Read on Twitter
Sometimes I almost wish the people who get mischaracterized and lied about in online harassment campaigns were crueler people because it would take zero effort to hit back at those spreading the lies with even worse mockup accusations.
It's a good thing that doesn't happen, nothing good comes out of shit flinging back and forth, but god damn would it be cathartic to see now and then.
Seriously, fake tweets, tumblr posts or whatever. They're easy to make. There are websites designed to help you make them these days.
And since everyone just eats up anything they see as true, you can just defame anyone, even in revenge of defamation.
And since everyone just eats up anything they see as true, you can just defame anyone, even in revenge of defamation.
It takes too much effort to research a claim's validity, you have to like, google and read stuff for that. Easier to just retweet and say "oh wow, this person is the actual worst"
Reminds me of what Sarah Z said in her video about JK Rowling's massive transphobic rant.
She debunks all of Rowling's ridiculous claims in that video, but doing that required finding studies, checking data and even talking to a friend in medicine.
She debunks all of Rowling's ridiculous claims in that video, but doing that required finding studies, checking data and even talking to a friend in medicine.
Most people don't have the patience or interest in the subject to do that.
They will read what Rowling said and go "huh, didn't know that was true, but I guess it is because I read it."
They will read what Rowling said and go "huh, didn't know that was true, but I guess it is because I read it."
Spreading harmful misinformation takes no effort and no time.
Mending the damage done takes too much effort and time for people to be interested in doing it.
Mending the damage done takes too much effort and time for people to be interested in doing it.
See how Emily Gwen, the creator of the community lesbian flag, was harassed off Twitter following accusations that she had stolen her flag design.
Those accusations were easily proven false. Me and others instantly did so, but that didn't matter. She's gone now.
Those accusations were easily proven false. Me and others instantly did so, but that didn't matter. She's gone now.
Someone made up a lie and 3 days later the person the lie was about had their online life ruined to the point of leaving social media.
Despite the lie being proven as false *instantly*.
Despite the lie being proven as false *instantly*.
All because people are so averse to critical thinking when it comes to online callouts of people who aren't popular internet celebrities that can skate by on clout alone.
I have been the target of such bullshit myself, of course, more than once.
Hell, it's why I don't have my original account any more.
Hell, it's why I don't have my original account any more.
I was going somewhere with this...
Oh yeah.
All of this sucks because there's no real consequence for those lying and spreading bullshit about a vulnerable target.
Even if the lies do get cleared up the ones instigating all of it end up unscathed.
All of this sucks because there's no real consequence for those lying and spreading bullshit about a vulnerable target.
Even if the lies do get cleared up the ones instigating all of it end up unscathed.
And the ones spreading this stuff knows this. They pick targets who aren't known to actually instigate that kind of behaviour themselves.
It's an effort to hurt someone with zero risks for the one doing the hurting.
It's an effort to hurt someone with zero risks for the one doing the hurting.
Hell, even when it's involving higher profile people like the aforementioned JK Rowling stuff, do keep in mind that it took several years of trans people trying to get people to speak against Rowling before anyone did.
By the point where she went completely mask off she had already tested the waters and realized that bashing trans people aren't going to get you in much trouble.
And it's easy to say that at least people did react accordingly this time and did push back.
But not really.
Rowling hasn't been knocked off some throne or anything. She still makes all the money and at worst companies are just trying to not put her front and center for a bit.
But not really.
Rowling hasn't been knocked off some throne or anything. She still makes all the money and at worst companies are just trying to not put her front and center for a bit.
When you spread lies about a marginalized group or person who won't hit back with the same strength as you hit them, you get away with it every time.
You never have to apologize, make amends or even delete the things you said if you're proven wrong.
And that's fucked up.
You never have to apologize, make amends or even delete the things you said if you're proven wrong.
And that's fucked up.
