Do you recall the scene from the original Frankenstein where all the townspeople are chasing the monster with fire torches? Perhaps you remember the part in Beauty and the Beast where the town folk take to arms to combat the Beast?
Well, I recently learned this “dog pile” activity has crossed over into the digital age, specifically social media, and I, myself, have learned how quickly those flames can be directed toward you.
Anyone who has been on social media has probably come across posts along the lines of “Tik Tok do your thing. Find out who this person is!” or “Please help me get this guy. He made my granddaughter cry.”
The internet has become the place where we can readily go after perceived foes and vent all our frustrations with the world. Its anonymity allows – anyone, everyone – to voice our deepest, darkest thoughts without repercussions.
I for one am guilty. Whenever I am in a really foul mood over the state of things, I can easily go on X, aka Twitter, and find thousands of posts slamming this, that or the other thing. Some of these comments are simply begging for a response, which I am at times all too willing to provide.
I recently came across a posting on Instagram where a man was emotionally stating how he and his friend were sitting outside of a café innocently minding their own business when a man sitting nearby screamed: “Quiet down you faxxot!”
The narrator speaking to the camera voiced his incredulity as moist tears formed in his eyes. He did absolutely nothing to provoke the situation, and yet this older gentleman decided to start yelling at him for no reason. As the perpetrator spewed forth, his grandchildren turned their heads away from the camera as they were being filmed (another peeve, everyone pulls out their phones constantly hoping for that video that will gain them forever fame).
The narrator was so obviously playing for the sympathy/victim vote – and of course, the 57,000 likes he received. (For the record I’ve been called that name too, only I didn’t videotape my response, I responded to the person in plain, expletive-ridden English.) All of the posts supported him. One even responded that he knew the bad guy: “He was my teacher, he lives past the park. The big yellow house. There will be a red truck in the driveway when he’s home.”
If you ask me, providing that level of detail publicly against an unknowing person is pretty bad and could result in dangerous repercussions.
Having been a former journalist, I immediately went to the “every story has two sides” mentality.
So, I innocently posted, “I wonder what the other guy’s story is as we all know videos can be edited to promote a certain narrative?” which quickly received seven likes.
I forgot about my remark until I logged on the next day and found all these comments: “How can you promote hate speech?” “There is no other side, this man was called an expletive.” “How dare you defend him you piece of crap!”
I responded that I absolutely did not encourage nor condone hate speech, but at that point the cat was already out of the bag.
One person went so far as to investigate my profile to use against me (this was really weird). He posted: “You’re one of those self-hating gays. You have all these pictures of your BF online and you have the nerve to say calling someone a faxxot is alright.” (When my husband and I travel, I occasionally post photos of us, so that of course meant I was a closet case intent on bringing all gays down.)
When I saw that post I began to get weirded out, even worried that the throng of flame throwers might direct their heat further toward me.
I removed my comment and left the conversation.
My experience with the underside of social media has made me leery and it got me to consider how quickly things and people can turn against you. I am now more apt to think twice before I post or respond to anything. When I feel I am being goaded, I quickly click off.
The world has become a very strange place and not all of the dangers are physical. They have simply moved onto places we visit and entertain ourselves with every day, the danger often lurking in plain daylight. Take heed, digital dog piles can pop up anywhere and at any time.
And, with that, I end this as Poolside from PS.
Manuel Padilla Jr. 