Twitter Bullying

This is a great article on some of the stars who have been the target of "cyber-bullying" on Twitter from being called "ugly" to death threats.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/07/leann-rimes-treatment-celebrity-cyberbullying_n_1862667.html

I agree that Twitter has a responsibility to not publish death threats. It's illegal in any other format, it should be illegal on Twitter. What is wrong with people that they'd want to kill someone because they look good in a bikini anyway? Jealous much?

Since Australian host Charlotte Dawson attempted suicide after her bullying, and Leann Rimes has entered treatment after hers, I hope more people get the power of the written word. Though it really seems some people just don't care. They're just mean. I wonder how 'psuedo-stars' like the short-lived people on say, "The Bachelor" handle that.

Leann Rimes seemed especially cruel to me, because she seems so childlike in her ways. It's like she never got a chance to mature as an adult, then makes a huge public mistake and now she's just prime meat for bullies and all their anger issues. I just don't believe people can be so angry over something that didn't happen to them.

BTW, Brandi Glanville, the ex-wife of Eddie Cibrian (who he left for Leann) came out wishing Leann only the best in treatment. Brandi has just grown as a person because of the way she was treated. That's commendable. I wish cyber-bullies would take note!

Comments

[Laura J]

It's sad all around. I used to follow Leann on Twitter but found her annoying. I didn't like how she flaunted her relationship with Eddie before he was divorced. But, I "unfollowed" her...because that's what normal people do instead of sending hateful tweets.

Have you heard about the drama with Emily Giffin and bullying? Someone left a one-star review and stated why they disliked the book. Her husband replied to the review that this person (reviewer) was psycho. It started a horrible mess...Giffin posted it on her FB, basically encouraging her fans to attack the reviewer. Messy, messy, messy. Amazon and Giffin have both removed their posts/comments, but the drama lives forever in screen shots. :(

People forget things are forever once they are online and they post without thinking.

[Kristin Billerbeck]

No, I didn't hear about the Giffin mess. That is a mess. You know, how easy is it to leave a hateful review compared to someone who puts their truth out in a book. I just think these people are total cowards. If I don't like a book, I don't say I like it. But why say I hate it? Someone else might love it, and who do I think I am? It just irritates me because there is an entire book of hateful reviews for successful authors, and no one remembers the reviewers.

[Tonya]

laura, I heard about the Emily Giffin thing, I was crazy and so strange.

It's really sad what people will do on twitter and fb, they are obviously unhappy and jealous people. What's scary is that kids are growing up to think it's normal. When I was a teenager (ha, I feel old saying this) rumors were hearsay and at the most something posted on someone's instant message profile but everyone and anyone can get in on it. I know of a few celebs that have fans who say weird (borderline stalkerish things) on twitter but some of the stuff that comes back at them is above and beyond and completely out of the realm of this celeb.

[Tony]

I think this will end up being more of a tech issue than a legal one. In real life I choose whom I listen and to whom I tune out. Twitter needs to have some mechanisms of filtering out people that you really should not be reading the garbage that they spew. I love the internet because it really makes communication effortless. Yet some of its programmers have been a bit lax in incorporating some of the communication barriers we have (that we need) in real life.

[Kristin Billerbeck]

I still think people need to be outed for making threats. You can't do that through the mail and you shouldn't be able to do it in real time either. Not with how people are committing suicide right and left.

[Tony]

A certain part of me sympathizes with Emily Giffin's husband. If your spouse is a public figure and you have people posting lame comments about her, not responding online with a post that made liberal use of the word "moron" would be hard.

I keep in mind that mud wrestling with a pig is never a good idea. The pig enjoys it and you get dirty. It seems that the dirty came back to haunt the Giffins

[Kristin Billerbeck]

I know, it's like trying to talk some sense into someone who has none. They don't get that they don't have the right to call names and sling mud simply because they didn't like a book. Don't buy more. It's so easy really. I don't get it.

[Laura J]

Well, I don't feel sorry for him because this particular review just explained why she didn't like the BOOK, not the author. Now, if they are bashing his wife, that's a different story.
One of the people who left a negative review has since received death threats and hateful emails from Giffin's fans....all for her opinion of the book.

So, the bullying goes both ways.

I get books from publishers to review, so I do leave honest reviews....sometimes they are not glowing praise. However, when I review, I keep the intended audience in mind and often end with who I think would enjoy the book even if I didn't.

I also think in this economy, if I'm spending my hard-earned money, I often look at reviews when I'm picking which book to buy---especially if it's a new-to-me author. If it looks interesting but has a ton of bad reviews, I'll get it from the library. :) Then, earlier this week, I read a blog about authors paying people to leave positive reviews, so I guess I can't trust that a book with a ton of great reviews may be one I want to read.

[Laura J]

I agree. They arrested a guy this week for making threats to kill President Obama.
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/buster/obama-twitter-death-threats-486712

[Lauri]

It reminds me of the British diver that someone said his father was probably glad that he died so he didn't have to watch him choke. How horrible!
A high school girl near here also tried to encourage assinating the president.
Honestly, I understand freedom of speech, but somehow there should be penalties...

[Kristin Billerbeck]

And threats are not protected speech thank goodness!

Sent from my iPhone

[Laurien]

I just can't bring myself to feel sorry for LeAnn, not when she is a cyber-bully herself. I've seen the way she's treated some of Brandi's fans without provocation and it is appalling. I think she needs to grow up and get off of Twitter. Like now.

[Kristin Billerbeck]

Fair enough!

Sent from my iPhone