by Jansen Walsh & Grace Equestrian Team
HORSES, TROLLS AND
CYBER-BULLYING Cyberbullying is a negative element of social media platforms, but those who shame and defame can find themselves being held responsible for damages through litigation. Aaaah, Facebook (or Twitter, Snapchat, YouTube, etc.): social media is wonderful for keeping connected with family and friends, sharing information and ideas, and getting to know (to a degree) other, like-minded people. It’s a boon for small business owners, who can have an online presence for next-to-nothing. Unfortunately, all that convenience comes with a dark side. Freely available, largely unfiltered and inviting interaction - ‘Please click to like, or leave a comment’, social media is an endless smorgasbord of headline hooks, images, opinions and ideas, all inviting a reaction. While most of what’s shared is positive and well-meaning, many people have lesser reasons for exploiting the platform that social media provides, and the anonymity it affords encourages some to make comments that they wouldn’t say to a person’s face. In the social media arena, anyone can comment and they often do, for fun, to interact with their peers, to be heard, to bully or just because they can be as nasty as they like without consequences.
People air strong opinions and dirty laundry, spread humour, or harm. The angry, and some who just seem to like stirring the pot, spew forth vitriol. Rumours and ‘fake news’ run riot, and ‘trolls’ seem to cruise the Net, looking for trouble. Any post can draw an astonishing array of likes, dislikes and comments. A nasty exchange can happen quickly: a respondent makes an inflammatory or inaccurate comment, the original poster feels compelled to reply, and the comments back and forth become stronger. There’s a troll on board, whipping up the angst, and the language escalates. If someone suggests that the troll has misunderstood the original post, or may perhaps be wrong, they are attacked. The argument goes off-topic and all sorts of unfiltered comments end up being posted. When trolls attack a person or business it can become very April/May 2020 - Page 8
distressing, as a pack mentality will often take over, with camps ‘for’ and ‘against’ joining in. A troll may be seriously vindictive, or invoking a response for nothing more than amusement. It can be hard to resist responding, because the comments can be so irritating and outrageous.
Where does one draw the line, both in attack and defense? What should you do if an exchange becomes stressful, hurtful, or frightening? Are there any protections in place to prevent lies, injurious comments or defamation from being spread? Social media platforms are trying to address such problems, but they often fail. A good rule of thumb is to wait 24 hours before responding, which can help to avoid making comments one might later regret. With vilification laws being strengthened to combat hate speech and dangerous or damaging comments to persons or businesses, the free reign of self-expression on social media is finally being curtailed.
With the art of civilised debate reduced to phone-speak and emojis by the 21st century lifestyle, it can be hard to remain polite when someone gets volatile online. No sane, sensible person objects to another disagreeing with them, if it’s done respectfully. Everyone’s experience of life is unique, everyone is entitled to their beliefs and opinions; no offence should be taken when someone says ‘I disagree and here’s the reasons why’. Social media experts offer this advice: “If you wouldn’t try talking to a baying dog on the street, why would you engage with a troll online?”
Once someone starts calling people names, abusing them, questioning their parentage, making up slanderous lies, questioning their right to breathe oxygen … it is time to hit ‘delete’. It doesn’t always stop them, but at least you and your friends don’t have to be bothered reading their sick and abusive