Anyone involved in any kind of activism, bloggers and even casual internet users need to be aware of "internet trolls". They are a scourge to the online community and can, in some instances wreak great havoc upon a person or group. Sometimes, their activities can even be dangerous. Trolls come from all walks of life and they have many different agendas. Some are politically motivated, hired by corporations and in some cases, even the government, to try and discredit people and sources who provide valid and vital social discourse-often this is done to confuse the issues and the general public.The best thing to do is IGNORE them, thus the saying "Don't feed the trolls". The worst thing you can do is try to engage them and try and reason with them. You will find that trolls are not at all resonable and interacting with them often only escalates their attacks.
So, what exactly is trolling?
“ Trolling is a game about identity deception, albeit one that is played without the consent of most of the players. The troll attempts to pass as a legitimate participant, sharing the group's common interests and concerns; the newsgroups members, if they are cognizant of trolls and other identity deceptions, attempt to both distinguish real from trolling postings, and upon judging a poster a troll, make the offending poster leave the group. Their success at the former depends on how well they — and the troll — understand identity cues; their success at the latter depends on whether the troll's enjoyment is sufficiently diminished or outweighed by the costs imposed by the group.
Trolls can be costly in several ways. A troll can disrupt the discussion on a newsgroup, disseminate bad advice, and damage the feeling of trust in the newsgroup community.
Source: Judith Donath (1999)
Mainstream media outlets have focused their attention on the willingness of some Internet trolls to go to extreme lengths in their attempts at eliciting reactions. Often, trolling can lead to seriously egregious and even dangerous activity. Especially given the fact that a great majority of trolls suffer from anti-social personality disorder. One of the most common threats trolls pose to legitimate interest groups and individuals is cyber-bullying-which is illegal in nearly all states and at the Federal level. Federal prosecution is usually the desired venue for prosecuting cyber-bullies because they are using telecommunications to facilitate their behavior in additon to living in differing states or jurisdictions.
Cyber-bullying/Cyber-Harassment is "the use of information and communication technologies to support deliberate, repeated, and hostile behavior by an individual or group, that is intended to harm others". As it has become more common in society, particularly among young people, legislation and awareness campaigns have arisen to combat it. Although there are laws in place to protect against cyber-bullying, most law enforcement agencies are not knowledgeable or trained to effectively deal with and prosecute such individuals. Often, law enforcement's actions are reactionary only- responding and prosecuting after a crimehas been committed usually resulting in death or suicide of the targeted victim.
Harmful effects
Research had demonstrated a number of serious consequences of cyber-bullying victimization. For example, victims have lower self-esteem, increased suicidal ideation, and a variety of emotional responses, retaliating, being scared, frustrated, angry, and depressed.
One of the most damaging effects is that a victim begins to avoid friends and activities, often the very intention of the cyber-bully.
Cyber-bullying campaigns are sometimes so damaging that victims have committed suicide. There are at least four examples in the United States where cyber-bullying has been linked to the suicide of a teenager.The suicide of Megan Meier is a recent example that led to the conviction of the adult perpetrator of the attacks.
Intimidation, emotional damage, suicide
The reluctance youth have in telling an authority figure about instances of cyber-bullying has led to fatal outcomes. At least three children between the ages of 12 and 13 have committed suicide due to depression brought on by cyber-bullying, according to reports by USA Today and the Baltimore Examiner. These would include the suicide of Ryan Halligan and the suicide of Megan Meier, the latter of which resulted in United States v. Lori Drew.
Lost revenue, threatened earnings, defamation
Studies are being conducted by large companies to gauge loss of revenue through malicious false postings. Cyberstalkers seek to damage their victim's earnings, employment, reputation, or safety. A 2008 High Court ruling determined that, generally speaking, slander is when a defamatory statement has been made orally without justification. Libelous statements are those that are recorded with some degree of permanence. This would include statements made by email or on online bulletin boards.
Adults and the workplace
Cyber-bullying is not limited to personal attacks or children. Cyberharassment, referred to as cyberstalking when involving adults, takes place in the workplace or on company web sites, blogs or product reviews.
A survey of 1,072 workers by the Dignity and Work Partnership found that one in five had been bullied at work by e-mail and research has revealed 1 in 10 UK employees believes cyber-bullying is a problem in their workplace.
Cyber-bullying can occur in product reviews along with other consumer-generated data are being more closely monitored and flagged for content that is deemed malicious and biased as these sites have become tools to cyberbully by way of malicious requests for deletion of articles, vandalism, abuse of administrative positions, and ganging up on products to post "false" reviews and vote products down.
Cyberstalkers use posts, forums, journals and other online means to present a victim in a false and unflattering light. The question of liability for harassment and character assassination is particularly salient to legislative protection since the original authors of the offending material are, more often than not, not only anonymous, but untraceable. Nevertheless, abuse should be consistently brought to company staffers' attention.
Common tactics used by cyberstalkers is to vandalize a search engine or encyclopedia, to threaten a victim's earnings, employment, reputation, or safety. Various companies provide cases of cyber-stalking (involving adults) follow the pattern of repeated actions against a target. While motives vary, whether romantic, a business conflict of interest, or personal dislike, the target is commonly someone whose life the stalker sees or senses elements lacking in his or her own life. Web-based products or services leveraged against cyberstalkers in the harassment or defamation of their victims.
The source of the defamation seems to come from four types of online information purveyors: Weblogs, industry forums or boards, and commercial Web sites. Studies reveal that while some motives are personal dislike, there is often direct economic motivation by the cyberstalker, including conflict of interest, and investigations reveal the responsible party is an affiliate or supplier of a competitor, or the competitor itself.
A number of businesses and organizations are in coalition to provide awareness, protection and recourse for the escalating problem. Some aim to inform and provide measures to avoid as well as effectively terminate cyber-bullying and cyber-harassment. Anti-bullying charity Act Against Bullying launched the CyberKind campaign in August 2009 to promote positive internet usage.
Firms have developed tools to help parents combat cyberbullying. In 2008, the company Vanden unveiled a tool that allows children to instantly notify selected adults when they are bullied or harassed online. CyberBully Alert also documents the threatening message by saving a screen shot of the child's computer when the child triggers an alert. CyberPatrol and LookBothWays are two firms that keep up with internet trends.
In 2007, YouTube introduced the first Anti-Bullying Channel for youth, (BeatBullying) engaging the assistance of celebrities to tackle the problem.
Mossley Hollins High School in Manchester has recently taken the national lead in developing resources and material in the UK for schools and services to use. Will Aitken, coordinator of ICT, recently organized the countries first cyber-bullying awareness day for students and parents.
In March 2010, a 17 year old girl named Alexis Skye Pilkington was found dead in her room by her parents. Her parents claimed that after repeated cyber-bullying she was driven to suicide. Shortly after her death, attacks resumed. Members of an online website forum, referred to as "eBaums World", "Baums", and "EB", began trolling teens' memorial pages on the social networking site Facebook. Comments included expressions of pleasure over the death, with pictures of what seemed to be a banana as their profile pictures. Family and friends of the deceased teen responded by creating Facebook groups denouncing cyber-bullying and trolling, with logos of bananas behind a red circle with a diagonal line through it.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyber-bullying
If you or someone you know is being harassed or bullied, you should immediately report it to police. WiredSafety.com also offers some wonderful resources and support for those suffering from cyber bullying and harassment victimization. CLICK HERE to be redirected to their site.
Tags:
cause stalking, cyber bullying, cyber harassment, cyber stalking, danger, gang stalking, illegal, internet, online, targeted individuals, trolling, trolls, wiredsafety
Posted at: 01:45 AM | Add Comment | Permalink
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April 16, 2011
After a lengthy reprieve, operation awareness is back. We apologize to our viewers for the interruption. For those of you who have followed this site, you may know that one of our members, Jan Kruska, was extensively harassed and threatend online by a well organized group of gang stalkers. Jan has fought tirelessly in Federal Court for almost 3 1/2 years representing herself to bring these terrorists to justice. She prevailed in some instances but not in others. Two police reports were filed with the Phoenix Police Department due to threats of bodily injury and death and a threat by these "so called child advocates" to kidnap one of her children. A report was also filed with the FBI-Phoenix.
I deeply regret to share with viewers that it is my belief that there are some powerful people directing and/or at least aware of, and supportive of these sorts of attacks against me because I have been outspoken. Speaking Truth to Power comes with a price. So, if you intend to speak out and exercise your rights as an American - be prepared.
I wanted to let readers know that my plan is to appeal some of the decisions made by this particular judge to the ninth circuit court of appeals. When the judge in my case let the last Defendant go, literally within a matter of hours, the internet smear campaign was back up and in full swing-even worse than before. While the case was pending, there were only one or two sites up. It is my opinion that the judge has sent a very dangerous message to the individuals responsible that they may not be held accountable for such atrocities. However, after a visit with the US Marshals and an appeal to the ninth circuit, we shall see whether that truly is the case.
In case anyone is unfamiliar with my case, you can simply google the name "Jan Kruska" and you will see multiple horrific websites and the extreme level of harassment and criminal activity taking place. The libel,defamation, hatred, as well as the extreme mental illness that those responsible for attacking me suffer from, will be obvious to most. These individuals aredangerous and they are actively committing multiple federal and state crimes. I am, unfortunately, not the first person to be attacked by these people and in such a despicable manner. But it is my hope and my prayer that the ninth circuit court of appeals will see the danger and culpability of these individuals and take steps to halt their activities and hold them accountable. This is NOT a case of freedom of speech, it is a clear cut case of harassment by means of a computer, stalking and defamation. Those individuals involved are delusional and obsessive. They know no level of decency. Some, like Barbara Ochoa, after making a complete ass of herself on National TV, ran and hid out in Illinois, where she filed bankruptcy to avoid the lawsuit and stiffed her attorney in the process. Meanwhile her (now) ex-husband fled to France! Barbara's friend "Red" from Tennessee, nearly cost her husband his business and had to pay me a nice settlement. Why? Because they were guilty. They at least had some brains. The rest however, apparently have no self control or brains whatsoever and seemingly will stop at nothing to attempt to destroy anyone that dares to speak out against them, which I have done-and as you can see, for good reason. They might think they have destroyed me, but they have not. I know who I am and what I am, as do those that I care about and that is ALL that matters to me. To my cyberstalkers, I am a stranger and they know nothing about me. They only pretend to know me in their delusional hate filled worlds. I actually feel sorry for them. They must be such miserable people. I mean, like any bully, they demean, abuse and degrade others so they can feel better about themselves. It is pretty sad when you think about it, really.
Harassment by means of a computer is a crime. Defamation and libel are sometimes criminal and civil in nature and they need to be dealt with. It is my hope that individuals, including judges, law enforcement and legislators will recognize the horrendousness of the crimes that have been committed against me, my family and so many others, by individuals like these and take steps to firmly enforce the laws against such online activity.
Nothing good can come from vigilante acts. Without law and order being upheld, these types of activities will ultimately lead to chaos, anarchy and people getting hurt. I do not know, nor have I ever met any of my attackers. They do not know me. They have found small pieces of information here and there and have made me out to be some sort of a monster. It is quite upsetting to my children to have to see what has been said and written. I know at least my oldest daughter has seen these things and she is very disturbed by them. These people ARE negatively affecting kids-not just the people they say they are targeting and they know it!
There is so much more to me than they will ever know. I care not what they think of me because their opinions and lies are meaningless bullshit. But I do care about my family and their safety-which INCLUDES children. These cyber-losers are breaking multiple laws and endangering lives in the process. Even children's lives, the children they claim to want to "save." Don't beleive it! They are using "children" to justify what they do and endangering them in the process. Many of my attackers don't even have or want any children. So why would they care so much about them then? The answer, is that they don't care about them one single bit. They just use the children as a way to get attention. They are exploiting children and endangering them as well. They are deluded into thinking they are doing something good for society, but clearly they are not.
They have made me personally out to be some sort of monster to be feared. Which is just plain silly and utterly absurd. There is nothing in my past or present to warrant any of the malicious lies they are telling or that could possibly justify these attacks. The more they write, the more websites they create, the more I realize, as should others, that these individuals are very mentally unstable. It's kind of sad actually.
Yes, I am angry, as any person would be given the circumstances. But I realize that they are delusional and need help. They clearly have mental and emotional "issues" which they have not dealt with. They are, for whatever reasons, unable to take their frustrations and anger out on those they percieve as having harmed them at some point in their lives. Since they can't, or won't confront or attack the individual(s) who HAVE actually hurt them, they instead take it out on others, whom they perceive as having any quality of the person that actually harmed them. It is my sincere hope that they get help-all of them. They are hurting society and themselves more than they are helping. The only things they have "exposed" about me are lies, vicious, malicious, hateful and spiteful. It is very sad to see these people lack of any sense of humanity or conscience. I pray they get the help that they so desperately need and move on to more positive things in life. Their anger and hatred towards others is eating them alive and they don't even realize it.
I think it is important to note too, that these individuals act very tough and outright abusive, while hiding behind the safety of anonymity and computer screens. But, when coming face to face with their target, as happened with myself and Xavier Von Erck (i.e, Phillip John Eide) of Pennsylvania, he literally ran from me, trying to hide behind his lawyers (one of which was a woman) for protection. He reminded me of a dog running away with it's tail between its legs after being caught doing something it shouldn't have done. I just want all of his followers who think he is so great, to know what a true coward he really is in real life. He doesn't have the nerve to face anyone in person, let alone a 5'3" petite woman and Mom of four (me). To all of you that stand behind him, that is what your hero really is, a coward-running scared. I imagine he will spend the rest of his life that way too, running and looking over his shoulder for all of the misery he has brought upon people whom HE determined, in his sadistic mind, deserved it for whatever reason. In any case, I'd much rather be me than him ANY day of the week. For those that follow him, you can look forward to the same. Eventually, you will mess with the wrong person and they will find you and make you accountable their way. Many of you have already had your true identities publicly revealed and I imagine that must be very unsettling for you.
As for me, I will continue to take the high road, the moral road, and utilize all legal means available until I have exhausted them all-win or lose. As for my perpetrators, all I can say is karma is a real bitch.
Perverted Justice's 15 minutes of fame is up. They are washed up, finished. No one even knows who they are anymore. Same with Petra Luna AKA Barbara Ochoa-not that she ever was much of anything to begin with. As for the rest, it's not over yet. So have fun whilst you can.
Oh, and please click on the highlights for links and more info above. OA has discovered that many of these alleged "child savers" have criminal records of their own-often involving violence!
For more information on Group Stalking click HERE
For support and help dealing with being victimized as a Targeted Individual click HERE
For insight into the mindset/psychology of cyber stalkers click HERE
Note: Online stalkers usually start out as internet "trolls". Take a look at some of the tactics trolls use and become familiar with them, so that you can recognize and avoid them. Go to youtube and search "Internet Trolls"
OA~
All Rights Reserved 04/2011
Tags:
asher, az, barbara ochoa, child advocates, christopher brocious, corruption, cyberstalking, federal, harass, harassment, internet, judge, judith tharpe, judy cornett, mark lunsford, stephen mcnamee, threaten, trolls, walsh, xavier von erck
Posted at: 11:26 AM | Add Comment | Permalink
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