Greta Thunberg recently visited Bristol to take part in the Youth Strike 4 Climate protest. Photo / AP
Greta Thunberg recently visited Bristol to take part in the Youth Strike 4 Climate protest. Photo / AP
The presence of Greta Thunberg has brought out the worst in climate change deniers and trolls. And one British newspaper has had enough.
The Bristol Post sensationally published the names and faces linked to profiles who had spewed disgusting comments directed at the teen activist following a recent strike inthe United Kingdom.
Some came in the form of nasty memes, others were dismissive and sexist, while many included threats of violence towards the 17-year-old.
A Twitter post associated with the publication, titled Bristol Live, said the abusive comments were so rampant it was nearly impossible for the site's producers to moderate, hide or delete them.
"But some people went even further," the Bristol Post article said. "Further than just abusing Greta Thunberg and the young people taking part in the school strike.
"The extra step they took was to appear to call for, encourage or incite people to take physical action against either Greta Thunberg or those taking part.
"The people who were appearing to make those suggestions of physical actions and violence were very often parents and grandparents themselves.
"The following is a fraction of the apparent calls for violence or violent intent against Greta Thunberg or the school strikers, and those apparent calls for violence or violent intent are a fraction of the general, non-violent but not kind statements made."
Trolls named and shamed for horrific comments used against the teen activist. Photo / Facebook
The publication then proceeded to name and shame six men who had posted disgusting comments directed at the teen activist and her movement.
"She should be burnt at the stake," one Facebook user wrote.
"Crush the b***h. Sounds good to me. Send her home," said another.
"Her parents need to slap her with a brick," came another.
The paper published the names and faces of the trolls. Photo / Facebook
The decision to name and shame the trolls was praised on Twitter by journalists and general members of the social media platform.
"This is a bold and frankly brilliant move by the Bristol Post," journalist Katie French said.
"Naming and shaming the social media abusers who made threats and wrote disgusting things about Greta Thunberg."
Others replied directly to the publication's post of the name and shame story: "Incredible work," one said. "It's time people realised that their words, online, can have consequences. These people should rightly be called out."
And another: "Imagine if all news outlets took a stand against online bullying and trolls. These people say these things because they think there's no consequences to their hatred."
