This year’s March Madness tournament is projected to see over $3 billion in bets, surpassing even the Super Bowl’s wagering totals. This surge in betting activity has, according to the NCAA, resulted in a significant increase in online harassment targeting players, coaches, and officials. The rise in online abuse is directly linked to the escalating stakes and the emotional investment of losing bettors. Sports psychologist Brett Woods offers insights into this concerning trend.
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Following Elon Musk’s sharing of a false report claiming Ayo Edebiri’s casting in a *Pirates of the Caribbean* reboot, Edebiri received a torrent of online abuse, including death threats and racial slurs. The false report originated from a right-wing account with no industry credibility, yet Musk’s endorsement fueled the harassment. Edebiri’s public condemnation of Musk’s actions highlights the dangerous consequences of spreading misinformation and the actor’s subsequent support from Bill Burr. A *Pirates of the Caribbean* reboot is in development, but Edebiri’s involvement was entirely fabricated.
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Following accusations of making a Nazi salute at a Trump event, Elon Musk vehemently denies being a Nazi, citing the absence of genocide as a key differentiator. He maintains that the online attacks are “pretty stressful,” even including death threats. Musk’s justification, offered on the Joe Rogan Experience, centers on the argument that the defining characteristic of Nazism is genocide and war, not mere gestures or mannerisms. This defense follows significant criticism from numerous sources, including politicians and Jewish organizations.
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A website, “DEI Watch List,” published the personal information of federal health workers, primarily Black employees involved in diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, labeling them as “targets.” The site, linked in private group chats and social media, lists alleged “offenses” such as political donations and pronoun usage in bios, sparking fear and alarm among employees. This action, attributed to the conservative American Accountability Foundation, is viewed as a form of intimidation and harassment, with calls for law enforcement investigation. The incident follows recent threatening memos from HHS directing the termination of DEI-related activities and the reporting of non-compliant colleagues, further escalating anxieties within federal health agencies.
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A man has been charged with stalking WNBA star Caitlin Clark after allegedly making a series of threatening posts online. The affidavit supporting the charges details how Clark expressed significant concern for her safety following these messages, stating that she’s altered her public appearances and routines out of fear. This highlights a critical aspect of stalking: it’s not just about explicit threats, but the pervasive fear and the need to drastically change one’s life to maintain safety. The constant worry about where to go, when to go, and how to present oneself – losing the freedom to simply be oneself – is a devastating consequence.… Continue reading
Martin Hibbert and his daughter, severely injured in the Manchester Arena bombing, won a lawsuit against a YouTuber who falsely claimed the attack was staged and secretly filmed them. The YouTuber, Richard Hall, spread conspiracy theories across his 16-million-view YouTube channel, including claims that the Hibberts were “crisis actors.” The court condemned Hall’s actions as gravely unacceptable, awarding the family damages. Hibbert now advocates for “Eve’s Law,” a new criminal offense protecting victims of tragedy from online harassment by conspiracy theorists, and for improved legal access for such victims.
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Following the 2024 election, President Trump established the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a presidential advisory committee headed by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, ostensibly to improve governmental efficiency. However, DOGE lacks real power and authority, existing primarily as a symbolic gesture. Musk’s subsequent online harassment of federal employees, particularly women, suggests a lack of confidence in DOGE’s ability to achieve its stated goals and instead reflects a desire for indirect control through intimidation. This behavior reveals the underlying motivations as less about genuine reform and more about projecting personal insecurities onto those who represent competence and public service. Ultimately, Musk’s actions expose the weakness inherent in such bullying tactics.
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Following the recent presidential election, a surge in misogynistic rhetoric online and on college campuses has prompted safety concerns among women. The phrase “Your body, my choice,” originally an abortion rights slogan, has been weaponized by right-wing influencers, interpreted as a threat to women’s autonomy. This online harassment has manifested offline, with instances ranging from verbal harassment to anonymous threats. Experts link this escalation to the election results, perceived by some men as a rejection of women’s rights and a validation of traditional gender roles. The concerning trend underscores the real-world impact of online extremism and the need for addressing misogynistic violence.
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Elon Musk’s recent X posts publicized the names and job titles of four relatively obscure climate-focused federal employees, sparking a wave of online harassment and forcing at least one to delete their social media accounts. This action, enabled by Musk’s massive following, has instilled fear among federal employees, who worry about becoming targets of online abuse and even physical threats. Experts suggest this tactic aims to intimidate employees into quitting, effectively downsizing the government without formal processes. A former federal employee, previously targeted by Musk, reported receiving death threats and being forced to relocate, highlighting the potential dangers of such public shaming.
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Elon Musk, co-lead of the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency advisory group, is publicly targeting individual government employees on X, most recently highlighting Ashley Thomas’s role at the US International Development Finance Corporation. This has led to a significant online harassment campaign against Thomas, prompting concerns about the potential for such actions to instill fear among federal employees. Musk’s actions are consistent with past behavior of using social media to attack individuals, often under the pretext of free speech. This tactic has resulted in significant online harassment campaigns against his targets.
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John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood