In the Panorama Program ‘Hunting the Internet Bullies’ the BBC managed to locate one of the vilest internet trolls currently sprawling disgusting, racist and down-right nasty comments all over the web.
Going under the pseudonym of Nimrod Severn, the man they named as Darren Burton enjoys nothing more than to click onto Facebook RIP tribute pages and leave racist and/or repulsive and repugnant remarks about the deceased – often causing great distress to families and friends of the person. This ghastly coward likes telling the dead to ‘rot in piss’ – a gross but odd statement – maybe Burton wets the bed and that’s why the loser is so obsessed with telling people to fester in urine!
When questioned by the reporter, Burton was almost as revolting in real life as he is when hiding behind his computer screen! When asked whether he considers the people he is deliberately trying to hurt and get at when he does what he does, he replied aggressively with, ‘What do I think? I think fuck them.’ There was not a hint of remorse in his voice when he was asked about the consequences of his actions – you can see that this Neanderthal actually thinks there is absolutely nothing wrong with what he does!
He did not make any attempts to deny the allegations or especially to explain himself, he did however spout a load of crap about Facebook being an ‘open forum’ and that he believed he would not face any punishment from the law.
Unfortunately however, this numbskull and the nasty things he writes opens up the debate about free speech and internet censorship. How does one draw the line between curbing our freedom to express ourselves how we wish too, and allowing vile bullies like Burton to spread hate and discrimination?
As a writer, I know I would hate to be censored, I am mortified when I hear of journalists who are persecuted for what they write, who become political prisoners of their words, and in the worst case scenarios are imprisoned or even killed. We cannot let this happen to the internet. But nor can we let people like Burton get away with the kind of thing he has been up to.
Somehow, we need to draw a line, but where, and how I do not know. What do you think should be done about this sort of behavior? How would you suggest people like Burton are brought to justice without the introduction of constraints that would limit our freedom of expression?
P.S I would also like to note that not all internet trolls are as base and abhorrent as Burton. Trolling can be harmless and amusing internet entertainment!
About Sheniz Raif
