Investigation into McCann internet trolls launched by police

[Alfred R Jones]

I think it's important to show the level of depravity demonstrated against the McCanns on social media, a hatred which time and again is denied to exist by some of the supposedly more rational "sceptics".  I also think it's worth asking why some of these supposedly rational "sceptics" actively choose to have such despicable posts on their timeline by choosing to follow the individual who made those threats.  Even more worrying to note is that "sceptic" champion and voice Sonia Poulton appears to be supportive of the individual who made those tweets (not of those tweets specifically but of his campaign for "justice" - his own as well as Maddie's it seems). 

I'm not going to apologise if repeating these vile tweets here makes some people uncomfortable - they need to know that real, serious threats are being made against the McCanns and they play a role in it themselves, by encouraging people to believe that the McCanns are guilty of something very bad and encouraging them to take action.  The person who made those death threats retweeted numerous tweets made by several well-known sceptics, all of them based on innuendo, gossip, myths and outright lies.  Anyone who devotes a large part of their life to disseminating anti McCann propaganda has to take some part of the blame when more extreme threats and comments like these appear on social media.  It's telling that no "sceptics" that I can see ever remonstrated with this individual about the content of his tweets. 

[slartibartfast]

I think it's important to show the level of depravity demonstrated against the McCanns on social media, a hatred which time and again is denied to exist by some of the supposedly more rational "sceptics".  I also think it's worth asking why some of these supposedly rational "sceptics" actively choose to have such despicable posts on their timeline by choosing to follow the individual who made those threats.  Even more worrying to note is that "sceptic" champion and voice Sonia Poulton appears to be supportive of the individual who made those tweets (not of those tweets specifically but of his campaign for "justice" - his own as well as Maddie's it seems). 

I'm not going to apologise if repeating these vile tweets here makes some people uncomfortable - they need to know that real, serious threats are being made against the McCanns and they play a role in it themselves, by encouraging people to believe that the McCanns are guilty of something very bad and encouraging them to take action.  The person who made those death threats retweeted numerous tweets made by several well-known sceptics, all of them based on innuendo, gossip, myths and outright lies.  Anyone who devotes a large part of their life to disseminating anti McCann propaganda has to take some part of the blame when more extreme threats and comments like these appear on social media.  It's telling that no "sceptics" that I can see ever remonstrated with this individual about the content of his tweets.

So you would rather fan the flames than stop the threatening tweeters?

[John]

I think it's important to show the level of depravity demonstrated against the McCanns on social media, a hatred which time and again is denied to exist by some of the supposedly more rational "sceptics".  I also think it's worth asking why some of these supposedly rational "sceptics" actively choose to have such despicable posts on their timeline by choosing to follow the individual who made those threats.  Even more worrying to note is that "sceptic" champion and voice Sonia Poulton appears to be supportive of the individual who made those tweets (not of those tweets specifically but of his campaign for "justice" - his own as well as Maddie's it seems). 

I'm not going to apologise if repeating these vile tweets here makes some people uncomfortable - they need to know that real, serious threats are being made against the McCanns and they play a role in it themselves, by encouraging people to believe that the McCanns are guilty of something very bad and encouraging them to take action.  The person who made those death threats retweeted numerous tweets made by several well-known sceptics, all of them based on innuendo, gossip, myths and outright lies.  Anyone who devotes a large part of their life to disseminating anti McCann propaganda has to take some part of the blame when more extreme threats and comments like these appear on social media.  It's telling that no "sceptics" that I can see ever remonstrated with this individual about the content of his tweets.

It isn't possible to remonstrate with these people Alfie regardless of what side they post on no more than Kate or Gerry can control supporters who post death threats.  The only way these individuals will take notice is when the cops knock at their door and issue them with a caution.

[Alice Purjorick]

Not that I am on any kind of antisocial media you understand, however were I on such I suspect I could spend all my time and more bashing the kooks of what ever flavour with whom I did not agree. So the burning question is why do some think I believe and support the kooks I have never heard of?

The ones to worry about are the ones hiding their intentions and saying nothing, who will actually do something!

[John]

Not that I am on any kind of antisocial media you understand, however were I on such I suspect I could spend all my time and more bashing the kooks of what ever flavour with whom I did not agree. So the burning question is why do some think I believe and support the kooks I have never heard of?

The ones to worry about are the ones hiding their intentions and saying nothing, who will actually do something!

This is one advantage Facebook has over Twitter.  The majority of Facebook users are known and recognized whilst those on twitter are predominantly using pseudonyms.  At least that has been my experience.

[John]

But why repeat them why not just report them? If it were libel repeating it would be libellous.

Repeating what someone else posted is not necessarily libellous if done so in the context of awareness.  Under UK law you have to have the mens rea of intent to make a post criminally liable.

[faithlilly]

Ah I feel a propoganda campaign against Sonia Poulton coming on !!

[Brietta]

It doesn’t matter what the tragedy is there will be some extremely disturbed individual desperate to take advantage of it to add to the pain and suffering of people they don’t know. 

Their anonymity is just a badge of their cowardice … whatever other personality defects they suffer from which imo must be legion.
 
Bad and bad enough being a “professional guerrilla” flitting from one personal tragedy to another to get your kicks … but special mention must be made of those who have sustained trolling campaigns against the McCanns for over seven years.
They are in a category of their own.

>>snip<<
Since the accident, a Twitter account posing as Matilda Winkleman has surfaced tweeting hurtful jibes to the Strictly Come Dancing host about what happened to her daughter.

The account constantly sends twisted messages to Claudia, 42,  about her daughter’s skin burning.

A social media expert told The Sun that the account is a ‘pop up’ created by a ‘professional’ troll  used for ‘guerrilla trolling’. Unfortunately it’s hard to trace..

http://metro.co.uk/2014/11/08/claudia-winkleman-targeted-by-guerrilla-trolls-on-twitter-over-her-hospitalised-daughter-4940056/

[Wonderfulspam]

'but special mention must be made of those who have sustained trolling campaigns against the McCanns for over seven years.'

I've only been here a year....

But I can understand why others have been doing it for the preceeding 6.

[Alfred R Jones]

So you would rather fan the flames than stop the threatening tweeters?

I am not fanning the flames, I am shining a light on those who allow these disgusting tweets on their timeline unchallenged, and on those who actively support the threat-maker.  Why do you have a problem with this?

[Alfred R Jones]

This is one advantage Facebook has over Twitter.  The majority of Facebook users are known and recognized whilst those on twitter are predominantly using pseudonyms.  At least that has been my experience.

Sadly in the case of McCann "sceptics" many of them also operate on FB under pseudonyms.

[faithlilly]

There are individuals who say horrific things and make shocking threats online.

There are individuals who doubt the McCanns story and say so online.

THEY ARE NOT THE SAME THING !!!

[Alice Purjorick]

It doesn’t matter what the tragedy is there will be some extremely disturbed individual desperate to take advantage of it to add to the pain and suffering of people they don’t know. 

Their anonymity is just a badge of their cowardice … whatever other personality defects they suffer from which imo must be legion.
 
Bad and bad enough being a “professional guerrilla” flitting from one personal tragedy to another to get your kicks … but special mention must be made of those who have sustained trolling campaigns against the McCanns for over seven years.
They are in a category of their own.

>>snip<<
Since the accident, a Twitter account posing as Matilda Winkleman has surfaced tweeting hurtful jibes to the Strictly Come Dancing host about what happened to her daughter.

The account constantly sends twisted messages to Claudia, 42,  about her daughter’s skin burning.

A social media expert told The Sun that the account is a ‘pop up’ created by a ‘professional’ troll  used for ‘guerrilla trolling’. Unfortunately it’s hard to trace..

http://metro.co.uk/2014/11/08/claudia-winkleman-targeted-by-guerrilla-trolls-on-twitter-over-her-hospitalised-daughter-4940056/

It is possible that these folk belong to several,for want of a better expression, "action groups".
That is they are not really interested in the principle but are there just to have a "pop" or behave as yobs for the sake of it. Then the yin to that particular yang is the sort of person who puts it about that anyone with a particular view must be tarred with the same brush as those extreme yobs on the periphery. I can't see the difference in the two types frankly.
Remember the Poll Tax riots? only one fox hunt was sabotaged that week end  &%+((£

[Alfred R Jones]

There are individuals who say horrific things and make shocking threats online.

There are individuals who doubt the McCanns story and say so online.

THEY ARE NOT THE SAME THING !!!

And a large number of the latter have no problem whatsoever with the actions of the former, in fact many of them interact quite happily with the threat-makers whilst ignoring the more extreme threats and oh-so-hilarious satirical images, etc.

[Wonderfulspam]

And a large number of the latter have no problem whatsoever with the actions of the former, in fact many of them interact quite happily with the threat-makers whilst ignoring the more extreme threats and oh-so-hilarious satirical images, etc.

How many exactly?

Where can one see the statistics?