Resist the temptation.
Trolling is fun. I admit I’ve done it countless times, out of boredom or just to provoke reactions from stupid people, making them feel bad about themselves. And I’ve enjoyed myself doing it. But even when trolling, there’s a line… you shouldn’t be trolling families who’ve lost someone dear to them, heads of state, or generally people who can get you in (legal or otherwise) trouble.
Meet Colm Coss, of Ardwick, Manchester. A man who didn’t know there’s a line beyond which you shouldn’t troll. He trolled the Facebook memorial page for Big Brother star Jade Goody and a tribute site to John Paul Massey, a Liverpool boy who’s been mauled to death by a dog. And that trolling got him some “pleasure,” plus a bonus of 18 comfortable weeks in jail.
He was charged under the Communications Act 2003, for sending malicious communications that were grossly offensive.
Unemployed Coss was only caught when he sent residents on his street photos of himself saying he was an internet “troll”. (what an idiot)
One of the residents passed the photos to police who interviewed him before he eventually admitted to posting abusive messages.
The posts included comments claiming he had had sex with the victims’ dead bodies, the court heard.
If you’re trolling, do it right, stupid.
