Is social media the new "justice"?

[Keroin]

We've seen how social media sites enabled groups of people to come together and oppose - even overthrow - some very unsavory governments.

On a smaller scale, here on the the west coast, social media has been used to "out" rioters from the recent Stanley Cup riot. Photos and videos have been posted, names, addresses and phone numbers of rioters have been made public. More than one rioter actually turned themselves in to police because this exposure made their life so difficult. Rioters have lost their jobs because of this, they've been socially shunned, and there have even been death threats.

Now, I'm not in favour of mob mentality but I have to admit that part of me was deeply satisfied by this. The sad fact is even rioters who have been identified by police will likely not face any real, legal consequences. And if they do, that will be years down the road and laughably mild. So what's the deterrent for future rioters?

And here's the thing, I see the N. America legal system as mostly useless. There's very little justice to be found there.

Is social media justice the answer?

 

[midwestyankee]

Public shame used to be a major deterrent for minor crimes. I remember reading the local court report when it appeared in the local paper, which was probably weekly. We could see who had been arrested for speeding, shoplifting, whatever. And I did my damnedest to never appear in that report.

It's entirely possible that social media may start to play a similar role.

 

[Keroin]

Public shame used to be a major deterrent for minor crimes. I remember reading the local court report when it appeared in the local paper, which was probably weekly. We could see who had been arrested for speeding, shoplifting, whatever. And I did my damnedest to never appear in that report.

It's entirely possible that social media may start to play a similar role.

Agreed. I think publishing addresses and phone numbers is taking too far, and what if an innocent person was "outed"? But I'll tell you what, I remember the 1994 riot and aftermath, vividly, and not one person came forward to publicly apologize. This time, several people have done so.

I think public shame is a damned good way to make think people think twice about their actions.

 

[bhndblueyes88]

As long as personal information like addresses, phone numbers and stuff like that isn't released, I'm all for it. It's no different than the newspapers who post recent arrests and the like, just a bit more widespread...but if you're not addressing more than peoples' names and maybe their city, no one's really going to know who you are outside of your area anyways.

 

[Keroin]

As long as personal information like addresses, phone numbers and stuff like that isn't released, I'm all for it. It's no different than the newspapers who post recent arrests and the like, just a bit more widespread...but if you're not addressing more than peoples' names and maybe their city, no one's really going to know who you are outside of your area anyways.

Well, I think the difference is that where the newspapers will just publish names, the people who use social media as a tool to shame take a very active role. In many cases, they found out who the person's employer was and barraged them with phone calls and emails. Some people were suspended, others were fired. Powerful stuff.

 

[intothewoods]

I don't know. I don't like mob mentality at all -- it freaks me out. Then again, I'm imagining Canadians would have, like, the most civil, polite mob ever.

 

[Keroin]

I don't know. I don't like mob mentality at all -- it freaks me out. Then again, I'm imagining Canadians would have, like, the most civil, polite mob ever.

LOL. Well, looking at the riot footage I would have to disagree.

I hate mob mentality, too. But at the same time, I really feel our legal system is failing us in so many ways.

 

[bhndblueyes88]

Well, I think the difference is that where the newspapers will just publish names, the people who use social media as a tool to shame take a very active role. In many cases, they found out who the person's employer was and barraged them with phone calls and emails. Some people were suspended, others were fired. Powerful stuff.

Well, yah, I would say that is going too far. But, in general, people using social media to be all "Person X was totally involved in that!" doesn't bother me. People going "Person X was involved and I"m going to tell their mother, boss, police chief, significant other, and then plague them until they apologize on national television!!!" is just harassment.

 

[Keroin]

Well, yah, I would say that is going too far. But, in general, people using social media to be all "Person X was totally involved in that!" doesn't bother me. People going "Person X was involved and I"m going to tell their mother, boss, police chief, significant other, and then plague them until they apologize on national television!!!" is just harassment.

Agreed. And yet...

Awfully good incentive to not set police cars on fire and loot stores, no?

 

[bwallard]

...

And here's the thing, I see the N. America legal system as mostly useless. There's very little justice to be found there.

Is social media justice the answer?

I say no. It is an interesting development with great potential, but I would feel more comfortable with armed assistance to deal with those who don't give a damn or who earn credits for the shameful things they've done.

 

[Primalex]

But at the same time, I really feel our legal system is failing us in so many ways.

I guess the current legal system is still better than burning women at the stakes. Any legal system will fail one way or the other. If punishment would be a deterrent, there wouldn't have been shoplifters in the middle ages.

Prozium could be the solution. But who want's this?

 

[intothewoods]

LOL. Well, looking at the riot footage I would have to disagree.

I hate mob mentality, too. But at the same time, I really feel our legal system is failing us in so many ways.

That was so shocking to me!

Agreed. And yet...

Awfully good incentive to not set police cars on fire and loot stores, no?

Tempting, but I think more often than not mob rule has a negative rather than positive impact on society. I mean, shit, look at all the fucking tea baggers and their crazy conspiracy shit that goes viral on the internet.

 

[KoPilot]

I don't know. Judging by the amount of damage I saw when I went down there the day after, and hearing the reports of stabbings and other injuries, I kind of like this call to homegrown justice in response to such public irresponsibility.

No fucking way would I ever trust such a movement down here in the states, but I think Canadians can handle themselves better when it comes to things like that.

 

[ImOnIt]

Charge them all with treason.

 

[Lizzie_Borden]

We've seen how social media sites enabled groups of people to come together and oppose - even overthrow - some very unsavory governments.

On a smaller scale, here on the the west coast, social media has been used to "out" rioters from the recent Stanley Cup riot. Photos and videos have been posted, names, addresses and phone numbers of rioters have been made public. More than one rioter actually turned themselves in to police because this exposure made their life so difficult. Rioters have lost their jobs because of this, they've been socially shunned, and there have even been death threats.

Now, I'm not in favour of mob mentality but I have to admit that part of me was deeply satisfied by this. The sad fact is even rioters who have been identified by police will likely not face any real, legal consequences. And if they do, that will be years down the road and laughably mild. So what's the deterrent for future rioters?

And here's the thing, I see the N. America legal system as mostly useless. There's very little justice to be found there.

Is social media justice the answer?

Our local petrol station has a wall of shame, where they post pictures of people who've stolen petrol, and a notice saying if you can positively identify someone, you get a reward, and they get a visit from the local constabulary.

I like it.

 

[eastern sun]

LOL. Well, looking at the riot footage I would have to disagree.

I hate mob mentality, too. But at the same time, I really feel our legal system is failing us in so many ways.

This frightens me. I think mob mentality is dangerous - both on the rioters side and on the vigilante side.

If we used social media to out corruption and bias in the the justice system, that would be a better use of the grassroot power.


The problem is . . . we don't pay any attention to the courts, really. At least not as much as hockey or football.

 

[DeepGreenEyes]

The impact of social media is fascinating. It appeared, as you say, to bypass the justice system in the Canadian riots and it armed a revolution in Egypt. Tara Hunt makes the case in the Whuffie Factor that it's replacing money as the new currency.

At the very least, it's a good leveler. That is one reason I think the assault on net neutrality is so unnerving: the big guys know where the power is, and the web and social media give average people the chance for more than they've had in awhile.

I don't know. I don't like mob mentality at all -- it freaks me out. Then again, I'm imagining Canadians would have, like, the most civil, polite mob ever.

 

[Kojote]

Is social media justice the answer?

Uh... Just the thought scares me immensely!
I look at the things and can't stop asking: What if the rioters were nudists or any kind of harmless lunatics (not related to the nudist example) just happening to do something the 'mob' doesn't like?
Things like this tend to get out of hand quickly ...

 

[DVS]

Uh... Just the thought scares me immensely!
I look at the things and can't stop asking: What if the rioters were nudists or any kind of harmless lunatics (not related to the nudist example) just happening to do something the 'mob' doesn't like?
Things like this tend to get out of hand quickly ...

Exactly! Social confrontations can become very unsocial in the blink of an eye. And once they are to that point, it can get pretty ugly.

 

[Felix_Jones]

We've seen how social media sites enabled groups of people to come together and oppose - even overthrow - some very unsavory governments.

On a smaller scale, here on the the west coast, social media has been used to "out" rioters from the recent Stanley Cup riot. Photos and videos have been posted, names, addresses and phone numbers of rioters have been made public. More than one rioter actually turned themselves in to police because this exposure made their life so difficult. Rioters have lost their jobs because of this, they've been socially shunned, and there have even been death threats.

Now, I'm not in favour of mob mentality but I have to admit that part of me was deeply satisfied by this. The sad fact is even rioters who have been identified by police will likely not face any real, legal consequences. And if they do, that will be years down the road and laughably mild. So what's the deterrent for future rioters?

And here's the thing, I see the N. America legal system as mostly useless. There's very little justice to be found there.

Is social media justice the answer?

No.

It's a form of invasiveness that the public has accepted as a matter of course.

And if you think that the legal system is useless, I invite you to experience a place with no legal system. There are many African and Asian countries that will doubtlessly cater to you.