It's weird. So I can't remember much from the time but now it just feels like I was a spectacle and for everyone to say “oh look at this thing on the internet how sad and strange, let's poke fun at her but also feign concern for her”.
Nobody actually wanted to help. Nobody was concerned for me, my mental health, my safety, nothing. It still feels that way. Everyone is quick to talk about my videos and the storm that happened afterwards but not about the effects years later. Not about me. Just about Jessi Slaughter.
I: Do you feel the internet is less of a messed up place now than in 2010 because there is greater awareness of cyber-bulling?
D: I wouldn't even call what happened to me cyber-bullying, it was straight up harassment and stalking. It started out as cyber-bullying but it quickly evolved.
As for a less messed up place, no-ish? People are still awful but there is a greater awareness, like you said, and so there are more people who are at the ready to stand up to stuff and support people who are victims of internet buttholes.
But that is only if it gets to a giant scale, on smaller scales (like a small blog or YouTube getting harassed) people don't get the support they need or anybody reaching out to them.
I: Why do you think trolls' comments can be so damaging?
D: Because people have feelings. This is a pre-school concept. You say mean things, you hurt peoples feelings.
Just because you're online, just because we're somewhat grown now doesn't mean this changes. There is a person on the other end of your internet tube thingy. When you post a comment you are actually hurting someone.
