (Mossberger et al., 2008).

Governance in the Digital Age

Social media governance operates on multiple levels. At the macro level, national laws (like Australia's Online Safety Act 2021) and international regulations shape digital environments. At the micro level, moderators of Facebook Groups or subreddits set rules for their communities. These governance structures are often fragmented, with competing interests from governments, corporations, and users (Crowther & Rayman-Bacchus, 2016).

This UNFPA Malaysia cartoon illustrates online gender-based harassment, showing a woman attacked by monstrous male figures emerging from a computer screen. It critiques societal victim-blaming and the normalization of abusive male behavior online. “Jaga la diri… kau tu perempuan!” (“Take care of yourself… you’re a woman!”), while another says, “Biasa la, lelaki memang macam ni…” (“It’s normal, men are just like that…”).

Online Harassment: Forms and Impact

Online harassment includes name-calling, threats, doxing, and image-based abuse. It is often coordinated and systemic, especially against women, LGBTQ+ individuals, and people of colour (Marwick & Caplan, 2018). Research shows that more than half of girls worldwide have faced abuse online , and that cyberhate mirrors offline prejudices (Gardiner et al., 2016).

The Power Dynamics Behind Conflict

Digital conflict isn't just about individual bad actors, it reflects broader struggles over speech, identity, and control. Campaigns like Gamergate exemplify how online abuse is weaponized for political and ideological purposes, reinforcing the need to address power structures within digital platforms (Marwick & Caplan, 2018).

Responses to Online Harassment

Legal: The Online Safety Act 2021 mandates takedowns of harmful content within 24 hours.

Social & Cultural: Humour and satire, such as the work of Hannah Gadsby, can resist abuse.

Advocacy: Organisations like the eSafety Commissioner offer reporting tools and guidance.

Corporate Pressure: Public criticism has pushed platforms to improve moderation. A 2021 Pew study found that 79% of users felt social media companies were failing to address harassment.

Corporate Social Responsibility and Influencer Support

Brands are increasingly expected to protect influencers and users from abuse. CSR in the digital age means standing up for creators, offering support, and promoting positive community standards (Littleton, 2021). Companies must recognize their role in enabling or mitigating digital harm.

Conclusion

Digital citizenship today must include a deep understanding of online conflict, governance, and identity. It's about ensuring that participation in digital spaces is safe, inclusive, and equitable—not just accessible. Legal tools, community action, and corporate responsibility must work together to realise this vision.

References

Crowther, D. & Rayman-Bacchus, L., 2016. Corporate Social Responsibility. 3rd ed. London: Routledge.

Gardiner, B. et al., 2016. The dark side of Guardian comments. The Guardian. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/apr/12/the-dark-side-of-guardian-comments [Accessed 17 May 2025].

Haslop, C., O’Rourke, S. & Southern, R., 2021. Online harassment and gender. Media, Culture & Society, 43(2), pp. 313–328.

Marwick, A. & Caplan, R., 2018. Drinking male tears: Language, the manosphere, and networked harassment. Feminist Media Studies, 18(4), pp.543–559.

Mossberger, K., Tolbert, C.J. & McNeal, R.S., 2008. Digital Citizenship: The Internet, Society, and Participation. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.

Plan International, 2020. Free to be online? Girls and young women’s experiences of online harassment. Available at: https://plan-international.org/publications/freetobeonline [Accessed 17 May 2025].

[happytogether23]

⚡ The Hidden Power Behind Your Feed: Digital Citizenship & Conflict in Online Spaces

💥 Digital Citizenship Isn’t Always Peaceful

Conflict on social media reminds us that digital citizenship is about power—power over speech, platforms, and visibility (Mossberger et al., 2008). Governance doesn’t just happen in boardrooms or courtrooms. It happens in Facebook groups, subreddit rules, and Twitter’s trending tab.

As Marwick & Caplan (2018) argue, harassment isn’t always isolated; it’s networked, often driven by organized hate (e.g., Gamergate). Trolling, flaming, doxxing, image-based abuse—they’re not bugs. They’re part of how conflict operates in digital communities.

🧠 Who Gets Targeted—and Why?

Research consistently shows that women, girls, and trans people are disproportionately targeted by online harassment (Haslop, O’Rourke & Southern, 2021). A Plan International (2020) survey of 14,000 girls in 31 countries found 59% had experienced abusive language online. And a Guardian study revealed that 8 out of the 10 most abused columnists were women—half of whom were women of colour (Gardiner et al., 2016).

These numbers matter because they expose the myth that the internet is a neutral space. It isn’t. Cyberhate reflects real-world systems of sexism, racism, and transphobia.

🔧 So... What Can Be Done?

While legal action is now better supported in Australia (e.g., Online Safety Act 2021), legislation alone isn’t enough. Solutions must be multi-layered:

Legal: Platforms must comply with removal orders within 24 hours under new laws (eSafety Commissioner, 2022).

Humour & Art: Comics like Hannah Gadsby use comedy as resistance.

Advocacy: Platforms like eSafety provide tools for reporting and protection.

Corporate Social Responsibility: Brands must stand with influencers, not just profit from them (Littleton in Crowther & Rayman-Bacchus, 2016).

Let’s be clear: if a brand uses influencers to reach audiences, they must also protect those influencers from digital abuse.

👁 Final Thought: Governance Is Ours to Shape

We must stop thinking of governance as something done to us by big tech. It’s also something we participate in. Whether you mod a Discord server or run a TikTok page, you’re part of the ecosystem of governance.

Conflict isn't just chaos—it's data. It tells us where systems fail, and where citizenship demands more than silent participation.

📚 References

Gardiner, B., Mansfield, M., Anderson, I., Holder, J., Louter, D., & Ulmanu, M. (2016). The dark side of Guardian comments. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/apr/12/the-dark-side-of-guardian-comments

Haslop, C., O’Rourke, S., & Southern, J. (2021). Online harassment and identity. Feminist Media Studies.

Marwick, A. E., & Caplan, R. (2018). Drinking male tears: Language, the manosphere, and networked harassment. *Feminist Media Studies, 18(4), 543–559. https://doi.org/10.1080/14680777.2018.1450568

Haslop, C., O’Rourke, F., & Southern, R. (2021). Gendered cyberhate, victim-blaming, and why the internet is more like a men’s rights activist than a feminist. New Media & Society, 23(6), 1548–1567. https://doi.org/10.1177/1461444820912543

Plan International. (2020).Free to be online? Girls’ and young women’s experiences of online harassment.https://plan-international.org/publications/free-to-be-online

eSafety Commissioner. (2022).Online Safety Act 2021: What you need to know. https://www.esafety.gov.au

[kelseynguyn]

Online Harassment and the Misunderstood "Snowflake Generation"

The term "snowflake generation" often casts university students as hypersensitive, but recent research reveals a different truth: students are enduring high levels of online harassment without always recognizing or reporting it (Haslop, O’Rourke & Southern 2021). Far from being oversensitive, many students have grown to accept digital abuse, particularly female and transgender students who are disproportionately targeted. Common forms of harassment in university settings include abusive comments, unsolicited sexual images, and the misuse of personal information, all of which create a gendered digital divide by deterring marginalized groups from engaging online (Jane 2018).

This divide contradicts the "snowflake" label. Rather than being overly fragile, students often tolerate digital hostility, viewing it as an inherent part of online spaces. This tolerance doesn’t stem from resilience but from a lack of institutional support and understanding around online conflict (Haslop, O’Rourke & Southern 2021). As Jane (2018) argues, the normalization of online harassment can have silencing effects, impacting students' online engagement and digital citizenship.

To address this, universities must take a proactive stance. Clear guidelines on digital consent, education on the impacts of online harassment, and resources for safe online engagement are essential. Empowering students to navigate digital spaces confidently isn't about protecting the “sensitive” but creating an inclusive online environment for all. Tackling these issues can dismantle the outdated "snowflake" stereotype and foster healthier digital engagement.

Reference list

Haslop, C, O’Rourke, F & Southern, R 2021, ‘#NoSnowflakes: The toleration of harassment and an emergent gender-related digital divide, in a UK student online culture’, Convergence: The International Journal of Research into New Media Technologies, vol. 27, no. 5, pp. 1418–1438.

Jane, E 2018, Gendered cyberhate- a new digital divide?, viewed <https://www.researchgate.net/publication/328474307_Gendered_cyberhate-_a_new_digital_divide>.

[anhthyho048]

Week 10 - Men Who Hate Women? The manosphere and gendered-based social media conflict

In the last discussion, I would like to discuss about an aspect of social media conflict: the conflict between men and women, or the ideologies of Manosphere and Feminism which has gone beyond mere dispute on social media. 

From a random post

Recently, a well-known artist's Facebook account in Vietnam, Hai Chiều (translated as Two Way), which has been known for its art reflecting the societal issues in Vietnam, posted two photos, one is original, and the other is a a translated version. The photo portrays a young girl who posts her sexy photo and receives some rude comments on her pose and body which she does not welcome as her expression can show. However, this photo has received two kinds of opinion: one, mostly agreed by men, saying that since she posted this “kind” of photo on social media which means she voluntarily accepts and is open to harassing comments, and the other pointed out that this highly followed account is exaggerating the action (showing off sexiness and body) and unsatisfied expression of her face and intentionally distract the audience from the aspect of harassment in those reactions. The debate has not ended; however, what can be seen clearly is the idea of gendering conflict. 

Facebook post: Hai Chiều's post

Figure 3: The post with the comments show their opposition to women and feminists

Haslop et al. (2021, p. 1420) indicated that online harassment includes spreading false rumours, sending abusive messages directly, and sharing personal content without consent, like intimate images, which constitute online hate crimes when they target specific aspects of an individual's identity, such as gender, sexuality, race, religion, or disability; in the context of the cyberhate targeted toward women like shown in the above case, Haslop et al. (2021, p. 1421) perceived that this kind of online harassment is the digital extension of the “physical forms of gender-based abuse and violence against women in society”. By encountering this kind of abuse, women, especially, young women tend to self-censor themselves online, faced with the silencing strategy as the harassment impedes the participation and digital citizenship of women online, and therefore, leads to the marginalisation and exclusion of women from online space, according to Haslop et al. (2021, p. 1421). 

The underlying motivation

However, the underlying motivation of this cyberhate action might not just be the mere conflict between groups among social media users that can be solved by the community guidelines but the emergence of the Manosphere, an equivalent opposition to feminism in terms of ideology. 

Marwick and Caplan (2018, p. 546), Manosphere refers to an online community comprising various groups like men's rights activists (MRAs), pickup artists, "men going their own way" (MGOW), incels (involuntary celibates), and father's rights activists who believe society is dominated by feminine values suppressed by feminists so that men must resist this perceived misandrist culture to safeguard their existence. As mentioned by Marwick and Caplan (2018, p. 546), one example of the conversation among this community is about issues like sexual violence discussed as gender-neutral problems, with the belief that feminists overlook or downplay sexual violence against men while also promoting false rape accusations. Although the Manosphere is arguably a place where the lost men feel belong, identifying a clear enemy, offering guidance, solutions to entrenched problems, and fostering hope (Rich & Bujalka, 2023). Nevertheless, among the community of the Manosphere, the term “misandry” is used firstly to address the discrimination against men, just like “misogyny” is the discrimination against women, according to Marwick and Caplan (2018, p. 554), but it is also used for a misogynistic purpose: to deny the existence of sexism. Specifically, Marwick and Caplan (2018, p. 554) address the core belief among the Monosphere community: feminism's key idea—that women face structural inequality due to patriarchy and sexism—is not just incorrect but deliberately lied and made by feminists who hold hostility towards men. As a result, harassment against women is weaponised by the MRAs as a means of defence against feminists and justifies the centrality of the victim narrative in the Manosphere’s members’ ideologies. 

Finally, the discourse among the Manosphere community, which is mostly about the oppression of women and feminists can cause negative consequences. At the extreme level, Elliot Rodger, who perpetrated a mass shooting in Isla Vista, California, in 2014 could be taken as an example of hatred toward women kind of violence as most of his victims are killed as a punishment for rejecting his love (Dickel & Evolvi, 2022, p. 1392). In a less extreme scenario, those misogynistic discourses in the Manosphere community can easily lead to abusive behaviours, disregard for consent, and normalisation of misogyny as addressed by Dickel and Evolvi (2022, p. 1405). The solutions for that, however, are limited to criticising and blocking the website with misogynistic discourse, as well as empowering women and raising women’s voices to lessen the dangers of that content (Dickel & Evolvi, 2022, pp. 1405-1406). Moreover, there is also an idea about the soft power technique toward the Manosphere in which people use empathy, understanding, and patience to guide the lost men away from harmful parts of the internet and help them feel integrated into broader society (Rich & Bujalka, 2023). 

In summary, the emergence of the Manosphere as a counterpart to feminist discourse has sparked societal debate. While it can serve as a refuge for men who need guidance for their lives, offering connection, and protection from perceived hostility, it becomes problematic when this community perpetuates hatred towards women and justifies harassment as a defence against perceived misandry. The Hai Chiều page exemplifies the extent of online harassment directed at women, predominantly by individuals associated with the Manosphere, potentially impeding social media inclusion, particularly for marginalised groups in society.

References

Dickel, V., & Evolvi, G. (2022). “Victims of feminism”: exploring networked misogyny and #MeToo in the manosphere. Feminist Media Studies, 23(4), 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1080/14680777.2022.2029925

Haslop, C., O’Rourke, F., & Southern, R. (2021). #NoSnowflakes: The toleration of harassment and an emergent gender-related digital divide, in a UK student online culture. Convergence: The International Journal of Research into New Media Technologies, 27(5), 1418–1438. https://doi.org/10.1177/1354856521989270

Marwick, A. E., & Caplan, R. (2018). Drinking male tears: language, the manosphere, and networked harassment. Feminist Media Studies, 18(4), 543–559. https://doi.org/10.1080/14680777.2018.1450568Rich, B., & Bujalka, E. (2023). The draw of the “manosphere”: understanding Andrew Tate’s appeal to lost men. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/the-draw-of-the-manosphere-understanding-andrew-tates-appeal-to-lost-men-199179

[lilyphamz]

Gender Politics and Social Media Conflict: The Case of Cassie Jaye

In the age of digital connectivity, navigating discussions around gender politics on social media platforms has become increasingly fraught with tension and hostility. The experience of filmmaker Cassie Jaye, as highlighted in her TED Talk, sheds light on the challenges individuals face when confronting entrenched beliefs and engaging with opposing perspectives. However, Jaye's experience is not just about personal growth; it reflects broader issues of media bias, online hostility, and the need to foster a culture of digital citizenship.

Jaye's journey began with a documentary project aimed at exploring the Men's Rights Movement—a topic often steeped in controversy within gender politics. Despite her feminist background, Jaye embarked on a year-long journey, interviewing a total of 44 Men's Rights Activists (MRAs) to gain a deeper understanding of their views. What she discovered challenged her preconceptions, leading her to reevaluate her own biases and assumptions. However, upon the release of her documentary "The Red Pill," Jaye faced a backlash characterized by smear campaigns and protests, reflecting the influence of groupthink within media discourse surrounding gender politics. Despite her intention to spark constructive dialogue, Jaye became the target of a vicious smear campaign, with individuals protesting outside theatres chanting that her film was harmful to women. This hostile reaction illustrates how entrenched beliefs can lead to knee-jerk reactions and attempts to silence dissenting voices. This phenomenon is not isolated to Jaye's experience but reflects a broader pattern of online hostility that poses a significant threat to digital citizenship. As Thompson (2023) warns, online hostility can result in psychological and physical harm, reinforcing the subordination of marginalized groups and impeding their online participation. Moreover, gendered cyberhate, as argued by Jane (2018), exacerbates existing digital divides, hindering individuals' ability to engage in productive online discourse and exercise their digital rights.

In response to these challenges, fostering a culture of digital citizenship is essential. Instead of expecting not to be offended, as Jaye suggests, we must embrace the imperative to truly, openly, and sincerely listen. After all, equality should not be about punishing the other side, it should be about lifting each other up.

Reference:

Jane, E. A. (2018). Gendered cyberhate: A new digital divide? In Theorizing Digital Divides, 186–198. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315455334-15

Thompson, J. D. (2023, March 17). New journalism research will help mitigate the harms of online hostility. Freilich Project for the Study of Bigotry. https://freilich.anu.edu.au/news-events/blog/new-journalism-research-will-help-mitigate-harms-online-hostility

[lizthewriter]

guys, please go check out my friend's webtoon, it is so awesome!!!!

here's the description: in the midst of a dying world, the city of sylplaxia thrives with energy, greed, and corruption. Corporations hold more power than the government itself, and the pursuit of money, power, and pleasure is rampant. harlene leblanc is a secretary for cyberhance, the biggest name in cybernetic enhancements and technology. however, her life gets turned upside down when she becomes the target of a serial killer, exposing her to the dark underbelly that lies beneath the city's lively exterior.

click here for the webtoon!!!

[urfavisproship]

Since all ships are "harmless" I ship my gun x blowing your brains out. :3c ^___^

Alright, anon, here's some important stuff for ya to learn

One: You don't know what I ship! I'm just havin fun with a blog I made to let people enjoy things, nobody's postin' any ships on here, just characters they think'd not harass others (like you're doin')

Two: Unlike fiction (which is legal to write and publish, look at Stephen King's IT, for example!), death threats are actually illegal. So it's clearly not the law that's givin' you a concern, or you'd not be sendin' people death threats. If it is the law that's giving you a concern, you need to stop doing that, because many countries allow people to report on cyber death threats to result in arrest. You're puttin yourself at risk.

Three: Ya see this little thing on all my posts? On all my little favis posts?

It's not "One rule for me, another for thee" - a DNI is to be followed if it's listed - even if you don't like us. If you want your own DNIs enforced, you don't get to go interactin' with us when we ask ya not to, alright? Now kindly stop committing crimes (death threats)

Four: Blocking exists! Just block me or the tag if ya don't like seein' me. I won't go huntin' ya down to shove my thoughts in your inbox, so just pretend I don't exist and everyone's happy.

-Mod Konata

[kalegc]

Trolling.

If you have the internet, you have encountered a troll online before. If not, I ask you this - how?

Trolls populate Facebook posts, news article comment sections, YouTube comment sections, and probably 90% of Reddit - to name a few. They are impossible to avoid and seemingly equally impossible to get rid of. Reporting them works maybe for a day or two, but they will just make another account and get right back to work.

We all know what a troll is, but how would you define one?

“An internet troll is someone who makes intentionally inflammatory, rude, or upsetting statements online to elicit strong emotional responses in people or to steer the conversation off-topic.” (Vicente 2020)  

Trolls thrive off negative energy. They dangle their tantalisingly inflammatory remarks in hope to start an argument. Their usually easy to spot, but even then, it’s difficult not to fall for it. Perhaps that is why they exist; it is so EASY to Troll. There is no consequence. Or at least, there is a perceived lack of consequences. Sites like Facebook require users to use their real names, and many other sites are beginning to implement this rule, but creating a fake persona or alias online is extremely easy. This anonymity may drive more deviant behaviour because it is easy to avoid consequences, and even if a Troll uses his/her real name, there is a sense of obscurity due to their online interactions most likely being with people they will never encounter in real life (Fox 2014). This may give off the impression that their impact is only felt on the digital world, but the impact of relentless and focussed trolling can be severe.

Back in the day ‘trolling’ seemed relatively harmless - just a bunch of silly memes and saying “u mad bro?” every now and then. Via: Pintrest

Although many Trolls operate alone and seem to be relatively harmless, some Trolls operate in organised groups to focus on specific people. Trolls can target rape victims, people who are LGBTI or people who are mentally ill, trying to incite vulnerable people to harm themselves - they may also target Facebook memorial pages of people who have died by suicide (Gorman 2019). Being on the receiving end of targeted Trolling can have very serious and harmful impact on one’s mental health. Furthermore, there is no specific law that deems Cyberbullying as a criminal offence. However, the bullying may constitute a criminal offence when characterised as:

Using the internet or a device to threaten, harass or offend another person

Stalking

Intimidating or threatening conduct

Inciting or counselling a person to commit suicide

Defamation

Accessing online accounts without authorisation 

(Mitry & Rademeyer 2018)

Unfortunately, all of these offences are far too easily undertaken on the internet without any consequences.

 For most parents, Cyberbullying is the #1 concern they have regarding their children's health Via: Pew Research Center

The internet is for everybody. What once started as ‘Rick Rolling’ now seems to have devolved into focussed, hateful bullying. It feels like more needs to be done in order to keep the internet free of hatred. Specific laws related to cyberbullying or cyberhatred should be implemented in order to cleanse the internet of this scourge. 

   References below...

Fox, J 2014, ‘Why the Online Trolls Troll’, Psychology Today, 12 August, viewed 30 May, <https://www.psychologytoday.com/au/blog/better-living-technology/201408/why-the-online-trolls-troll>.

 Gorman, G 2014, 'Internet trolls are not who I thought — they're even scarier ', ABC News, 2 February, viewed 29 May, <https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-02-02/internet-trolls-arent-who-i-thought-ginger-gorman-troll-hunting/10767690>.

 Mitry, R & Redemeyer, N 2018, ‘Cyberbullying laws in Australia’, 16 August, viewed 30 May, <https://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=ff372a76-3f36-4b8e-9f30-08ab4cdd9a87>.

 Vicente, V 2020, ‘What Is an Internet Troll? (and How to Handle Trolls)’, How-To Geek, 21 January, viewed 29 May, <https://www.howtogeek.com/465416/what-is-an-internet-troll-and-how-to-handle-trolls/>.

[techforing]

I hate cyberbullying..

[abearbutch]

you’re stinky and smelly

:(

[k347]

It’s all subjective but I don’t think you can really make the call on which is worse. Potentially spreading a virus or cyber hate..

The thing is he 'may or may not' have spread the virus. Personally I think there's a greater chance of him being tested regularly (since people like to bring up the 'priviledge' 🙄 they should also take into account that he might also have access to better healthcare as well ➕) and taking serious precautions [Remember that early airplane video of his with full face mask on and the sanitizer?It was an extreme display of precautions, wasn't it? I believe they were calling him "ceo of safety" at that point. I also think it's been mentioned before that he doesn't even like random stranger people touching his hands 😂 (cue the IW press tour, in an interview with Leticia) ] So it is hard to speculate about whether he did in fact spread the virus or not. His travelling is still questionable though. Not safe especially in these times.

But I for one can tell you, People are definitely spreading cyber hate. A lot of it. Sending death threats and blatant name calling. Stalking. Not just at him, at literally everyone who tries to tell them otherwise. You should see my askbox lol 😂

Maybe these two things shouldn't be compared. They are both wrong. But still...

If it is the competition between direct consequences of One Man's Actions Vs. direct consequences of Multiple People's Actions, then you can easily tell which one is worse.

[advocatesagainstcyberhate-blog]

The Internet is becoming the town square for the global village of tomorrow.

Bill Gates

[thethirdromana]

There's a lot of anti-Romani racism in Dracula, and today's entry marks the start of it.

So I thought it might be a good opportunity to highlight some organisations that are working to promote Roma rights, and some ways, alongside donating, that you might be able to support them.

The European Roma Rights Centre carries out strategic litigation to support Roma rights, as well as doing advocacy and research. You can sign up to volunteer for them here; one volunteer-run project currently live is called Challenging Digital Antigypsyism, and focuses on identifying and reporting hate speech on social media platforms.

On a similar theme, Minority Rights Group International has a campaign toolkit on countering cyberhate against Roma. The focus of the campaign is Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia.

In the UK, Friends, Families and Travellers works to end racism and discrimination against Gypsy, Roma and Traveller people and to protect the right to pursue a nomadic way of life. If you're in the UK, you can ask your MP to sign their pledge card. And if you witness discriminatory comments in politics, you can report that here.

The Roma Support Group, based in London, works with Eastern European Roma refugees and migrants. They have a number of volunteer roles for people with regular time to offer.