UKC

It just goes to prove that the internet is not safe no matter where you go. Bullies are everywhere. Sad, but true.

In reply to Blizzard:

Would you like to share your experience?

In reply to Blizzard:

Try to hide behind the bigger boys of the site.

You should feel safer there.

In reply to andic:

I am making a general comment. I wont be responding to this thread. Your initial responses say it all, just goes to show how low UKC has sunk.

In reply to Blizzard:

Quite a poor attempt at a Troll, as you have broken the first rule of Troll Fight Club by replying.

Must try harder

However if you suffer with bipolar then that is a different issue.

In reply to Blizzard:

unfortunately i have seen it on several occassions on UKC over the years

In reply to lost1977:

Well this is a first for me where the OP starts the bullying on a different thread and then cries when he's accused of starting the bullying.

Got to admit yourself, this is quite different

In reply to Blizzard:

Are we bothering you, by talking to you?
"If you find my posting offensive the problem lies with you, look no further."

In reply to Blizzard: Is this about starting threads about other posters?

In reply to Blizzard: get a grip....how can you be bullied on a forum?!

In reply to abr1966:

Oh course you can be bullied on a forum, although on the evidence I have seen he hasn't been.

In reply to Blizzard: I think its OK.. you give you take.. a few step over but to be honest most who rile me I'd probably get on well with in real life.. there's a few key board warriors.. but mainly the anonymous people worry me more.. no offence..

In reply to The New NickB: No I think UKC has swung that way a few times.. but its also towards posters who seemingly go out of their way to provoke..

However I find anonymous people strange.. You and I can probably be tracked down very easily... we say enough about our lives, presumably use real names so its not hard.. many go by nick names.. some go by total alias's..

One guy on the FRA forum is the Reverand.. it wasn't until I was checking the results did I suddenly click who he was... its obviously his nickname.. thats very different to some random name..

In reply to IainRUK:

It has definitely happened on UKC, but I was being a bit more specific.

I am registered on the FRA forum, but I don't go on much. There are a few on there that I know quite well, but didn't realise for while who they were.

In reply to The New NickB: There's a lot of UKC/FRA cross over.. It's why I have IainRUK.. so I know where they me from when they ask.. I do get the 'Are you Iain Ruk'..

I think the FRA is far less bullying.. far more self policed as through racing we do meet..

Its funny I've had words with CL off there many times.. but in races we are neck and neck and he's a lovely guy.. some of the things he says are crazy but he does make people think.. and he's also who he is.. so I respect him for that.. but also in person he's a good bloke as far as I can tell.

In reply to Blizzard:

I think this is all a little bit to sad and childish.

No kudos to you blizzard, grow a pair of balls.

In reply to IainRUK: However I find anonymous people strange.. You and I can probably be tracked down very easily... we say enough about our lives, presumably use real names so its not hard.. many go by nick names.. some go by total alias's.. I wonder why?

In reply to Blizzard: I too find this whole "bullying" idea somewhat odd.

In reply to stroppygob:

I don't find it odd. In a forum full of adults of consenting age and rounded personality, its not a problem.

But its a different issue entirely with children who are insecure in every way imaginable and the internet is one of their main forms of communication, then bullying is a serious issue.

Rather than the playground bully and a few mates, the bullies can muster up hundreds of cyber warrior bullies. This will seriously fek up the confidence of the poor soul on the receiving end.

Hi I'm anonymous, its a name I use a lot so, I use it when registering to different forums and its just kind of stuck. I think you have more of a public image than I do, through your running. I don't feel I'm hiding but I am neither giving my full name and address away freely either, I think I am more worried about spam and junk than anything else! You can track down my first name and town but you would struggle to get more than that from my posts, I have a common first name. I don't abuse anyone on this site and I'm fairly level headed in my few debates, but at the same time, some people do tend to look at profiles to get a personal dig in.

I don't judge anyone on this site by how much personal information they give, some give a lot, some none at all but I recognise people through their opinions or whether they're chatty or helpful.

In reply to FreshSlate: I think thats fine.. I have no issues with that or people of id's giving some stick.. its the people who create profiles to abuse.. especially those with another profile purely to be an arse.. TBH anyone who does that should get a UKC ban for life..

In reply to IainRUK:

nail on head there Iain.

E

In reply to Blizzard: I've probably deserved every bit of stick I've had for some of the shit I've posted on here

In reply to Enty:

Sounds like some namby pamby people don't know the difference between bullying and harmless teasing.

Perhaps we should seek them out at crags and twist their nuts or steal their Pete's Eats money.

In reply to Blizzard:
Normally when I bully folk on UCK, I like to pick on the small weedy ones who yelp a lot.

In reply to Blizzard:

real names or pseudonyms, everyone here is just pixels on a screen. even in 'real life' most who speak big are found to be smoke and mirrors when pushed.
bullies remain bullies so long as they have a target that fits their crosshairs. there will be bullies who insist they are not and by doing so reinforce that they are.
change your profile, change how you get treated. both victims and bullies lack responsability, change that equation.

ignore the big talkers, they are playing a predictable hand. its the quiet, watchful types you gotta keep an eye on.

In reply to abr1966:

You can be. If you want to join a group of say, climbers, and others lay into you then it is not nice. Some of the shit Hannah had to put up with was not pleasant. She might have been a bit left sided in her posts, but the vitriol was not good to see.

Personally, I keep my bullying off cyberspace and clatter Tall Claire when I see her in real life.

In reply to John Rushby:

Shut yer face and hand over yer dinner money.

In reply to Blizzard: Ok, define "bullying" on an internet forum please.

In reply to stroppygob:

"I wont be responding to this thread."

Think you might have a wait, looks like (s)he has flounced off. :0)

In reply to stroppygob:

define "bullying" on an internet forum please.

Wouldn't it be the same as bullying in other situations, but on a Internet forum?

In reply to MJ:

No one on UKC has ever dragged me over to a river, pushed me into the mud, thrown my school bag into the water and stolen my lunch money, so no, I don't think it is quite the same as bullying in other situations. By the same token, cyber bullies aren't there in person for you to punch in the mouth when you've had enough of it either.

The real problem with UKC is that the majority of the time we're too polite to just say "Ahh, feck off", to a poster that's annoying us. ;0)

In reply to teflonpete: bullying IRL can also be non-physical bullying. Just like on an internet forum.

bullying in the work place for instance is usually non-physical.

In reply to Bob kate bob: One of the best definitions I have see is as follows:

Bullying is any action by a person or group of persons which causes
embarrassment, pain or discomfort to someone whether a child or an adult. It can be: physical, verbal, making gestures, extortion and exclusion. It is an abuse of power. It can be planned and organised, or it may be unintentional. Bullying tends to be:
- Repetitive, wilful or persistent behaviour
- Intentionally harmful, carried out by an individual or a group
- An imbalance of power leaving the victim feeling defenseless

Kind of covers it all I think.

In reply to Blizzard:
Blimey, get over yourself. If you don't like what people are saying to you, just leave the thread. or the site. Or answer back- it's not as if anyone is going to wait at the school gates for you to beat you up or nick your dinner money, is it? In cyberspace, one can metaphorically walk away. if someone is having a go at you on here, I find that one tends to deserve it. I suggest you go over some of your previous posts....

When things get personal and nasty on here, the mods pull the thread/ban the poster in any case- and over the years this has increased so these forums are pretty sanitised these days- you can't even have a decent flame war without someone crying foul.

Sx

In reply to Bob kate bob:

On an internet forum that people use for leisure and can leave or change their posting identity at any time? Bit different I think, but that's only my opinion.

I've posted a few things on here over the years that I've taken a bit of flak for, sometimes because I haven't explained myself properly in my first comment or OP, sometimes because my view is different to a few posters, so be it. I haven't seen any more than a bit of hot debate or robustly conveyed opinion in the time that I've been on this forum. Then again, I come from a working class industrial background where people didn't mind their Ps and Qs very much and are quite open about their thoughts and prejudices.

In reply to Blizzard:

2nd topic from the same guy on the same thing?

http://www.ukclimbing.com/forums/t.php?t=558299&v=1#x7437068

In reply to ByEek:

My wife deliberately embarrasses me by holding my hand in B&Q. Should I contact the police?

In reply to teflonpete:

As said by others, bullying doesn't have to physical and can indeed happen via Internet Forums.
However, I don't think it is a particular problem on UKC.

In reply to MJ:

really? the popshot thread could be construed as bullying

In reply to Blizzard:
But on the whole, I'm with everyone else who says if you do feel like being bullied, just don't read the thread and at worst, leave the site. There's a million and one different forums out there

In reply to goose299:

This is a generally a good one though, it would be a shame to leave it.

When it comes to people crying troll and rallying against a particular poster, maybe that poster should change their posting style and actually discuss some of their ideas, rather than walking past and just lobbing a hand grenade into threads.

In reply to teflonpete:

To be fair, I really have the patience to sit and post to one thread thoughout the day to argue, perhaps he's the same. And it judged to be lobbing hand grenades as he's views are so radical

I'm not sure why I'm stickin up for the guy, he's p****d me off in a few thread now. ha ha

In reply to goose299:


Yeah, democracy eh? :0)

In reply to Blizzard: The worst culprits on here are the ones who don't believe cyber bullying can exist as "it's only the internet", and hence think they can treat people however they like.

In reply to goose299:

really? the popshot thread could be construed as bullying

That rather depends on whether you could cyber bully a cyber persona or not...

In reply to MJ:
But how do you know he's a cyber persona?

In reply to Blizzard:

I think it's pretty obvious that blizzard is popshot.

Because blizzards recent posts have all been incredibly childish. I really do find it difficult to believe that you're a grown man, old enough to be my dad.

Your posts aren't the views of a normal person.

In reply to MJ: if calling someone a troll is bullying then Popshot is the most bullied person on here by far. His contrarian views to the majority on here result in him being constantly ridiculed, belittled, name called (troll prob being the most polite)

he/she is careful to never engage anyone personally as far as I can tell and just spouts their views, resulting in a lot of huffing and puffing and a defree of cyber bullying under the facade of "well, he's a troll"

In reply to Bjartur í Sumarhús:

I'm not sure I would describe him as a contrarian, we have a few of them such as Bruce, but he does appear to be projecting a character, I find Shona and Simon4 much more believable, to give a couple of opposing extreme characters. Maybe it is the wide eyed innocence and extreme deference to Cameron and Osbourne, despite the fact that they don't really espouse the politics he advocates. Being right wing is perfectly believable, plenty on here show that.

In reply to Bjartur í Sumarhús:

Maybe if he/she did actually engage anyone personally and discuss how he/she arrived at their opinion (other than "that's what my dad told me"), other posters might not call troll so often. Popshot does actually comment on other threads about gear for hill walking etc, not just threads with a political theme, he/she just rarely seems to return to further discuss any points or provide any reasoning for his/her view.

In reply to xplorer: I can vouch that Blizzard isn't all that young. Not quite old either

In reply to Blizzard.

I've climbed with you once in the past, you seemed like a decent bloke who maybe takes things to heart a little too much, a sensitive soul.
If you feel like you're getting bullied on UKC take a step back from the forum for a while. People will only go for you on here if you stick your neck out and it's not directed at you but your online persona, there is a difference I believe.

Take a chill mate, go climb some and come back in a weeks time when all will be forgotten.

In reply to The New NickB: I would definitely describe popshot as contrarian in regards to this forum, and if he appears to be projecting a character rather than himself...does that justify bullying?

if a troll post is suspected...then it should be ignored. If engaged then usually (with popshot) it results in a load of insults hurled his way due to his forthright views. Is that acceptable or is it a form of bullying?

In reply to Bjartur í Sumarhús:

Explain why you would consider him contrarian! Right wing views are commonplace. I don't remember too many insults.

In reply to cap'nChino:


Good to hear.

People will only go for you on here if you stick your neck out and it's not directed at you but your online persona, there is a difference I believe.

You're right. I don't think the online Blizzard is being bullied but his endless odd and often rather passive-agressive posts, coupled with his refusal to debate after starting threads, does lead to people being forthright with him.

In reply to The New NickB: he takes up a contrary position on here to say that Margeret Thatcher is a goddess who did no wrong, he tows the Daily Mail line of all immigrants and people of benefits are scroungers and people should work for their benefits...which are too high anyway...etc.

from wiki "A contrarian is a person who takes up a contrary position, especially a position that is opposed to that of the majority, regardless of how unpopular it may be"



i don't see many other right wing posters on here adopting that stance.ergo he is contrarian around these parts...which is evidenced by the lack of people agreeing with him and the scorn he regularly receives.

Basically this thread is about cyber bullying, and plenty of regular posters on here think its acceptable if it's directed at a "troll" (Gudrun/popshot etc) although I would say Gudrun shows bullying tendencies so is prob a bad example.

you say you think Bruce Hooker is a good example of a contrarian around here. Well IMO he spouts left wing/socialist/republican views and therefore is in good company on UKC. So if he is, so is popshot

Anyway, more importantly..do you feel intimidated my my answer? or do I need some profanities thrown in

In reply to Bjartur í Sumarhús:

As I said, those views are quite common on here!

In reply to Bjartur í Sumarhús:


As are right wing views its just that most are expressed with some actual thought. Popshot just trots out cliches and then doesnt support them.
Hence the suspicion on being a troll.

In reply to Bjartur í Sumarhús:

I think that your definition is lacking, such a person would generally take pleasure in the consternation of others at the peculiarity of his views. And that is pretty much the definition of trolling!

In reply to Sarah G:

I find it amusing you think I have started this discussion with reference to myself. You are quite wrong.

Still " No comment" however.

In reply to Blizzard:

It's strange how you start these threads and then refuse to comment.

I think the only way forward is for blizzards posts to be ignored.

In reply to Bjartur í Sumarhús:


WTF are you talking about you !

So i'm a troll?

I who have been on here for yonks,who can back up everything i say,who informs people about many things they previously knew nothing about,who likes to have a wee laugh and a bit of a wind up especially at the expense of those pathetic grovely and spineless individuals who represent the class enemy.who shows a Socialist working class/underclass view that is very lacking on this English forum and tells it like it is.
But no i'm a effin troll because of these things...eh Bjesus&cutei&blap!??!

Well if i'm a troll then you are a festering sore a troll gets on it's
arse whilst sitting on the wet grass under a bridge.

Jeesus!

You don't even have a foty!
Proper name!
Nor do i know anything a bloody bout you!
Whereas everyone knows my name,what i look like,where i frickin live and what i frikin do and what i think and stand for.
You being ironic were you?
Bloody cheek!

Ps.If you think i exaggerate on here you should meet me in real life ...i'm much more right in yir face with my anti-capitalist communist views!

In reply to Gudrun:

I think I'm in love.

Will you marry me?

In reply to Gudrun:


Bloomin 'eck Shona, I always thought you'd probably be a good laugh to go for a pint with in the real world but if you bang on about communism and anti capitalism even more in person it would get dull very quickly! Can you not take some time to go out for a walk and just sniff the flowers every now and then?

In reply to Philip:


Might be more of a punishment to let them keep it

In reply to teflonpete:

That's what THEY want you to do! Classic reactionary fascist misdirection!

In reply to goose299:


So your advice is to just give in to bullies and let them decide whether you use this forum or not?

I agree with Mr Rushby's post earlier, there were some very unpleasant replies to almost anything Hannah S posted.

Now, they could have chosen to not respond to her posts, if her posts annoyed them, but they chose to deliberately seek her posts out and pour abuse on her.

By your argument, that sort of behaviour is fine, and if she didn't like it, she can go elsewhere.

Bullies win.

That's probably not the sort of forum that most people who post on here want. And quite often when the bullies had their bullying pointed out, they could not even admit to their own nasty streak, or were similarly of the opinion that if she didn't like it she could leave the forum.

I have skim read this thread.

I have just one thing to say re: cyber bullying. I saw it happen in about 2003, before the phrase was commonplace and before I found UKC. It was on the messageboard of a twee jangly cute American singer-songwriter (who played no part in this!) It horrified me - people that I thought of as friends (real "go to the pub friends" around London where I lived at the time) decided to deliberately pick on a woman in Texas who clearly had some mental issues, and they also tried to rally the troops against this woman. She ended up repeatedly offering to kill herself if it would make them happy and make them shut up. I ditched the whole lot of them and did the best I could to engage the victim in a calming correspondence. She didn't kill herself but she'd been serious about it (sadly she died of natural causes a couple of years later).

A lot of the posts on this thread seem not to treat the phenomenon very seriously. Some people live isolated lives and Internet forums are their ONLY social outlet, and they should not be castigated for this. I think this is overlooked. The whole "if they don't like it, they can just not read the posts" thing seems to assume these people have other social circles. In some victims' cases, a forum was a sole lifeline. To be cast out could easily be "the last straw".

In reply to Gudrun:

Simon 4 - paunchy golf clothed blimp

gudrun - pubic hair like Rastafaraian badger.

In reply to Nevis-the-cat:


and you know this how?
Actually dont say I am not sure my mind would survive.

In reply to The Lemming:


YES YES YES !
During all my years on here these are the four little words i have been longing to hear from you Lemmikins.
We must make our marriage arrangements asap.This is a god-send to me dearest as my oldest will be out of prison soon and his other 11 siblings will be over the moon to have a new Daddy.TBH and we shouldn't keep any secrets from each other now that we are to be wed but the bailiffs were round at mine just last week because of my spiralling debts,now £36,000 but i will have you to sort all that out for me now oh how lucky i am!I know you won't have a problem with us coming down to live with you next week as we are about to be evicted due to my ASBO's.

I know you like dogs so you will be over the moon to know i have 6 alsations.
Don't worry about my 6'2" present man of 6 years who everyone calls Arnold Schwarzenegger because of the similarities,he is wildly in love with me but i'm sure he will get over it.....eventually.

In reply to Nevis-the-cat:


Don't forget the galloping dandruff!

In reply to Gudrun:
>

He will probably phone Mr Lemming and demand "10 F*CKING LARGE FOR THE END OF THE WEEK" for stealing his "BIRD".

In reply to PopShot:
Hahaha!

In reply to Blizzard:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDUuCSc42NU&feature=youtube_gdata_playe...

In reply to Niall:



aye...

...maybe use thee olfactory senses with a nice cup o' Java instead? (wi six bee plus sugars...)


;0)


si

In reply to xplorer:

It seems some people are taking offense to my postings. That has never been my intention. I have been interested to see what others think about certain topics. Due to some responses, I will simply stop posting on the Off Belay forum. It seems that my 'silence' makes me guilty. Do I really need to justify my comments to all and sundry? I guess it is simply not possible to start open debate on here. That is a great shame.

In reply to Blizzard:

Don't stop posting! I think it's just that you posted something then didn't respond to questions. It's a conversation, really, so if you just say something then wander off, it's no great surprise that people might wonder where you've gone.

In reply to Tall Clare:

I don't want to be shot down, for having opinions that are not mainstream. I have already recieved a nasty email from someone not open minded enough to see my threads as honest, which they are. Personally , I don't want to be the subject of attack on here, so I don't see an alternative. I also come and go on here, and limit my time to this forum, hence the reason for disappearing. I'm not sure I want to be dragged into debate and abuse that I have witnessed on here. Sorry.

In reply to Blizzard:

But surely that's all part of forum life - if you offer up an opinion it's reasonable to assume you're prepared to stand behind it. If you'll forgive me for saying so, you do seem to get easily upset when people react to what can sometimes be provocative posts.

You've accused me of bullying you before now - I think you might be a little oversensitive for the hurly burly of forum life.

In reply to Tall Clare:

I cant undo or change who I am. If you don't mind, I will stop posting now.

In reply to Blizzard: forums are just places for losers with no real friends.

Oh, wait.......

Cancel that........

In reply to Gudrun:


he is a republican? Have to say wouldnt have thought you would get together with someone of opposing political views.

In reply to Blizzard:

Blizzard today has sent me three emails. Harassing me, because I've ignored him every time his last message accused me of bullying him.

I subsequently told him to grow a pair of balls and grow he f*ck up.

Really how old is blizzard, is he a long haul troll

In reply to PopShot:

Have you changed over to the light side popshot, are you on our side now?

In reply to xplorer:

Blizzard is at it again, sending me emails. I've asked him to stop, but he's carrying on like a little child.

Is anyone else getting these pathetic emails?

In reply to IainRUK:

There does seem to be something particularly vitriolic about this place compared to the FRA which is the only other forum I'm on. Pseudonyms seemed almost mandatory on there when I joined so I became Paulo (what my nieces call me) whilst keeping my own name here. Tellingly, when a really big divisive issue came up on the FRA which inspired mighty passions and fallings out (possible split of FRA from UK athletics) people took to signing off their posts with their real name and club after their pseudonym.

In reply to xplorer:



Not sure how to answer that one. I'm still the same Popshot just having a laugh. I don't really hate or dislike anyone on here.

In reply to PopShot:

One big happy family.

UKC needs to hold a party, I'd imagine we would all be very surprised by posters actual personalities. These forums do have a very strange side to them, maybe that's because most climbers are simply a little nutty!

In reply to xplorer:



Yes the extreme parts of everybody’s personality seems to be brought out on here. There is plenty of arguments but mostly not about climbing

In reply to dissonance:
(In reply to Gudrun)


Yuk !
He's a friggin idiot Dissy !
No two ways about it!

My man is a big Cz Commie who used to get called Arnie by everyone in the last place he worked in scotland and many other people have made the same comments.Same physic you see with a very germanic face, cross between Matt damon and arnie.

get together with the enemy ? There will be snowballs in hell first!!!

In reply to Gudrun:

Me thinks my lady doth protest too much.

In reply to The Lemming:
When are you gony set the date Lemmybaby cos i'm checkin oot bespoke weddin dresses the noo and looking at a weeks honeymoon in the Coco Chanel Suite at the Hotel Ritz in Paris,followed by another week to catch the closing parties in Ibeeza?

I'm sooo excited loverboy !

In reply to Gudrun:

Don't be... He's got very sore Baws the noo...

In reply to Gudrun:


As long as you can afford to keep me to the lifestyle I am acostomed to, then I'm all yours.

Please be gentle with me, as I have soft blue-collar hands.

In reply to Gudrun:
I love it when romance blossoms on UCK. I think the Lemming has been wanting to get into your knickers for ages.