An MP has hit out at the growing problem of internet trolls, claiming local newspaper websites are now “dominated” by them.
Graham Jones, the Labour MP for Hyndburn, said online discussions about articles were difficult because trolls posted “page after page of abuse”, which ordinary readers were not interested in.
He was speaking at a Parliamentary debate yesterday into the problem of internet trolls, especially those who leave comments mocking those who have died, on social networks and newspaper articles.
Mr Jones said: “It seems that local newspapers now cannot have an online discussion or commentary following an article on their websites because trolls will totally dominate and post page after page of abuse, which means other people just switch off.
“I do not know whether that is my hon. Friend’s experience, but it is certainly mine.”
In response to this, fellow Labour MP Steve Rotheram said: “I have experienced and identified that when reading the comments beneath an article.
“It is not about people having extreme views; it is about the posting of really offensive, disgusting and vile comments that shock people. That sort of thing is prevalent in online discussions.”
Mr Rotheram secured the adjournment debate about the issue in a bid to find a solution to the problem, saying new legislation may be needed as current legislation about trolling was a “minefield”.
He said the first challenge was often to identify those making the comments and a cultural change in society was also needed.
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This man is living in a world of his own making.
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Agree entirely, New Listener.
Some websites, like some papers, have a regular crew of green ink nutters but the beauty of print is that you can just stick their mad conspiracy theories on a spike, if anyone still has one of those.
There will always be the odd loon and it is easier for them to broadcast their bonkers comments on any site that tries to be accessible to all, but they are easily identified and can be dealt with. I’m more concerned with the website comments, and they are in the majority, which seem to indicate that most users can’t spell, have no concept of how their local community works and display arch-bigot tendencies on all sorts of subjects. And those are our readers, folks…
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We get a stream of constant negativity on our boards, on the most positive of stories. UGC in many forms is a horror show of our own making.
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To be fair, there are quite a few trolls who work for local newspapers judging by some of the posts on HTFP. And some of those find spelling a challenge….
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You’re all right – so is the MP. These people mostly aren’t trolls. Trolls are indeed the on-line version of the green ink brigade, and the internet has given them paradise. But there aren’t so many of them; far worse are the local under-educated knee-jerking bigots (yes, bigots – it’s not a banned word and Clegg was right!) who didn’t put pen to paper because it took too much effort and they didn’t really care that much. A website is so much easier. There’s a lot of hate, spite and ignorance out there and newspaper websites have given them a voice.
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I reckin its mostly foreners who are the TROLLS. lol.
Them and politishuns who are just pigs with there noses in the troff.LMFAO.
Anyway its the EC thats too blame. we can’t do anything in queens england without them poking there nose’s in. Look at what happened to Diana and now Kate.
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