The Daily Mail did a long piece on Twitter harassment of women last August. I generally avoid the Mail, but this article is worth it.

Some of those involved in the recent tirade against Miss Criado-Perez , two female MPs, and other high-profile women, are exposed today following our investigation into this dark sub-culture.

They are indeed; names, pictures, cities, jobs, the works.

On Monday, less than 24 hours after Miss Criado-Perez was targeted by Johnny@beware0088, she received another message: ‘Back to the kitchen, you t***.’ In subsequent tweets from the same ‘troll’, she was called a ‘slut’ and a ‘prostitute.’

He also made a revolting remark about her anatomy. And there was more. ‘Go and tell all your followers

(This is a syndicated post. Read the original at FreeThoughtBlogs.)

But then there’s the other way of reacting to threats and abuse on Twitter and elsewhere online – the way of dismissal and belittlement, the way of shrugging and laughing slightly and asking what’s the big deal.

Like someone calling herself (on Twitter) fleetstreetfox for instance. I’d never heard of her before but she used to be a columnist for the Mirror and she has over 60 thousand followers, so she’s not some tiny voice in the wilderness. What she says on the subject is horrible.

fleetstreetfox @fleetstreetfox

I think if there were really vile tweets to me I’d report them only if it sounded like the person was going to attack someone else.

That they were getting so wound

(This is a syndicated post. Read the original at FreeThoughtBlogs.)