JoniG said:
Well TexAgs is known for mob mentality.
Social Media is known for lynch mob mentality. Every group has it's own culture and unwritten sets of rules for behavior. If someone gets out of line then the lynch mobbing occurs. It's the oldest form of enforcement of social rules. If you think about it, it's really interesting that we really haven't evolved that much as a people.
I have been a member of a Women's forum that is similar to this, read reddit from a high level, and been part of a parenting group on facebook... This happens to every group eventually.
The woman's forum I am part of quite literally had a few people arrested for stalking. At the same time they helped save a girl from parental abuse. Social Media is a strange animal that is just now old enough for us to see how dangerous it can be and how awesome it can be based on the culture of the community. ie Egyptians using twitter in 2011 to revolt.
Many on here were friends with Damon before his issues really took hold. I'm not going to discuss what those are because it's not my place. There is a bit of a sliding scale of criminals from the point of view from society based on the egregiousness of their behavior. (If you are christian all sin is weighted equally)
Here are some examples from my point of view only. :
- Level 1 - Temporary/Momentary crimes for survival/acceptance. eg Father that has lost his job and steals groceries to feed his family or the dumb teenager that commits vandalism to impress his friends.
- Level 2 - Early Stages addict that steals from friends and family to feed his addiction.
- Level 3 - Full blown addict that uses the techniques used during level 2 to manipulate more distance acquaintances to feed their addiction.
- Level 4 - Low Level Member of a Gang or other organized crime organization that must commit crimes in effort to achieve goals of the organization. Usually become involved due to fear of survival in their environment.
- Level 5-6 Fully entrenched organized crime members who/whom are heavily influenced by the leader but are not necessarily full blown sociopaths
- Level 7 - Functioning sociopaths. (Often these are people with low morals, can appear just like you. Often they are people very active and important in the community and people are utterly surprised when they find out they have been defrauding their places of employment or charitable organizations for years.
- Level 8- Legitimate sociopaths. Often don't have a concise nor any sort of addiction. Will do anything to get what they want and love themselves so much that they know drugs would hurt the self they love so much. They will do anything to get what they want with the least amount of work. Even if it means lying, manipulating, and theft.. Have difficulty forming attachments with others can form SOME attachments and feel SOME empathy. ( Joey Buttafuoco, Whats His face Ponzi)
- Level 9: Self controlled and calculating. Controlling. Uterly unable to make connections. Able to fake emotions they can't (Jim Jones, John Wayne Gacy)
Anyone can transition between levels 1 through 6. Unlikely at 8 -9 unless the mental disorders were already present and the time they began their behaviors.
So the reason why I am saying this is that at any point in time the larger a community becomes whether online or IRL any of these types of criminals are part of the community. 1) TexAgs is not a law enforcement agency and like most social media, is not equipped nor has the expertise to deal with criminals. 2) If someone on social media defrauds you or steals from you, you have the right AND The obligation to report them to the authorities. If you do not... Then the responsibility is on your shoulders if the person commits the crime again. Not the forum or venue with where they choose to commit their crimes.
If you are the victim of a crime via contact on social media it is on you to report it to the appropriate authorities. If you do not, you cannot get angry because a non-law enforcement agency did not take action. This happens on social Media ALL OF THE TIME. It even happened on Orangebloods. We all made fun of them by being defrauded much more easily.
Once again, Facebook, Reddit, Twitter, Instagram... none of them have the ability or authority to identify, investigate and prosecute criminal behavior outside the regular justice system. Let the American Judicial system do its job.
I have seen these types of behaviors in my personal life, on line and at work. I'm never surprised by them anymore because people are always afraid to speak up to the *correct* individuals with the authority and expertise to investigate and prosecute. And then when the person's behavior gets worse because no one forced them to experience the ultimate consequences of their behavior, everyone wants to call out *someone* that is usually in some unrelated leadership position for not doing something. When in reality, every victim, every person in the know had the opportunity to bring light to the issue. The people in charge and with the greatest ability to do something are always the last to know.
