Online harassment is a serious problem, one that’s constantly perpetuated by internet trolls spewing direct and oftentimes violent threats to specific users. If you’re thinking this characterization is an exaggeration, John Oliver had the following message for you on Sunday:
“Congratulations on your white penis, because if you have one of those, you probably have a very different experience of the internet.” As he went onto explain, “women in particular can receive a veritable cornucopia of horrifying messages online.”
On the latest Last Week Tonight, Oliver took the issue to task by talking to female gamers and writers, many of whom have been the targets of a wide range of threats and revenge porn. “It can potentially affect any woman who makes the mistake of having a thought in her mind and then vocalizing it online,” he explained.
It’s perhaps even more disturbing how little legal protection women have when faced with such harassment.
For more on internet harassment and the online movement known as #Gamergate, check out our in-depth report here.
