# Is it cyberviolence?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-cyberviolence/734352
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [October 11, 2015, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-cyberviolence/734352 "2015-10-11T19:53:35Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@CCitizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CCitizen)
#### Post date: [October 11, 2015, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-cyberviolence/734352/1 "2015-10-11T19:53:35Z")
Matt Forney has definitely been guilty of much hate speech against women and transgender people. He wrote an article called “The Case Against Female Self-Esteem”. I would never justify that.
Yet the [threats](https://storify.com/AstrokidNJ/women-s-hate-violence-and-death-threats-directed-a) he has gotten seem to be over the top:
> [@](#):
>
> calling all women: if you would like to be set off on a murderous rampage against the male species, read this
> [@](#):
>
> Let’s kill him PLEASE
> [@](#):
>
> wow someone slit this guys throat
> [@](#):
>
> are you fucking stupid, i will find you and kill you
Had similar threats been issued against the author of [Men Are Pigs and Deserve to Die](http://www.amazon.com/Men-Are-Pigs-And-Deserve/dp/145286991X), not only police but UN would be involved.
---
### Author:  [@Happy\_Fun\_Ball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Fun_Ball)
#### Post date: [October 11, 2015, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-cyberviolence/734352/2 "2015-10-11T20:29:26Z")
> [@CCitizen](#):
>
> Had similar threats been issued against the author of [Men Are Pigs and Deserve to Die](http://www.amazon.com/Men-Are-Pigs-And-Deserve/dp/145286991X), not only police but UN would be involved.
Bullshit. Death and rape threats against women authors, pundits, hell, even internet celebrities of the 15 minute variety are commonplace. See troll.
I didn’t vote in your poll, mostly because I didn’t see a choice for me. My choice would have been “Typical, haters gonna hate.”
---
### Author:  [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)
#### Post date: [October 11, 2015, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-cyberviolence/734352/3 "2015-10-11T20:40:00Z")
What the hell is cyberviolence? Sounds like someone murdering “you” in a video game.
---
### Author:  [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)
#### Post date: [October 11, 2015, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-cyberviolence/734352/4 "2015-10-11T20:56:26Z")
> [@elfkin477](#):
>
> What the hell is cyberviolence? Sounds like someone murdering “you” in a video game.
I guess it’s something that happens on the Internet that he considers even worse than “[cybermensturation](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=18755274#post18755274)”. If you can imagine.
---
### Author:  [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)
#### Post date: [October 11, 2015, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-cyberviolence/734352/5 "2015-10-11T21:03:50Z")
**CCitizen** , I will find you and give you the most painful wedgie mankind has ever known.
Cyberviolence?
---
### Author:  [@CCitizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CCitizen)
#### Post date: [October 11, 2015, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-cyberviolence/734352/6 "2015-10-11T21:05:54Z")
> [@Happy\_Fun\_Ball](#):
>
> Bullshit. Death and rape threats against women authors, pundits, hell, even internet celebrities of the 15 minute variety are commonplace.
Which is also [Cyberviolence](http://www.unwomen.org/en/digital-library/publications/2015/9/cyber-violence-against-women-and-girls). Any threats are illegal.
---
### Author:  [@CCitizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CCitizen)
#### Post date: [October 11, 2015, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-cyberviolence/734352/7 "2015-10-11T21:06:58Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#):
>
> **CCitizen** , I will find you and give you the most painful wedgie mankind has ever known.
> Cyberviolence?
I know that you are a reasonable person who would not stalk anyone – just make fun of CyberCitizen.
---
### Author:  [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)
#### Post date: [October 11, 2015, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-cyberviolence/734352/8 "2015-10-11T21:14:39Z")
> [@CCitizen](#):
>
> I know that you are a reasonable person who would not stalk anyone – just make fun of CyberCitizen.
No one here is that Sociopathic / Mentally Ill. I think its safe for you to relax. 😃
---
### Author:  [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)
#### Post date: [October 11, 2015, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-cyberviolence/734352/9 "2015-10-11T21:15:35Z")
> [@CCitizen](#):
>
> I know that you are a reasonable person who would not stalk anyone – just make fun of CyberCitizen.
Nah, too easy.
---
### Author:  [@CCitizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CCitizen)
#### Post date: [October 11, 2015, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-cyberviolence/734352/10 "2015-10-11T21:16:54Z")
> [@Count\_Blucher](#):
>
> No one here is that Sociopathic / Mentally Ill. I think its safe for you to relax. 😃
No one knows. The only good thing is that Straight Dope Message Board is accessible to much less people then Twitter or YouTube – thus chances of finding odd people is much less.
---
### Author:  [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)
#### Post date: [October 11, 2015, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-cyberviolence/734352/11 "2015-10-11T22:50:15Z")
Truthfully, Internet threats are common against almost anyone in the public. Welcome to the WWW.
I don’t approve, condone, etc of this type of treatment for anyone.
No, I don’t think the UN gets involved.
---
### Author:  [@CCitizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CCitizen)
#### Post date: [October 11, 2015, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-cyberviolence/734352/12 "2015-10-11T22:52:58Z")
> [@ddsun](#):
>
> Truthfully, Internet threats are common against almost anyone in the public. Welcome to the WWW.
Many people are online because they do not fit in the offline word due to Depression or Mental Illness. We do not know how many people have been seriously harmed by online abuse.
---
### Author:  [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)
#### Post date: [October 12, 2015, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-cyberviolence/734352/13 "2015-10-12T04:58:11Z")
> [@CCitizen](#):
>
> Which is also [Cyberviolence](http://www.unwomen.org/en/digital-library/publications/2015/9/cyber-violence-against-women-and-girls). Any threats are illegal.
I think threats should just be called “threats”. The word “cyberviolence” is silly and dishonest. Only actions that cause physical harm are violence. Defining the word down is a bad idea.
---
### Author:  [@TheSpeculationElucidation](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheSpeculationElucidation)
#### Post date: [October 12, 2015, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-cyberviolence/734352/14 "2015-10-12T06:10:28Z")
> [@CCitizen](#):
>
> Had similar threats been issued against the author of [Men Are Pigs and Deserve to Die](http://www.amazon.com/Men-Are-Pigs-And-Deserve/dp/145286991X), not only police but UN would be involved.
I’m sorry, but no.
Female authors, feminists, and online personas have received death threats for MUCH less.
[Anita Sarkeesian](http://www.vocativ.com/culture/society/anita-sarkeesian-threats/)
[Laura Bates](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/womens-life/10757216/Rape-threats-groping-and-perverts-Everyday-Sexism-why-Laura-Bates-is-shouting-back.html)
etc tc etc
In regards to Matt Forney - as much as I dislike him, fighting misogyny with threats of violence is not the right way to go, and will only make it worse. It is ‘cyberviolence’.
---
### Author:  [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)
#### Post date: [October 12, 2015, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-cyberviolence/734352/15 "2015-10-12T06:28:38Z")
> [@CCitizen](#):
>
> Many people are online because they do not fit in the offline word due to Depression or Mental Illness. We do not know how many people have been seriously harmed by online abuse.
“Seriously harmed”? Give me an example of what you mean by this.
---
### Author:  [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)
#### Post date: [October 12, 2015, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-cyberviolence/734352/16 "2015-10-12T06:44:43Z")
> [@CCitizen](#):
>
> I know that you are a reasonable person who would not stalk anyone – just make fun of CyberCitizen.
Have you ever been cyberstalked? If not, why the ever living duck would you be so beside yourself in fear of it happening?! You would have to be about **the** most boring, mundane ‘mark’ in the history of illegal activity.
If you _have_ been stalked, well, then I guess it’s time for me to put my money where my mouth has been-up God’s ass-and take my first steps out of these “lazy man legs” (otherwise known as a wheelchair) and prove the Jesus doubters wrong.
---
### Author:  [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)
#### Post date: [October 12, 2015, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-cyberviolence/734352/17 "2015-10-12T06:59:52Z")
> [@CCitizen](#):
>
> No one knows. The only good thing is that Straight Dope Message Board is accessible to much less people then Twitter or YouTube – thus chances of finding odd people is much less.
I think the chances of finding odd people here are damn near 100%.
---
### Author:  [@Emiliana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emiliana)
#### Post date: [October 12, 2015, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-cyberviolence/734352/18 "2015-10-12T11:24:46Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#):
>
> Have you ever been cyberstalked? If not, why the ever living duck would you be so beside yourself in fear of it happening?! You would have to be about **the** most boring, mundane ‘mark’ in the history of illegal activity.
>
> If you _have_ been stalked, well, then I guess it’s time for me to put my money where my mouth has been-up God’s ass-and take my first steps out of these “lazy man legs” (otherwise known as a wheelchair) and prove the Jesus doubters wrong.
I think you’ll find that CCitizen’s definition of cyberstalked and cyberviolence are “people disagreeing with me” and “people using their not-nice voice.”
The not-nice voice is also known as cybermenstruation when female posters are involved.
---
### Author:  [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)
#### Post date: [October 12, 2015, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-cyberviolence/734352/19 "2015-10-12T11:31:56Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#):
>
> Have you ever been cyberstalked? If not, why the ever living duck would you be so beside yourself in fear of it happening?! You would have to be about **the** most boring, mundane ‘mark’ in the history of illegal activity.
>
> If you _have_ been stalked, well, then I guess it’s time for me to put my money where my mouth has been-up God’s ass-and take my first steps out of these “lazy man legs” (otherwise known as a wheelchair) and prove the Jesus doubters wrong.
Because having it happen to you has no bearing on how likely it is to happen. It doesn’t take all that much effort to cyberstalk someone. And people don’t do it because you are interesting. They do it because you said or did something that made them angry.
Not that that has anything to do with the post you quoted. He was just explaining how he figured out you were just making fun of him. He took your post exactly the same way I did–a way to mock cyberviolence by faux threatening him. He is on the autism spectrum, but he’s not that hard to understand.
And I do love how the reaction is to think he made up the term rather than just type it into Google. It’s unfortunate the term got attached to a dumb UN proposal, but that doesn’t make it not useful. It wouldn’t just include threats, but stuff like cyberstalking, revenge porn, cyberbullying, and other such.
If you guys can think of a better term to encapsulate all that, maybe you can get that to take off the same way “cyberviolence” has.
---
### Author:  [@CCitizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CCitizen)
#### Post date: [October 12, 2015, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-cyberviolence/734352/20 "2015-10-12T16:48:57Z")
> [@TheSpeculationElucidation](#):
>
> I’m sorry, but no.
> Female authors, feminists, and online personas have received death threats for MUCH less.
> [Anita Sarkeesian](http://www.vocativ.com/culture/society/anita-sarkeesian-threats/)
> [Laura Bates](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/womens-life/10757216/Rape-threats-groping-and-perverts-Everyday-Sexism-why-Laura-Bates-is-shouting-back.html)
That is cyberviolence – UN has condemned abuse of Anita Sarkeesian.
[Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-cyberviolence/734352.md?page=2)