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Discussion Board -> Off Topic -> The Great Debaters - Internet Troll Gets Jail Time
The Great Debaters - Internet Troll Gets Jail Time
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That is a tough one to say. I don't know anything about Asperger's Syndrome. I do think he deserved some sort of jail time.
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I think that the Asperger's is a cop out. I think the alcohol may be a cop out, but still doesn't excuse the behavior, it would only highlight a bigger problem that should be made clear by actually enforcing consequences for the unacceptable results.
People with Asperger's frequently don't understand WHY something upsets people, but they do know that it DOES upset people. Therefore, it's fairly likely that even if the Asperger's portion is true, the guy still knew that what he was doing was going to upset people and did it anyway. That falls within a realm of responsibility that is outside of the realm of what can be attributed to the disorder.
The alcoholism is much the same – the fact that you are drinking copious amounts of alcohol – what you do while under that influence is still your responsibility, even if you couldn't help it at that time, because you CHOSE to drink the alcohol that allowed that situation to exist. If you are an alcoholic and sick, then you are sick, but you are also responsible for getting yourself treatment. In many cases, one of the things that causes those who are sick to recognize that they are (or that it is a problem they actually have to do something about) is when they are held to the consequences of their actions (whatever motivated them), and they lose jobs, friends, freedom, etc.
Frankly, I have been disturbed for a long time by the things that people feel free to say from behind the anonymity of a computer screen. I have literally had people tell me "They're just anonymous, it's not like they really exist on the other side of the screen. It's just a game (meaning the things that are said back and forth)." I have always maintained that on the other side of the screen is a real person who deserves to be treated as a real person, with as much respect as you would treat them in person.
From my standpoint, I think the judgement in this case is reasonable. The ban isn't permanent, but certainly long enough to make it clear that this is not a minor fine issue, and that when the privilege is available again, it should be taken seriously. The jail time – approx 4.5 months – given how deliberate this appears to have been, is again a message of how seriously this is being taken, and does not seem to unduly hamper the person's life since they're not losing a job to go to jail. And it seems like both getting them out of their current stagnating environment and at the same time showing them how much worse it could be is a good thing.
People with Asperger's frequently don't understand WHY something upsets people, but they do know that it DOES upset people. Therefore, it's fairly likely that even if the Asperger's portion is true, the guy still knew that what he was doing was going to upset people and did it anyway. That falls within a realm of responsibility that is outside of the realm of what can be attributed to the disorder.
The alcoholism is much the same – the fact that you are drinking copious amounts of alcohol – what you do while under that influence is still your responsibility, even if you couldn't help it at that time, because you CHOSE to drink the alcohol that allowed that situation to exist. If you are an alcoholic and sick, then you are sick, but you are also responsible for getting yourself treatment. In many cases, one of the things that causes those who are sick to recognize that they are (or that it is a problem they actually have to do something about) is when they are held to the consequences of their actions (whatever motivated them), and they lose jobs, friends, freedom, etc.
Frankly, I have been disturbed for a long time by the things that people feel free to say from behind the anonymity of a computer screen. I have literally had people tell me "They're just anonymous, it's not like they really exist on the other side of the screen. It's just a game (meaning the things that are said back and forth)." I have always maintained that on the other side of the screen is a real person who deserves to be treated as a real person, with as much respect as you would treat them in person.
From my standpoint, I think the judgement in this case is reasonable. The ban isn't permanent, but certainly long enough to make it clear that this is not a minor fine issue, and that when the privilege is available again, it should be taken seriously. The jail time – approx 4.5 months – given how deliberate this appears to have been, is again a message of how seriously this is being taken, and does not seem to unduly hamper the person's life since they're not losing a job to go to jail. And it seems like both getting them out of their current stagnating environment and at the same time showing them how much worse it could be is a good thing.
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One man sees things and says
Was curious as to how people would react to the aspect of Aspergers.
And would agree that the alcohol abuse is.. not an excuse.
And would agree that the alcohol abuse is.. not an excuse.
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"Was curious as to how people would react to the aspect of Aspergers."
I think it depends how much you know about Asperger's, and the whole concept of the sliding scale of disorders (within each disorder, not that some are worse to have than others).
I have some experience, which shapes my view. I know that most of the issues in "reading people" have to do with physical cues that are missed - tone of voice, facial expression, etc. In the written word, all of those cues are generally clearly visible and while there is often a lack of ability to empathize, there is still the understanding that people *are* upset, with the ability to choose between continuing what they are doing, and stopping, *knowing that others consider what they are doing wrong*.
I think it depends how much you know about Asperger's, and the whole concept of the sliding scale of disorders (within each disorder, not that some are worse to have than others).
I have some experience, which shapes my view. I know that most of the issues in "reading people" have to do with physical cues that are missed - tone of voice, facial expression, etc. In the written word, all of those cues are generally clearly visible and while there is often a lack of ability to empathize, there is still the understanding that people *are* upset, with the ability to choose between continuing what they are doing, and stopping, *knowing that others consider what they are doing wrong*.
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One man sees things and says
Not severe enough...And they shouldn't let this guy go near a computer while in the joint, nor anytime thereafter...
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"Put up...or SHUT UP!" Visit Jhihmoac's Gallery
It is interesting that Facebook has said "There is no place for trolling on Facebook. When abuse is reported to us, we react swiftly, and we will disable accounts that are found to be in breach of our terms."
They were too slow off the mark in this case.
The maximum jail sentence for what he did (under the Malicious Communications Act) is 6 months - he got 18 weeks. He had also offended in the same way twice before.
I think he got off lightly taking into account the distress he has caused.
Hopefully he will get help for his neurological condition and alcohol dependency which may have contributed to his trolling addiction but the hurt he has caused will never go away.
They were too slow off the mark in this case.
The maximum jail sentence for what he did (under the Malicious Communications Act) is 6 months - he got 18 weeks. He had also offended in the same way twice before.
I think he got off lightly taking into account the distress he has caused.
Hopefully he will get help for his neurological condition and alcohol dependency which may have contributed to his trolling addiction but the hurt he has caused will never go away.
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My thanks to all who leave comments for my work and to those of you who like one enough to make it a favourite. To touch just one person that way makes each image worthwhile. . . . . . . . . .. . . . "The question is not what you look at, but what you see" ~ Marcel Proust . . . . The aim of argument, or of discussion, should not be victory, but progress." ~ Joseph Joubert (1754-1824)
In another social Media called "My Space"...this case was absolutely horrid where I live. The woman had to relocate due to threats made on her life.
Missouri Bullying Case.
Google those words in any order and you will find copious articles.
It really was tragic. And as Cat has said, there are people behind the names....whatever we do think, we certainly don't need to type out!
Missouri Bullying Case.
Google those words in any order and you will find copious articles.
It really was tragic. And as Cat has said, there are people behind the names....whatever we do think, we certainly don't need to type out!
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~mimi~
Two counts of sending malicious communications resulted in "18 weeks for each of the offences to run concurrently, the maximum sentence".
And.. "was also given a five year Anti-Social Behaviour Order and was prohibited from accessing websites including Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Bebo and Myspace".
Too severe?
Not severe enough?
Bearing in mind, raised in this person's defence was that he "suffered from Asperger’s syndrome" (an inability to gauge emotional reactions, simply put) and alcohol abuse.