Cartoon: Stalkrs
The Internet (or at least Twitter and MySpace) bade farewell to Trent Reznor and Stephanie Meyer respectively, if not respectfully, last week. Each of them blamed incessant harassment by trolls for their departures.
Some may roll their eyes and dismiss these complaints as thin-skinned... but it's hard to underestimate just how debilitating the deluge of abuse can be. While XKCD offered one ingenious solution to the problem, and others are suggesting an end to anonymity online, I'm inclined to agree with Sarah Perez, who suggests the only real answer, for now, is that celebrities who can't cope with the torrent of crap should staff up with a communications team to handle it for them.
Which would, unfortunately, make social media not much different than most other social venues, at least for celebs. But that might be the price of fame, when any bozo with a 'net connection can draw you in their sights.
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I'm not sure who said it first, but "on the Internet, every sociopath gets to be your next-door neighbour."
I agree as well, if they can't cope with them, why even bother?
I'm not sure you'll agree with me (or her), but I liked what Mary-Louise Parker (of Weeds) had to say in Chatelaine about "elements of the media that are out of control" when it comes to celebrity, whether you're the Tweeters and bloggers, or the celebrities themselves:
"People will do anything to be famous. They will go on television and humiliate themselves and other people and conduct themselves in the worst way to get someone to look. And you can have a job now which only entails sitting at your computer and writing mean things about people, and people will flock to you and find that exciting and titillating. It's not a society of generosity and forgiveness and restraint. That's extremely sad."
I agree with her wholeheartedly, and relate to this in terms of my own experience with "online dating" (and I use those quotation marks correctly...it's more like "online meeting"). After trying the medium on and off over the years in my search for Mr Right, I've concluded that - at least for me - that it has only served to invite people into my life (or give access to people) who I wouldn't allow into my life under any other circumstances. Maybe that's okay for someone people, but it's a bit much for me.
I recognize that there are different levels of comfort around being online. Some people are completely comfortable telling their story - and having their story told over and over again - by other people. If you are your business or your brand, it's actually in your best business interest to do that, and in fact, actors, writers, musicians and directors have all chosen to tell their stories to a broad audience. I think that if you want to participate in this world we live in (and run a business in this world), a certain amount of yourself should be shared online.
But I do think everyone has a right to their own limits and boundaries about what parts of their lives should be kept private, and I think these celebs have wisely reached their limits and done something about it. It's kind of like a natural correction after too many years of speculative trading...
Enjoy your blog, Rob...!
Well done !! i agreed Rob ..!
"I agree with her wholeheartedly, and relate to this in terms of my own experience with "online dating"[...] After trying the medium on and off over the years in my search for Mr Right, I've concluded that - at least for me - that it has only served to invite people into my life (or give access to people) who I wouldn't allow into my life under any other circumstances. Maybe that's okay for someone people, but it's a bit much for me."
Well ok, but people usually aren't asking you to sleep with them merely to interact with them online - you opted in to that. Isn't it a little unnecessarily pure-of-thought-ish not to entertain any contact with people who conduct themselves in a manner you disagree with?
This is how echo chambers get formed.
"I agree with her wholeheartedly, and relate to this in terms of my own experience with "online dating"[...] After trying the medium on and off over the years in my search for Mr Right, I've concluded that - at least for me - that it has only served to invite people into my life (or give access to people) who I wouldn't allow into my life under any other circumstances. Maybe that's okay for someone people, but it's a bit much for me."
Well ok, but people usually aren't asking you to sleep with them merely to interact with them online - you opted in to that. Isn't it a little unnecessarily pure-of-thought-ish not to entertain any contact with people who conduct themselves in a manner you disagree with?
This is how echo chambers get formed.
I'm not sure you'll agree with me (or her), but I liked what Mary-Louise Parker (of Weeds) had to say in Chatelaine about "elements of the media that are out of control" when it comes to celebrity, whether you're the Tweeters and bloggers, or the celebrities themselves:
"People will do anything to be famous. They will go on television and humiliate themselves and other people and conduct themselves in the worst way to get someone to look. And you can have a job now which only entails sitting at your computer and writing mean things about people, and people will flock to you and find that exciting and titillating. It's not a society of generosity and forgiveness and restraint. That's extremely sad."
I agree with her wholeheartedly, and relate to this in terms of my own experience with "online dating" (and I use those quotation marks correctly...it's more like "online meeting"). After trying the medium on and off over the years in my search for Mr Right, I've concluded that - at least for me - that it has only served to invite people into my life (or give access to people) who I wouldn't allow into my life under any other circumstances. Maybe that's okay for someone people, but it's a bit much for me.
I recognize that there are different levels of comfort around being online. Some people are completely comfortable telling their story - and having their story told over and over again - by other people. If you are your business or your brand, it's actually in your best business interest to do that, and in fact, actors, writers, musicians and directors have all chosen to tell their stories to a broad audience. I think that if you want to participate in this world we live in (and run a business in this world), a certain amount of yourself should be shared online.
But I do think everyone has a right to their own limits and boundaries about what parts of their lives should be kept private, and I think these celebs have wisely reached their limits and done something about it. It's kind of like a natural correction after too many years of speculative trading...
Enjoy your blog, Rob...!
HAHA its too funny joker.
Well i like the makeup and the expressions.Its great one.
Thanks for posting it.