Comments on: Internet Lynch Mob

Internet Lynch Mob

mippy — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 07:33:15 -0800

The 8 Most Awesome Examples of Internet Vigilantism. Contains a heady mix of justice and harrassment.

By: mippy

mippy — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 07:34:40 -0800

Now we're out of the editorializing zone... Yes, poop on the subway is nasty. But after all the figurative shite that girl received, it doesn't surprise me that she was threatening suicide. I've never got the whole 4Chan mob detective thing (poor ol' Boxxxy).

By: elfgirl

elfgirl — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 07:40:57 -0800

Awwwww. I thought Boxxxy was hilarious (in that, thank god I can turn her off any time I wanted to way).

By: elfgirl

elfgirl — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 07:41:54 -0800

^Uh, wow. Tense fail. I can turn her off any time I want to.

By: jadepearl

jadepearl — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 07:47:50 -0800

I thought an earlier version was the Karl Malden's Nose thing on usenet and Harvard dude hiding in law school. Meow.

By: rokusan

rokusan — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 07:51:24 -0800

Where are the misfires, where an innocent was accidentally punished? These stories must exist.

By: Nelson

Nelson — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 07:55:01 -0800

I was gonna post some snark about "Cracked: 2 Ways to Recycle Internet Content to Sell Ads". But then I read the article which was like "meh" and it linked to the NSFW story of Chris Forcand and HOLY SHIT. Fake 15 year old girls on cam chat, lolitraps, pictures of a penis with a gold cross hanging from it. Creepy, awful, on both sides.

By: permafrost

permafrost — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 07:56:58 -0800

Oh, Anonymous, you thrill me and terrify me in equal measures and often at the same time.

By: East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94

East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 08:00:33 -0800

Must we suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous 4chan?

By: DU

DU — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 08:01:43 -0800

I'd like to see some bigger fish get internet vigilanted. Like, photos of Sanford in Argentina (before we knew about that) or Lieberman checking into a motel with McCain.

By: elfgirl

elfgirl — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 08:03:04 -0800

MeFi has a history of doing a bit of the "internet vigilantism", too. Kaycee Nicole was the first, but I'm pretty sure that's not the only sleuthing Mefites have done.

By: Midnight Rambler

Midnight Rambler — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 08:08:25 -0800

MeFi has a history of doing a bit of the "internet vigilantism", too. Kaycee Nicole was the first, but I'm pretty sure that's not the only sleuthing Mefites have done. Recently.

By: sixswitch

sixswitch — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 08:14:15 -0800

East Manitoba &c you just made my day. To die, to sleep / To sleep, perchance to lol?

By: Nelson

Nelson — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 08:20:28 -0800

I'd like to see some bigger fish get internet vigilanted. You mean like Fidel Castro's son?. Only there's no evidence of anything being vigilante-ed for.

By: pracowity

pracowity — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 08:24:24 -0800

I guess it's fine when the right people get just enough done to them -- a deserved outing to the authorities and maybe to the neighbors -- but I bet you could also make a page of The 8 Worst Examples of Misguided, Over-the-Top Internet Vigilantism if people were inclined to brag about such stuff.

By: orville sash

orville sash — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 08:25:03 -0800

MeFi has a history of doing a bit of the "internet vigilantism" wha-wha-whibble? The archetypal internet lynch mob (respect due to anyone who could wade through that horrible ugly website to expose that dude's plagiarism.)

By: shmegegge

shmegegge — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 08:30:24 -0800

East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94: "Must we suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous 4chan?" this... oh my god this is... possibly the greatest thing anyone has ever said on the internet.

By: dammitjim

dammitjim — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 08:32:36 -0800

Is there anything that Cracked can't rank? They've taken the "tailor-made for Digg" style to its limit, I think. I like some of their writing, but c'mon.

By: hellojed

hellojed — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 08:38:52 -0800

Internet vigilantism wiki. It's basically a clearing house for this stuff. Also interesting, articles on trolling, "Ruin Life" tactics, and some other stuff.

By: rokusan

rokusan — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 08:54:17 -0800

Can we somehow tie this into the Scientology "Fair Game" policy for maximum ironic effect?

By: quin

quin — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 08:59:24 -0800

This one came out a while ago. Still, I laugh whenever I think of the physical mail spamming of Alan Ralsky, and cracked's description: "Snail mail, as the kids call it, started arriving at Ralsky's mansion by the truckload. Literally by the truckload, as tons of it was delivered to his house each and every day. Ralsky's reaction was to complain that he was being harassed and was going to sue. This lead to massive bouts of laughter and an unprecedented level of not giving a shit." A nice turn of phrase, that.

By: Guy_Inamonkeysuit

Guy_Inamonkeysuit — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 09:08:53 -0800

Say what you will, but CRACKED has gotten a hell of a lot more interesting since it migrated to the web. You can take John Severin art just so far, after all. And it's not like they had much of anything else going for 'em.

By: Mastercheddaar

Mastercheddaar — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 09:09:01 -0800

I think Anonymous should become the new boogy man. Imagine telling your children to behave or else Anonymous will start a flame war over their bad behavior. How terrifying would it be to see that Guy Fox masked avenger looking right into your very soul... via web cam through your monitor. I myself am scared, because I am a snarky, immature jerk.

By: educatedslacker

educatedslacker — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 09:18:14 -0800

East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 One million internets for you, good sir.

By: oaf

oaf — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 09:21:45 -0800

Must we suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous 4chan? Nowadays, Hamlet's father would just record something in advance for YouTube that said "if you are watching this message, it is because I was assassinated."

By: Ian A.T.

Ian A.T. — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 09:23:51 -0800

Must we suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous 4chan? Ah yes, the famous "To /b/ or not to /b/" soliloquy...

By: jquinby

jquinby — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 09:25:31 -0800

SAGE SAGE SAGE

By: mippy

mippy — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 09:29:53 -0800

Unemployment in the US hit 9.5% today, I know you got time, sugar, give it your all. Sadly not enough time for you to click my username and see I don't live in the US. But don't let that stop you feeling superior, it gives a nice rosy glow to the complexion.

By: mippy

mippy — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 09:32:41 -0800

Of course now that I've said that, I'm sitting here waiting for my final bit of work for the day to come in...

By: Optimus Chyme

Optimus Chyme — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 09:33:21 -0800

Must we suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous 4chan? posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 8:00 AM on July 2 holy shit

By: Senor Cardgage

Senor Cardgage — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 09:52:00 -0800

I just cracked my iPhone screen from favoriting East Manitoba ... so righteously. I doff my cap sir.

By: BigSky

BigSky — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 10:00:31 -0800

If by 'awesome' they mean 'appalling', I agree. I also like this comment, "The Internet: Helping hypocrites spread the same hate that they cowardly decry, from behind computers, since 1989!"

By: orange swan

orange swan — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 10:01:36 -0800

I followed the link Midnight Rambler posted and got so absorbed in the whole Suzanne Somers/jakelala story that I completely forgot how I'd arrived in the thread.

By: philip-random

philip-random — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 10:02:30 -0800

But after all the figurative shite that girl received, it doesn't surprise me that she was threatening suicide. Well, the internet is BIG enough to qualify as a chaotic system ... and the last thing you ever want to do is stir the wrath of a chaotic system. Kind of like taking on a Greek God. Even if you're in the right, it's not going to end well.

By: Elmore

Elmore — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 10:05:57 -0800

No one piss off East Manitoba...'94 OK? He just won the internet and if we piss him off he'll go home and take it with him.

By: applemeat

applemeat — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 10:07:53 -0800

Is it (technically) theft to keep the phone one finds in the back of a cab?

By: jabberjaw

jabberjaw — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 10:22:01 -0800

I'm all for internet vigilantism. Performed by the internet Batman.

By: shetterly

shetterly — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 10:23:35 -0800

There was a good post earlier on MeFi about the consequences of mobbing: Workplace Mobbing.

By: mbd1mbd1

mbd1mbd1 — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 10:24:20 -0800

Is it (technically) theft to keep the phone one finds in the back of a cab? It's a thorny legal issue all right. I'll need to refer to the case of Finders v. Keepers.

By: hippybear

hippybear — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 10:31:16 -0800

Wow, I wish I'd been here to participate in the mobbing thread linked to by shetterly. I actually quit my job last year because of the successful efforts of one person at the job to turn the entire workforce against me. One of the worst things ever to happen to me, and I'm still reeling from it.

By: drjimmy11

drjimmy11 — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 10:44:00 -0800

You know who was really awesome at internet vigilantism? This really cool group of guys, I bet you would love them- they really zinged this one dude who TOTALLY deserved it. They called themselves "Swift Boat Veterans for Truth."

By: exlotuseater

exlotuseater — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 10:53:22 -0800

Re: Mobs getting out of hand-- does anyone remember the whole Something Awful vs. Keyser Soze debacle here? (In which a MeFi user linked to one of the closed/locked SA forums and then the g00ns tracked him down and took pictures of his house) No?

By: hellojed

hellojed — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 11:05:04 -0800

Sadly not enough time for you to click my username and see I don't live in the US. But don't let that stop you feeling superior, it gives a nice rosy glow to the complexion. 1000 apologies. My comment was stupid, I'm so used to seeing cracked.com thrown around that I sort of take it for granted. Also feeling down about my current job prospects. I do believe this is my first deleted comment. Hooray fo new experiences!

By: Ian A.T.

Ian A.T. — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 11:20:07 -0800

Is it (technically) theft to keep the phone one finds in the back of a cab? A bit off-topic, but speaking as a cab driver, we generally WANT to return lost phones--either out of goodheartedness or the chance that we could get compensated for the effort--so make it easy on us: In your address book, make sure the first entry is something like _If You Find My Phone Call This Number or whatever. Just something that makes sense and comes at the top of the list. 'Cuz otherwise I'm gonna call the entry labeled "Mom."

By: philip-random

philip-random — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 11:32:00 -0800

No one piss off East Manitoba...'94 OK? He just won the internet With a pun? A good one, mind you? But it's still just a fucking pun.

By: shmegegge

shmegegge — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 11:35:11 -0800

awww, it's ok philip-random. we think you're special, too.

By: philip-random

philip-random — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 11:35:33 -0800

I much prefer his Lobstercore link in the Crabcore thread.

By: Eideteker

Eideteker — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 11:36:52 -0800

"He started spamming back before anyone knew what spam was, in the late 90s." Huh? Do you mean before YOU knew what spam was?

By: CrazyLemonade

CrazyLemonade — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 11:48:47 -0800

I don't get this whole 4chan thing. Can someone [seriously] explain it to me? For example, I didn't get East Manitoba...94's joke. Does this mean I would need a __(?)__ to understand?

By: Pollomacho

Pollomacho — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 11:55:43 -0800

What no GiveWell scandal? MeFi gets so little credit.

By: harmfulray

harmfulray — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 12:09:42 -0800

Must we suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous 4chan? You should /b/tard and feathered for a pun like that!

By: Justinian

Justinian — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 12:10:46 -0800

Huh? Do you mean before YOU knew what spam was? Yeah. Hell, Canter&Siegel (may they burn in hell) was in April of '94, and that was just commercial spam.

By: srboisvert

srboisvert — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 12:15:42 -0800

I can turn her off any time I want to I can do this with all women.

By: permafrost

permafrost — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 12:18:59 -0800

I don't get this whole 4chan thing. 4chan is an internet messageboard dedicated to posting pictures of cats, giant robots and eye-watering Japanese hentai porn. It's occupants refer to themselves as Anonymous ('because none of us is as cruel as all of us') and have been responsible for numerous acts of internet vigilantism, as described in the OP. 4chan also sounds a lot like 'fortune', and is definitely NSFW.

By: LMGM

LMGM — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 13:03:26 -0800

"As with all great assholes, the taint of arrogance was right around the corner, under the ballsack of stupidity" FTW. I forgive this for being a Cracked link.

By: multivalent

multivalent — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 13:26:11 -0800

BRB going to church.

By: weapons-grade pandemonium

weapons-grade pandemonium — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 13:34:50 -0800

No one piss off East Manitoba...'94 OK? He just won the internet Apparently it was won previously.

By: mattdidthat

mattdidthat — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 14:32:05 -0800

East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion should know when, in disgrace with 4chan and Mefi, he all alone /b/weeps his outcast state.

By: sixswitch

sixswitch — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 15:37:08 -0800

I would really like to see East Manitoba &c's comment sidebarred. It's so worth it.

By: turgid dahlia

turgid dahlia — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 16:13:38 -0800

AVENGE DUSTY

By: Barry B. Palindromer

Barry B. Palindromer — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 17:17:27 -0800

orange swan: I followed the link Midnight Rambler posted and got so absorbed in the whole Suzanne Somers/jakelala story that I completely forgot how I'd arrived in the thread. Me too. Sorry I missed that thread. Also, Cracked is okay sometimes. TOTALLY BEST OF THE WEB! (not a shill for Cracked, no internet vigilantism necessary).

By: Mitheral

Mitheral — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:03:11 -0800

"Is it (technically) theft to keep the phone one finds in the back of a cab?" I don't know about the phone itself but it is definitely an indictable offence to make use of the cellular or other telecommunication service saccessible from the phone.

By: dilettante

dilettante — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 12:19:55 -0800

I thought an earlier version was the Karl Malden's Nose thing on usenet and Harvard dude hiding in law school. Meow. Late to this one, but there was nothing vigilante about that. They were just shitting in the swimming pool.