The Outing of Reddit's Violentacr​ez, The Biggest Troll on the Web

 

 

He asked a number of times if there was anything he could do to keep me from outing him. He offered to act as a mole for me, to be my "sockpuppet" on Reddit. "I'm like the spy who's found out," he said. "I'll do anything. If you want me to stop posting, delete whatever I posted, whatever. I am at your mercy because I really can't think of anything worse that could possibly happen. It's not like I do anything illegal."

 

I told him it wasn't my place to tell him what to do, that I was just reporting on what he'd already done,

 

Everyone is always worried that their ability to spout off irresponsibility about whatever is challenged when anonymity is breached.  It's not.  Free speech isn't the issue - responsibility of speech is.  What you post on line, you own.  If you aren't prepared to live personally with the consequences to your friends, family and employment, think through how much pain your could be causing for another family out there with senseless posts or cruel pictures.  It could be a family like Amanda Todds' that you're hurting.  Don't fight for the right to act without consequence, because such a right does not exist.  Focus on building personal responsibility, on consciousness instead.

 

Free speech is out there in dozens of mutating forms and always will be.  In fact, it's never been easier for average folk to watch the watchers.  That's not what's bugging folk like Violentacrez - it's the notion of accountability.  It's a funny thing how, with their own reputations on the line, people tend to be a bit more considerate of each other.  When you expose yourself to such a degree, you'll find that eventually, the truth will set you free.