Trial by internet

Motorist

Without going into very specific details, recently on boards (and other internet forums), a video was carried of a student seemingly running away from a taxi driver with no fare being paid. Some weeks previously a separate video was carried of a man seemingly stealing a childs push-scooter outside a grocery shop.

The backlash against these two individuals was without restraint such was the anger posters felt. The videos had tens of thousands of youtube views, were posted on Twitter, Facebook etc.

As opposed to reading about an alleged crime in some local newspaper, viewers had a real connection to the crime which took place due to clear, unambiguous video. They also had a visual connection to the victim in each incident.

When these kind of videos go viral, is the widespread anger, unabated vitriol and reputational damage directed toward the perpetrators disproportionate to the crime, and arguably worse than a punishment any court could hand out?

The King of Moo

Motorist wrote: »

Without going into very specific details, recently on boards (and other internet forums), a video was carried of a student seemingly running away from a taxi driver with no fare being paid. Some weeks previously a separate video was carried of a man seemingly stealing a childs push-scooter outside a grocery shop.

The backlash against these two individuals was without restraint such was the anger posters felt. The videos had tens of thousands of youtube views, were posted on Twitter, Facebookm etc.

As opposed to reading about an alleged crime in some local newspaper, viewers had a real connection to the crime which took place due to clear, unambiguous video. They were had a visual connection to the victim in each incident.

When these kind of videos go viral, is the widespread anger, unabated vitriol and reputational damage directed toward such individuals disproportionate to the crime, and arguably worse than a punishment any court hand out?

Of course, this is the internet, people are safely detached from reality and its consequences, so emotional reactions tend to be over the top.

Also, you should have paid the taxi driver.

WindSock

Yes.

Especially in the case of the little bully getting throttled by the large lad in Australia last year. It gave bullies the world over some sort of warped justification to be bullies themselves.

Biggins

Motorist wrote: »

...When these kind of videos go viral, is the widespread anger, unabated vitriol and reputational damage directed toward the perpetrators disproportionate to the crime, and arguably worse than a punishment any court could hand out?

Its people commenting on what could possibly be a crime and asking why should they get away with it most of the time?
I do not see anything wrong in making such a comment or words to that effect.

Sometimes by also showing a bit of anger does anything eventually get done in this country - any country!