When online communication might not be enough

In a recent E-Media tidbits post, Amy Gahran writes about the dark side of online communities and forums. This is a disturbing development, though it is obviously related to what listserv communities, MUDS and MOOS have been dealing with for years. The early webcam communities had a couple of fake "live" suicides, and incidents where unbalanced individuals engaged in online discussions.

Amy found this interesting post via Twitter. The writer knows more about the specific kind of forums involved in this case, but asks some troubling questions and raises issues that don't seem to have an easy answer.

clipped from www.drumsnwhistles.com Matthew Murray: Toxicity, Online Community, and Religion with a Twist News, Web December 12th, 2007 Matthew Murray was angry. Matthew Murray had been angry for a long time. On Sunday, Matthew Murray was so angry and so unbendably focused on exacting revenge that he packed up his guns and his ammo and let his anger fly in the direction of 2 Youth with a Mission staffers and two sisters, age 16 and 18, who were unfortunate enough to be in his sights at New Life Church.