Monday, February 08, 2016

People on message boards can help police the harassment.

Harassment (click here) —from garden-variety name calling to more threatening behavior— is a common part of online life that colors the experiences of many web users. Fully 73% of adult internet users have seen someone be harassed in some way online and 40% have personally experienced it, according to a new survey by the Pew Research Center....

If internet users accept harassment as a means of communication it opens them up to harassment and the possibility of it becoming more than harassment. It is best to maintain GOOD MANNERS, especially online.

So, the complaints about harassment online are real and should not be taken lightly. I commend the candidates for stating it is not acceptable.

The call to end online harassment might have to be met with moderators if it doesn't stop. No candidate wants their supporters to feel diminished or threatened. Harassment is as much a part of the escalation into a threat and needs to stop.

With a little bit of training campaign volunteers can probably act as moderators to online chat rooms affiliated with a candidate.