By John Bkila (NewsHooked) | Friday, Feb. 23, 2018 at 07:00
There was an article published recently on InsideHalton.com, the online version of the community newspaper the Burlington Post.
It was about the almost systemic bullying and harassment of politicians — specifically female politicians — mostly online.
Full disclosure — I wrote it.
Shameless plug aside, I bring it up because as I began to tackle this mammoth feature, it dawned on me…. I’m writing about adults… bullying other adults… online… in 2018 — are you (expletive) kidding me?
…I’m with the camp that brings these online trolls into the light… and out from the protective shadows created by their digital screens.
If you happen to read the article (please do), it details how a Burlington MP, upon announcing her pregnancy on social media, received a message from one user that she was “a traitor to the country”…. How’s that now?
She was also told she should abort her baby, while others messaged she should do “some pretty awful things” to her unborn child. Some folks are just pure class, aren’t they?
A Burlington councillor told me she’s been groped and experienced bullying, threats, reputational slurs, assaults and harassment through social media and in person.
Another MP (for the Oakville North-Burlington riding) was tweeted at, for a pinned tweet from 2016, and called a public parasite.
Now, this legitimately classy woman decided she would tweet back at her online troll, telling him to show decency and civility next time in his online opinions.
He ended up taking down his tweet after receiving an onslaught of messages defending the MP (my how the tables quickly turned). And after her son sent the online troll, and the company he worked for, an email detailing his distaste over his tweet, that MP received a full emailed apology.
A 2014 article published on TheGuardian.com mentions a survey that found 52 per cent of women have been bullied or harassed at work.
From the women I interviewed for my story, it seems those in positions of power are even more likely to be subjected to it.
Look, I’m all for constructive criticism (especially of our politicians) and the arguing of alternative points of view — that’s the only way we become better people and have a better democracy on our hands.
But when comments get personal (and sickening), things become destructive.
What’s worse, we may end up scaring off decent people who could eventually become our strong leaders of the future. People we’d be proud to represent us.
Some think staying silent is the way to defend against bullying and harassment, but I’m with the camp that brings these online trolls into the light (whenever possible) and out from the protective shadows created by their digital screens.
That’s the only way the social media arena will ever change and perhaps scare those online trolls enough to think twice before hitting send.
Frankly, that’s all I ask of these simpletons — to think. Then again, that may be too much.
Featured top photo “Backlit laptop keyboard” by Markus Petritz / Unsplash
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