Sankaku Complex reported the story, this morning, of a man who hanged himself, egged on by a number of 2ch users. Suffering from depression, he brought his plans to 2ch, and after repeatedly discussing it, a number of users pushed him toward it. He did so, streaming his hanging (not sure if the actual event itself was captured).
Artefact concludes by writing,
Whilst the actions of 2ch inhabitants in this case are far from surprising, in fairness it should be remembered most apparently did not regard the man as anything more than a determined troll, and that onlookers egging on people on the verge of suicide is hardly a phenomenon confined to 2ch.
So much to say. The bottom line is this: 2ch feeds a needs in Japan (and would here too, I would think) for people to express the most volatile (and maybe their truest?) emotions. Even here on the anime blogosphere and on message boards and such, many of those who attract adherents are those who are just…mean. Being hateful is often a outpouring of one’s selfishness and pride – I know better than you and it makes me feel good to zing you. When a suicide happens, a flame is distinguished forever – never more will that man’s relationships exist as friend, son, and brother, and no longer will that person’s thoughts and actions have a home.
Compassion and love aren’t hippie ideas – they’re at the root of our emotional and, I would say, spiritual needs.
In other words, even trolls need love.
Take a look at the full post: Man Hangs Himself at 2ch’s Behest | Sankaku Complex
- First Impression: The Wrong Way to Use Healing Magic - 12.09.2023
- First Impression: Fluffy Paradise - 12.09.2023
- Film Review: The Boy and the Heron - 12.08.2023
Trolls troll so that their existence is acknowledged; if it isn’t by love, then they will settle for hate. Anything is better than cold indifference. Knowing this game, 2channers were unduly harsh to this guy. They had wrongly assumed that he wouldn’t follow through. Unfortunately, being able to elucidate the trolls from the genuinely depressed is hard to do online.
To what extent should people take trolls seriously, even if taking them seriously increases the payoff (and thus likelihood) of trolls? That is not an easy question. The least objectionable path is to find a better way to separate the wheat from the chaff.
That’s a great question…I don’t know the answer. I guess most of us prefer to ignore trolls, like a bully, hoping that he or she will just go away.
But…is the trolling harmless, or is there a possibility of something serious behind it? If someone is mentioning suicide…even if over and over again in an annoying manner, I would hope that I would respond with compassion (and many apparently did in 2ch), in the possibility (even slight) that the troll, is in fact, someone who is really having difficulties.
I think the environment is one that encourages hateful comments at trolls, and even non-trolls. We’ve probably all seen such environments, to a much lesser extent, on message boards we’ve been part of.
Is there a solution to end this type of environment? Should it even be ended (free speech obviously points to a big NO)? Maybe nothing could’ve been done for this person…I think my concern is with the hearts of people, in general. Our mouth pours forth what’s in our hearts, and sometimes, our words can be like a sword.