Author Topic: Internet Trolls  (Read 19363 times)

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Offline Fester

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Re: Internet Trolls
« Reply #15 on: July 10, 2015, 12:27:17 pm »
A common and particularly unpleasant form of harassment is that involving malicious communications either through the post, the telephone, Fax, by cyberstalking through the internet or, an increasing problem, by the use of Text or SMS messages sent to mobile phones.

Under section 1 of the Malicious Communications Act 1998 it is an offence to send an indecent, offensive or threatening letter, electronic communication or other article to another person and sections 85 Postal Services Act 2000 or s127 Communications Act 2003 there are similar specific offences relating to sending postal or telephone messages which are indecent offensive or threatening. Both offences are punishable with up to six months imprisonment and/or a fine. Because the Malicious Communications Offence is more wide ranging than the Telecommunications offence it is more likely to be charged by the Police than the Postal Services or Communications Act offences.

In most cases involving malicious communications however there will be more than one offensive or threatening letter or telephone call and therefore the police will often choose to charge the offender with an offence contrary to section 2 of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997. Part of the reason for using this charge is that when someone is convicted of an offence under the Protection from Harassment Act the court can make a Restraining Order preventing them from contacting their victim again. Breach of a Restraining Order is punishable with up to Five years imprisonment. A Restraining Order cannot be imposed for a conviction under the Postal Services or Communications Act offences.

If the messages e-mails, phone calls etc cause the victim to fear that violence will be used agaisnt them then the police can choose to charge the offender with an offence contrary to section 4 of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 which is punishable with up to Five years imprisonment and also allows the court to make a Restraining Order.

If the offensive or threatening letter, electronic communication or other article is racialist in nature or motivated by religious hostility then charges could be brought contrary to sections 32(1)(a) or 32(1)(b) of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 . In serious cases offenders could face up to 7 years imprisonment.
Fester...
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Offline Colophony

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Re: Internet Trolls
« Reply #16 on: July 11, 2015, 04:52:04 pm »


Offline Fester

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Re: Internet Trolls
« Reply #17 on: October 22, 2015, 10:57:51 pm »
Well, I have to say that Trolls, vermin though they are.... are VERY good for business!

It was pointed out to me that my troll has carried on with his trivial abuse on several (existing and new) local blogs.
It's a good job it was pointed out to me, because I wouldn't notice these pathetic articles, even if they were were on 30ft billboards right outside my house!

But anyway, bless him, he is still carrying on wasting his time (apparently)
Also, there are several Forum members names used in the articles, as if they have posted comments.... when of course they haven't.

In any case, I would URGE the scumbag to carry on... because I have been getting visited at work by people asking me about the blogs, and the comments.... and very kindly spending fistfuls of CASH while they are about it.   Superb stuff, keep up the good work.  I'll try and give you plenty of material to use.

The last 2 days were an unexpected BONANZA !!
It seems that there really is no such thing as 'bad publicity'    $good$ $thanx$ $hands$

Fester...
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Offline DaveR

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Re: Internet Trolls
« Reply #18 on: October 23, 2015, 11:36:14 am »
Amazing how these people have nothing else to do, they must have such sad lives.  &shake&

Offline Fester

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Re: Internet Trolls
« Reply #19 on: October 23, 2015, 06:51:52 pm »
No wonder that Nigel Robert's had enough cash to retire early!

No wonder that Katie Price is a multi-MILLIONAIRE!

Being trolled is very lucrative indeed, but shortens the life of the Troll himself.

Once again today, (I intended to shut), but went to the Pier for less than 2 hours, and was HANDSOMELY rewarded for my time.
A couple of locals, and one Forum member paid me a visit to have a good laugh at the sad Troll and his pathetic efforts.
Of course there was money in it for me!
Then, being the only shop open, there was a FLOOD of cash from passers by, and those coming for the weekend.

So, I will indeed take my unexpected WINDFALL and buy more of my favourite things,,,   BEER, CAKE, and suchlike...
This in turn will make me fatter and more SMUG!    This will lead to more trolling, which then leads to more CASH!

Thanks Troll, I've never been so popular.... or RICH! 
Fester...
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Offline squiggle

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Re: Internet Trolls
« Reply #20 on: December 24, 2015, 12:40:34 am »
Thing that gets me most about trolls is how the usage of the term seems to have changed over my years on the Internet.

In the good old days (well I only go back to 99 but), a troll used to be capable of exercising some intelligence. A simplified example from comments user comments on a topic on the Guardian web site ran something like this.

"[rant] just like the tories or any other left wing party"

Of course people on the newsgroups  would rush in and point out the tories were not right wing and tangle it up with the rant.  Older aims seemed to be just dropping the bait and sitting back while others went off topic and started arguing amongst themselves.  Other games would be saying something mildly inflammatory or controversial and then turning things round to being the victim. 

And I allowed myself to get drawn into things I shouldn't have and ignored the old saying "don't feed the trolls" more times than I care to mention.

These days, troll seems more to mean someone who just hurls out vile, threatening and abusive stuff.  Personally, I don't consider them worthy of the name "troll" and blame the media and politicians for what I at least perceive as a shift in the meaning of the term.

Offline squiggle

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Re: Internet Trolls
« Reply #21 on: December 24, 2015, 01:13:20 am »
On other thing with "troll" is how the Internet term came about.  There is not agreement on this but I am of the view that it stemmed from a fishing term whereby lures or bait is drawn though the water to catch fish.  The other and these days more popular view is that it stems from from the creature in Norse mythology.

I guess though that may depend on who you view an Internent troll.  To me, the fishing one is more suited to my earlier Internet memories.

Online Hugo

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Re: Internet Trolls
« Reply #22 on: December 24, 2015, 12:12:12 pm »
I suppose the meaning of the word has changed over the years but the people who carry out this action are the same.  Jealousy or some other petty reason may fit the bill but the spineless postings are best ignored.
Some people may be competent on the computer but they should realise that whatever you put on it is traceable to the source.

In the United Kingdom, contributions made to the Internet are covered by the Malicious Communications Act 1988 as well as Section 127 of the Communications Act 2003, under which jail sentences were, until 2015, limited to a maximum of six months

People may think they are good on the computer and beyond reproach but there are better computer experts out there, so they shouldn't be surprised if they get found out, sooner or later.

Offline squiggle

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Re: Internet Trolls
« Reply #23 on: December 24, 2015, 01:22:32 pm »
Actually Hugo.  I believe Tor does a pretty good job of hiding the source.  From what I gathered from someone, there are quite  few unsecured home wifi in my area one could park up and use. It's quite possible to run a computer without a hard disk just say leaving with a flash drive to hide or dispose of, etc.

Except for running a PC off a flash drive for legitimate purposes (they can be used as rescue systems or maybe taken round to a friend to show off the latest version of a Linux distribution, etc.), I have done none of this and I do not support the malicious usage of computers.

I suppose I'm giving a reflection on what I consider to be intrusive proposals by the governments and perhaps their naivety.

Sure, there will always be even "clever" people tripping up and people In my humble opinion deserving being caught and punished but I feel certain the real master criminals (including terrorist organisations) who Id guess have access to their own experts who know far more about computers than I ever will in a lifetime will always find a way round.

The latest proposals I read seem to involve ISPs keeping records of every web site visit a customer makes for a year. It's something that might even persuade me to become more "hidden".  OK they may not look at it but I don't like the
idea of a pretty complete profile of where and when I shop, what hobbies and interests I may have, assuming complete URLs, who's facebook pages I've read, which wikipedia pages I've read, etc.

I do not believe MI5 will have loads of people constantly checking on everything everyone does. Nor do I believe I personally am of any interest to them.  I do however believe there would be a lot of data on every one that could be broken down and analysed by computers.  I also have little faith in the government's ability to keep data secure...

All this on everyone for a system I believe the "baddest" will get round. I seem to have drifted into the political here...

Online Hugo

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Re: Internet Trolls
« Reply #24 on: December 24, 2015, 04:43:48 pm »
Everything is traceable squiggle no matter how hard you try to hide it, so the answer is if you don't want anyone to know it's you that has posted something then the answer is don't post it.
Don't post anything about someone if you are not prepared to say that to their face, that's probably the answer

Offline Fester

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Re: Internet Trolls
« Reply #25 on: December 24, 2015, 09:05:31 pm »
My Troll came on here last night, wishing me a miserable Christmas.

How could he have possibly have known that the in-laws are staying for 4 nights?   :laugh: :laugh:
Fester...
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Online Hugo

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Re: Internet Trolls
« Reply #26 on: February 10, 2016, 10:32:51 am »
Last night I had an e-mail purportedly from Amazon and it said that I had won a coupon for £250.00 to be spent on Amazon purchases.  The e-mail was very well done and appeared to be genuine, all I had to do was to click on a link and the coupon would be there for me. 
If it appears to be too good to be true then it probably isn't and anyway I'm getting more cynical in my old age.
I checked the e-mail address and there was also an Australian address at the bottom of the letter so it confirmed that it was a bogus e-mail probably searching for an Amazon account.
I sent it on unopened to Amazon for them to follow up if necessary.   
 I can see what that troll was after but can't understand what the weirdo troll that has appeared on here from time to time gets from doing what he does.  I can only assume that it is either envy or some type of inferiority complex.

Online Hugo

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Re: Internet Trolls
« Reply #27 on: February 11, 2016, 09:45:56 am »
It must be my lucky week because last night I received an e-mail from Aldi saying that I had won a gift card for £300.00, the e-mail had the same GPO Box  No in Sydney Australia as the one from Amazon that I received before.
It's a shame that they are bogus as I could have supplemented my OAP by £550.00 this week alone.   ;D

Needless to say that e-mail went the same way as the previous one and was deleted immediately.   Perhaps Billy NoMates the troll may think of something else but if he does I'll advise the forum.

If one e-mail comes to me from the National Lottery though I'll check it out first.    $good$


Online Hugo

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Re: Internet Trolls
« Reply #28 on: April 10, 2016, 05:20:10 pm »
I had an e-mail from Santander today and it asked me to click on the link but I just deleted the e-mail.   I don't even bank with them so there were no doubts that it was another scam.
Even if I did bank with them I would still have deleted it as you can't take any chances.

Offline SDQ

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Re: Internet Trolls
« Reply #29 on: April 10, 2016, 05:55:47 pm »
I had an e-mail from Santander today and it asked me to click on the link but I just deleted the e-mail.   I don't even bank with them so there were no doubts that it was another scam.
Even if I did bank with them I would still have deleted it as you can't take any chances.


I get one regularly supposedly from Amazon Prime offering unlimited downloads if I click the link.
Seeing as I get that already as part of my membership it is easy to spot. I can only assume the link will put a nice dose of Malware on my computer if I click on it.
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