Aurabolt Posted October 20, 2012 Share Posted October 20, 2012 Trolls, ye be warned! Link: http://www.cnn.com/2012/10/18/us/int...ogy/index.html Here be the article, Mods feel free to edit accordingly. Fort Worth, Texas (CNN) -- An internet troll reviled for his pornographic posts on Reddit and recently revealed as a middle-aged software programmer told CNN that he made "a huge mistake." For years, 49-year-old Michael Brutsch hid behind the online screen name "Violentacrez," creating hundreds of subforums on the user-generated website, such as "Rapebait," "Incest," "Pics of Dead Kids," "Choke a Bitch," and "Rape Jokes." "Violentacrez" has been banned from the site several times, although Brutsch still maintains a separate account. Last week, Gawker revealed the identity of "Violentacrez," whose posts generated as many as 800,000 subscribers and triggered a debate about whether Reddit was criminally liable for the content of its forums. Reddit is a website where the popularity of posts -- and whether they are featured prominently on the site's main page -- is determined by registered users' votes. Days after the Gawker article, Brutsch agreed to talk exclusively to CNN on camera at a hotel room in Fort Worth, about six miles from his home. He said his employer fired him after the Gawker article. He had worked there for seven years. "One of the problems that came around and bit me in the ass was that I didn't really think about what I was doing," Brutsch told CNN. "And I didn't listen to people when they said, 'You really shouldn't do this.'" Brutsch -- who is married, with a stepdaughter as well as a son and a stepson who are both in the U.S. military -- told CNN he started out posting "mostly soft-core porn," such as "pictures of naked girls, that sort of thing." "And as I'd find porn of different types, like if it was a picture of an African-American woman, I created a Reddit called 'Women of Color,'" Brutsch said. "If it was, you know, a woman with large breasts, I created a Reddit called 'Boobies.'" Years ago, Brutsch created his most infamous Reddit forum called "Jailbait" -- images of teenage girls posted without their or their families' consent. He said it became so popular, drawing hundreds of thousands of page views, that Reddit gave him an award -- a gold-plated bobblehead doll "for making significant contributions to the site." In an email to CNN, Reddit said Brutsch had won a community vote for "Worst Subreddit" and Reddit now "regrets having sent the trophy." Reddit also said it banned Brutsch's "Violentacrez" account several times since last year, adding that it "regret(s) not taking stronger action sooner." Looking back, Brutsch said his actions "were a huge mistake." He claimed he was addicted to Reddit and could not stop himself. The biggest thrill Brutsch said he got "was those meaningless Internet points," earned when "Redditors" voted for his posts. Now that he's lost his job, Brutsch told CNN he was sorry -- but he didn't say exactly what he was apologizing for. "Well, I am to some degree apologizing for what I did," Brutsch said. "Again, I was playing to an audience of college kids. And you know, when two years ago, when all of this was at its height, the audience was appreciative and supportive of the sort of gallows humor that I put out there." Legal analysts are split on whether Reddit is breaking any laws by allowing its users to post such heinous images. Reddit stressed in its email to CNN that it "follows all the legal requirements regarding illegal content, including reporting to the proper authorities. "By its nature, moderators at Reddit have complete control over the subsections they start unless they violate site rules or the law," it said. CNN legal contributor Sunny Hostin said she believes the website is hosting "borderline kiddie porn." CNN Senior Legal Analyst Jeffrey Toobin noted that while the website may not be breaking any criminal laws, its claim that it cannot interfere with its posters because they are protected by the First Amendment is "not true." "If I say something terrible to you on the phone, you can sue me -- you can't sue the phone company," Toobin explained on CNN's AC360 last year. "A website is different. A website automatically exercises some control. You can see they have rules there. So the idea that they have no control over their posters, that's simply wrong." Brutsch has not been charged with a crime. He was, however, questioned by police because of assertions that he had sex with his stepdaughter. He said it's not true. Granted this is an extreme case it does reignite the whole Free Speech vs. Responsible Posting online thing. This guy obviously didn't care and like it or not, he is the face of Evil Internet Trolls. What really bothers me is how in the video he tried to distance himself from his actions. Man the fuck up and take responsability. It's not fun trolling people when everyone knows who you REALLY are, is it? He got what he deserved in my book. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dandragon Posted October 20, 2012 Share Posted October 20, 2012 oi... yeah me and my friend have a discussion on what is trolling. if what THIS guy did is counted as trolling then...just...no...just no JUST FUCKING NO this is fucking cruel and unusual and what trolling is starting to turn into! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helios Posted October 20, 2012 Share Posted October 20, 2012 agree with dandragon that it's sad that this is what "trolling" is evolving into. also it's pretty funny when you get to see the guy behind the screen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eclipse Posted October 20, 2012 Share Posted October 20, 2012 I believe in free speech. I also believe that if your free speech is meant to harm others, then you'd best be willing to eat the consequences of your speech, which may involve nasty things like having people hunt you down for being such a jerk. Lastly, late much? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parrhesia Posted October 20, 2012 Share Posted October 20, 2012 (edited) oh no not the creator of the jailbait subreddit my libertyyyyyyyyy EDIT: A more important link to the article that outed him. Edited October 20, 2012 by Furetchen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IGdood Posted October 21, 2012 Share Posted October 21, 2012 He should've stayed on 4chan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melonhead Posted October 21, 2012 Share Posted October 21, 2012 Some people just go insane over this stuff. I believe he got what he deserved. And this guy has KIDS? Just sick.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rehab Posted October 21, 2012 Share Posted October 21, 2012 I kind of assumed the whole SA anti-Reddit thing was overblown, until I saw how adamant Reddit's admins were about keeping Jailbait (and worse) up. Like they took it really seriously, for a long time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uguu Posted October 21, 2012 Share Posted October 21, 2012 (edited) He should've stayed on 4chan. Except he's best friends forever with a bunch of Reddit's admins. Edit: Also he probably would have been banned from 4chan. Edited October 21, 2012 by Hikarasuman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Original Alear Posted October 21, 2012 Share Posted October 21, 2012 (edited) I believe in free speech. I also believe that if your free speech is meant to harm others, then you'd best be willing to eat the consequences of your speech, which may involve nasty things like having people hunt you down for being such a jerk. Absolute freedom to do anything within your capabilities. You don't even have to be willing to face the consequences, as long as you're capable of not facing them. Edited October 21, 2012 by L1049 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eclipse Posted October 21, 2012 Share Posted October 21, 2012 Absolute freedom to do anything within your capabilities. You don't even have to be willing to face the consequences, as long as you're capable of not facing them. It's one thing to be completely incapable of not facing them, and another to think that you're not capable of facing them. This was the latter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aurabolt Posted October 21, 2012 Author Share Posted October 21, 2012 Even though I see it over and over I'm just amazed how quickly people feel "sorry" when they get outed xD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Esau of Isaac Posted October 22, 2012 Share Posted October 22, 2012 Wait does this mean there are no more jailbait pictures? I will take up your fallen mantle, Brother. I will be the hero that the internet needs, even if it is not the one it wants. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Original Alear Posted October 23, 2012 Share Posted October 23, 2012 Even though I see it over and over I'm just amazed how quickly people feel "sorry" when they get outed xD Heh. Well, apologizing that you did something before you get caught generally implies admitting your wrongdoing. I've felt sorry for something that's completely legal and continued to do it regardless of feelings of sadness/guilt. Wait does this mean there are no more jailbait pictures? From now on, we will only have finebait pictures. They'll be related to illegally downloading copyrighted material, running red lights, and such. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Esau of Isaac Posted October 23, 2012 Share Posted October 23, 2012 From now on, we will only have finebait pictures. They'll be related to illegally downloading copyrighted material, running red lights, and such. Not good enough. Never compromise. Not even in the face of Armageddon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Original Alear Posted October 26, 2012 Share Posted October 26, 2012 (edited) Not good enough. Never compromise. Not even in the face of Armageddon. If Armageddon doesn't cause people to break their compromises, it might not be that bad. Edited October 26, 2012 by L1049 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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