Man jailed for being an internet troll

Torplexed · 09-14-11, 10:27 PM

Someone has now been jailed for Internet trolling. This person apparently left mean spirited messages on a Facebook tribute to a deceased relative among other things.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-berkshire-14894576

Quote:

Natasha MacBryde threw herself under a train after being bullied

A Berkshire man has been jailed for posting abusive messages online about a schoolgirl after she committed suicide.

Sean Duffy, 25, of Reading, was handed an 18-week sentence for posts on social networking sites about Worcestershire teenager Natasha MacBryde.

He previously pleaded guilty at Reading Magistrates' Court to sending indecent or offensive communications.

Police said Duffy also posted abuse about dead teenagers in Northumberland, Gloucestershire and Staffordshire.

Duffy, of Grovelands Road, admitted two offences of "trolling" a term used to describe the trend of anonymously seeking to provoke outrage by posting insults and abuse online.

Miss MacBryde had thrown herself under a train in February after being bullied.

Duffy subsequently posted anonymous messages on a remembrance page - "Monday 14th February will always be remembered as Tasha MacBryde day" - set up by her 17-year-old brother James to allow friends and family to pay their respects to the teenager.

In one of the posts he called her a slut. He also posted a video on YouTube, entitled Tasha the Tank Engine, showing the children's character Thomas the Tank Engine with Miss MacBryde's face.

Jo Belsey, prosecuting, said the family were "understandably outraged, disgusted and hurt".

In a statement read to the court, her father Andrew MacBryde said he "could not believe anyone could stoop to such depths" after his son told him of the online posts.

He added that Duffy's actions had "added to the horror of dealing with the death of their beautiful daughter".

We prosecute people for vandalizing graves, so I have no objection to seeing this creep go to jail.

Sailor Steve · 09-14-11, 11:00 PM

It's my understanding that you can recieve similar punishment for writing abusive letters to people, or for doing the same with print media. Also, while we protect free speech, if one were to stand out side someones home and shout this sort of thing, or do so at the school, there would be limitations.

I agree, this goes beyond the bounds of not only good taste, but of what is acceptable in any polite society.

Betonov · 09-14-11, 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

Also, while we protect free speech...

This was not free speech. This was not speech of any kind. It was simple psychological abuse, nothing to protect here, only punish

Reece · 09-15-11, 12:23 AM

Excellent! That is where he belongs!

Jimbuna · 09-15-11, 01:59 AM

18 weeks doesn't sound like that much of a deterrent

Betonov · 09-15-11, 03:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimbuna

18 weeks doesn't sound like that much of a deterrent

18 weeks in a facility with internet acces

papa_smurf · 09-15-11, 04:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimbuna

18 weeks doesn't sound like that much of a deterrent

What would be a appropriate punishment in your "expert" opinion?

joegrundman · 09-15-11, 04:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimbuna

18 weeks doesn't sound like that much of a deterrent

it wasn't much of a crime. seems pretty appropriate to me.

and it's a much stiffer penalty than you get for wrecking the national economy leaving your bills to be covered by the taxpayer

Onkel Neal · 09-15-11, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Torplexed

Someone has now been jailed for Internet trolling. This person apparently left mean spirited messages on a Facebook tribute to a deceased relative among other things.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-berkshire-14894576

We prosecute people for vandalizing graves, so I have no objection to seeing this creep go to jail.

Same here. People have to be accountable for the things they say.

09-15-11, 12:08 PM

I don't think this was trolling, trolling would be more along the lines of someone convincing everybody that the girl was dead when she wasn't actually dead then going "Har har I was trolling, umad?

Or if Neal went and convinced the entire forum that there was a Silent Hunter VI in the works then on the supposed release date he changed the link to a Silent Hunter VI subforum to lead to a giant picture of a trollface. THAT would be trolling.

flatsixes · 09-15-11, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rilder

I don't think this was trolling, trolling would be more along the lines of someone convincing everybody that the girl was dead when she wasn't actually dead then going "Har har I was trolling, umad?

Or if Neal went and convinced the entire forum that there was a Silent Hunter VI in the works then on the supposed release date he changed the link to a Silent Hunter VI subforum to lead to a giant picture of a trollface. THAT would be trolling.

Whoa! There's a Silent Hunter VI in the works?

HEY EVERYBODY! I just heard that Silent Hunter VI is in the works! Something about submarines vs. giant subforum trolls. Neal's gonna link to the demo with the release date! Check back here often!!!!

razark · 09-15-11, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flatsixes

Whoa! There's a Silent Hunter VI in the works?

I heard the release date is around the end of March next year.

kranz · 09-15-11, 01:14 PM

Herr-Berbunch · 09-15-11, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by razark

I heard the release date is around the end of March next year.

You beat me to it!

09-14-11, 11:00 PM	#2
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	It's my understanding that you can recieve similar punishment for writing abusive letters to people, or for doing the same with print media. Also, while we protect free speech, if one were to stand out side someones home and shout this sort of thing, or do so at the school, there would be limitations. I agree, this goes beyond the bounds of not only good taste, but of what is acceptable in any polite society. __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo

09-15-11, 12:23 AM	#4
Reece CINC Pacific Fleet Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Down Under Posts: 34,701 Downloads: 171 Uploads: 0	Excellent! That is where he belongs! __________________ *Sub captains go down with their ship!*

09-15-11, 01:59 AM	#5
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 190,525 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 13	18 weeks doesn't sound like that much of a deterrent __________________ Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Oh my God, not again!!

09-15-11, 12:08 PM	#10
Rilder Stowaway Posts: n/a Downloads: Uploads:	I don't think this was trolling, trolling would be more along the lines of someone convincing everybody that the girl was dead when she wasn't actually dead then going "Har har I was trolling, umad? Or if Neal went and convinced the entire forum that there was a Silent Hunter VI in the works then on the supposed release date he changed the link to a Silent Hunter VI subforum to lead to a giant picture of a trollface. THAT would be trolling.

09-15-11, 01:14 PM	#13
kranz The Old Man Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Poland Posts: 1,430 Downloads: 5 Uploads: 0