Hysterical public shaming via social media

[trousers]

Of course, had any of those people profiled in the article been named Sarah Silverman the reaction would have been non-existent.

Many of the same people that are so outraged are probably fans of her and Daniel Tosh.

[kelroy55]

This is taking it way too far

(CNN)The fatal feud started with a squabble on Facebook, devolved into a planned brawl at a park, and ended with a 14-year-old girl dead.

Police in Alabama say a group of girls who quarreled on Facebook decided to take their grievances to a Birmingham park, where their fight was going to be videotaped and then posted online, CNN affiliate WBRC reported.

After the melee ensued, two teenage males pulled out guns and started shooting at the girls, CNN affiliate WIAT said. The shots killed 14-year-old Kierra'onna Rice and wounded two others.

Birmingham police arrested two suspects who were identified by witnesses. The names of the suspects, ages 17 and 19, have not been released.

WIAT said authorities believe one of the suspects was dating one of the girls who was fighting Kierra'onna.

[David]

Here's an interesting TED talk on the subject by Monica Lewinsky of all people. I was fairly young at the time and it never occurred to me what she must have gone through.



Most depressing TED talk I've ever watched, but it has an important message.

[Mel]

" too windy " In Oklahoma? Shirley (sp for fun) you jest Brian.


Arguing only counts when you are within arm's reach of each other. jmo

[Pete]

That was very interesting and she did an excellent job of speaking and presenting the issues at hand.

Thanks very much for sharing.

[BBatesokc]

A pretty good cautionary tale video interview collage...

[hoya]

Every time I read the title of this thread, I interpret it as "Really funny public shaming via social media". Then I remember it's the other meaning of hysterical.

[bchris02]

Here's an interesting TED talk on the subject by Monica Lewinsky of all people. I was fairly young at the time and it never occurred to me what she must have gone through.

..or that she still goes through. She will carry a stigma with her for life.

[Snowman]

We've commented on this phenomena before: Something goes on Facebook and Twitter and people get outraged and then there is this rabid piling on.

I've said before it's almost like people *want* to be outraged, and bashiing/judging someone else makes them somehow feel better about themselves.

It's a very strange and unexpected consequence of social media and how one tweet or post can bring the whole world down upon a person, sometimes with grave consequences.

...

You point reminds me a lot of an analysis of the psychological factors on why people like believing conspiracy theories. This subject touches more on people going a bit too far verse the other looking more at why people would start to ignore clear facts from various sources and create elaborate fantasies to maintain what the felt was the truth verses accepting reality.

To sum it up, people can get a euphoria and higher sense of self worth when feeling they are in the right and doing something about it against any number of things (for conspiracies it is often government, general ignorance, a cover up, large corporations, the list goes on), even if they are not doing much; or if they are entirely wrong, it does not even mater if no one else believes them and says they are crazy, which can just make them feel stronger on it because they can feel more special on understanding something no one else does.

.

[jccouger]

Another key factor in this is age of social media participants.

Due to a large majority of people with social media accounts being between early teens to early 30s, and due to the fact that this age is largely made up of social liberals & democrats, the people who are most likely to be attacked are those who hold conservative values. So anybody who appears racist, sexist, homophobic, or anti-marijuana are bound to receive the largest amount of public internet shaming.

[dankrutka]

Thanks for that article. I'm sending it to my teenage daughter. I've been constantly on her case about her online activities and her seemingly cavalier attitude about her personal privacy. This will help it hit home, I'm sure.

There's a good section on teens and social media privacy issues in dana boyd's book "It's Complicated." You might find it useful.

[hoya]

This is why I make all my crazy internet posts under the net alias "Thunder".