When Internet Memes Turn Ugly
If you’re reading this, you probably know that the Internet is the perfect place to entertain yourself when you’re bored, procrastinate when you have a term paper due, and waste time alone in your room. There’s a lot to see and do online, but one of the most mindless ways to pass the time on the world wide web is to troll around for internet memes–bits and pieces of content that go viral for one reason or another.
Most memes are harmless, entertaining, silly, and funny. Like this one, this one, or (one of my favorites) this one. Going viral can change lives–it can turn people into celebrities; get them record deals; and make them household names. Just consider the stories of Antoine Dodson and Rebecca Black.
But some memes are not only distasteful, they are mean and cruel. Just last week, one sixteen-year-old girl who has Down Syndrome discovered she was, as a child, the subject of a terrible internet meme–and that she and her family are now helpless to do anything about it.
According to Mashable:
When does an Internet joke go too far?
Years ago, a photo of a baby with down syndrome was taken from a support group website and turned into a controversial Internet meme. That child — now 16 years old — is Heidi Crowter, and Heidi just discovered what the entire Internet has been saying about her photo, according to The Sun.
Here you'll find a picture of a grown Heidi holding a laptop displaying the original meme that trolls posted to Facebook years ago. The meme is a picture of her as a child along with the caption “Lose your virginity to a retard.” Given how helpless and vulnerable a child with Down Syndrome is, the meme’s punchline–which is morally reprehensible for a litany of reasons–is especially disturbing because it has a hint of sexual violence in it.
Heidi’s parents have been trying to take the photos off the Internet, but that’s proven to be a very difficult task. Just last week, another website devoted to insulting people with Down Syndrome put the picture of Heidi up. You have to wonder who these sick people are–how could they derive pleasure out of bullying disabled children?
Heidi’s story highlights a central problem and tension in Internet culture: that the right to distribute content freely (which is arguably protected under the First Amendment) can clash against moral, decent, and civil behavior. The proliferation of the most lewd and disgusting forms of Internet pornography presents the same problem.
Why does Internet culture breed such uncivil behavior? The main problem, I think, is anonymity. When people can hide behind the veil of anonymity guaranteed by the Internet, they are more likely to abandon their inhibitions and flout societal norms in order to express and indulge their basest desires. After all, they don’t have to worry about their reputation. They are also removed from the real flesh-and-blood person that they are insulting (in the case of Heidi) or deriving pleasure from (in the case of online porn), which makes it much easier to be hurtful or perverse since compassion and empathy–emotions that thrive on the immediacy of human interaction–won’t kick in as a check on immoral behavior.
While most people are capable of cruel acts and depraved thoughts–it’s human nature–in society, those desires are checked. But in the online world, which is by and large unencumbered by social restraints, we see the scales of civility fall away. The golden rule is all but forgotten. In his essay for the book New Threats to Freedom (Templeton), Ron Rosenbaum explained this tendency perfectly:
“Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask and he will tell you truth.” So said Oscar Wilde. The problem with applying this insight to the culture of the Internet is not that the mask reveals the truth, but that the truth revealed by the anonymous “screen name” is a deeply disturbing vision of the face beneath the mask: a face frequently twisted with self-righteous hatred, fear, and paranoia. . . .
The blogosphere has certainly changed the character of political conversation, but in problematic ways. First, it has put the neighborly conversation that once took place over a picket fence or at the VFW dance on a vast and impersonal stage, before an audience that eggs on the most extreme ranters—those who seemingly have the leisure to spend their entire day haranguing the ether and harassing anyone who disagrees. Second, it provides a mask of anonymity that may have initially been intended to free blog commenters from the threat of exposure, but that now effectively immunizes them not just from exposure but from accountability, responsibility, and shame.
In The Moral Animal, Robert Wright noted that moral norms are meant to protect society’s weakest. When those norms (“accountability, responsibility, and shame”) are absent, it comes at the expense of the most helpless and vulnerable among us–people like Heidi.
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Comments:
Dec '11
Re: When Internet Memes Turn Ugly
I see the one with a picture and an accusation of some indecent act. For instance there was some guy who had a picture spread around accusing him of dog fighting and for trying to get a dog for dog fighting at a shelter. The shelter denies this.
Libel is oh so easy on the internet, and our libel laws need to change dramatically to keep up with new technology. We also need to dramatically reign in our exceptions to libel laws.
There are too many people that see the first amendment as sanction to harass and defame others.
Edited on April 30, 2012 at 7:37pmDec '10
Re: When Internet Memes Turn Ugly
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
Non-negotiable.
Also, a lack of access to the internet has never been a hindrance for the rude and vulgar to make life difficult for people like Heidi.
It is easy to advise people against immanentizing the eschaton. Easy to advise, harder to do.
Sep '11
Re: When Internet Memes Turn Ugly
I have a 20-year-old daughter with Down syndrome. I'm intrigued by the story.
That said--Emily, Emily, Emily. Understand the medium: the Internet changes all the rules. Any time you post an article about what's right, fair, or moral on the Internet, you must ask yourself: am I advocating for a rule or restriction that Mullah Omar of the Taliban would agree with? And if I succeed, what tools have I put in Mullah Omar's hands?
Should we get the United Nations to ban photographs of young women that damage the psyches of vulnerable young girls? Mullah Omar would point out that your photo on this column--obviously not wearing a hijab--demeans women and degrades the moral fabric of society.
There are lots of governments that would embrace extending morality--as any government defines it--to the Internet. Witness the campaign by Islam to criminalize "insulting religion". Not just Mullah Omar--but the Saudis, the Chinese, Chavez, Castro, and many others.
The Internet is free speech--at its best and worst. That can be revolting--and it will, ultimately, be revolutionary. That's a good thing.
Edited on April 30, 2012 at 7:57pmJun '11
Re: When Internet Memes Turn Ugly
There's a website devoted "to insulting people with Down's Syndrome"? Wow...some folks have way too much time on their hands. Perhaps the founder should try a "job".
May '10
Re: When Internet Memes Turn Ugly
Once Google indexes a website and catalogs its images it's almost impossible to put the genie back in the bottle. I've often wondered what happens to some of the stuff I've posted here.
Ever use Google images on Claire Berlinski? Halfway down the page you run into this. Not mean-spirited but stuck to her like glue. (Sorry, Claire!)
Same thing for Rob and James. Luckily for Peter (the congenial target of so many of my barbs) he may not even be the third most famous Peter Robinson in the universe behind an Irish MP and a Canadian mystery novelist.
Remember this podcast photo? I sent the original along with the finished product to Yeti for comparison (Yeah, I was bragging) and Yeti suggested that I post it for your approval as well. I declined because I felt that, even though the photo was on the internet, the gentlemen in it never asked to be politicized. (Hint: You can drag it into the search box at Google images and it will return the original.)
You can teach people technology but you can't force them to use it ethically.
Nov '10
Re: When Internet Memes Turn Ugly
I wonder if the attack on Downs Syndrom is motivated in some way by the attack-Palin meme?
Whether or not it is, I bet Palin could have some impact by speaking out on this. Problem is that it might be a two-edged sword, inviting more cruel attacks because she is so hated. I would bet that there is a big overlap between the two memes, and yes, Palin wading in would froth the waters somewhat, but I don't think the haters would win even though there might be more hateful stuff in the short term. These folks don't like sunlight.
Nov '11
Re: When Internet Memes Turn Ugly
I believe a lot of this kind of thing is due to anonymity. Our business has one main blog and in the past we've had two incidences where individuals have gone on and continuously/nastily lied, and maligned our brand. Not just snarky or negative stuff. It is such a small world that my husband got the phone numbers and called these two people. He was very nice by the way. The first one wouldn't come to the phone at first. He was very nice and just asked them about their problems and gave them facts (he is very good at defusing). Both bloggers couldn't believe there was actually a real, regular person being affected, were very embarrassed, apologized profusely, and quit this kind of activity. I have to say it was great. Mocking people with Down Syndrome goes beyond, of course. Some of the extremely sarcastic 'humor' in media lowers the bar, too. Much of it is right in there at 4th grade level and is the exact level where you might find this kind of behavior, too.
Nov '10
Re: When Internet Memes Turn Ugly
I guess the question is this: does free speech apply to anonymity? That is, are you entitled to say anything you want without revealing who you are when you say it? I'm not entirely sure I know the answer to that, but I certainly agree with the point of Emily's post: no one knows you are a dog on the Interent, so you can say whatever you want without fear of being held accountable for saying it. This is one reason I consciously used my real name for my account here. It holds me accountable. I'm someone entirely different on Xbox Live, however.
May '10
Re: When Internet Memes Turn Ugly
"Why does Internet culture breed such uncivil behavior?" Slightly before the advent of the Internet: "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?" -- Jeremiah, c. 626 BC
My rationale, too, except that I use it everywhere on the net.
R. Craigen: I wonder if the attack on Downs Syndrom is motivated in some way by the attack-Palin meme?
Whether or not it is, I bet Palin could have some impact by speaking out on this. Problem is that it might be a two-edged sword, inviting more cruel attacks because she is so hated.
This is the most curious thing to me. How can people give hatred that kind of power over them toward someone they don't even know? People who hate Sarah Palin don't hurt her. They hurt themselves by immersing their psyche in an acid bath of negativity. Life is too short to yield yourself over to that.
Apr '11
Re: When Internet Memes Turn Ugly
Wow. I had to read that sentence a few times to fully process it.
Depressing is the obvious reaction. But there is a delicious irony in the idea that someone would dedicate time and resources to such a "hobby" and somehow think he has standing to mock the intelligence of anyone else.
Well, the Federalist Papers were written under a pseudonym, which was a common practice during the founding era.
There was an very interesting discussion about 2 months back (I think it was started by EJ Hill) about the ethics of anonymous posting and use of pseudonyms by Ricochet members.
I would never want this to become a legal matter. Imagine a hypothetical law banning anonymity online. Within weeks the vindictive left would crush conservative thought through harassment and intimidation. You oppose gay marriage on a forum? The next day some pinko emails it to your boss and threatens a boycott until you're fired.
Apr '11
Re: When Internet Memes Turn Ugly
@Ken Owsley
Here's the thread I mentioned on using pseudonyms.
Dec '11
Re: When Internet Memes Turn Ugly
Seen it happen.
Edited on May 1, 2012 at 5:08pm