10-17-2006, 01:50 PM
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#1 (permalink)
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Evil Priest: The Devil Made Me Do It!
Location: Southern England
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Flame On: Web Rage!
This article SOURCE was on the BBC today:
Quote:
Internet user admits 'web-rage'
An internet user has been found guilty of what police said was Britain's first "web-rage" attack.
Paul Gibbons, 47, tracked down John Jones using details obtained online after the pair exchanged insults in an internet chatroom, a court heard.
The pair met in an online chatroom
He travelled 70 miles to Mr Jones' home in Clacton, Essex, and beat him up with a pickaxe handle in December 2005.
Gibbons, of Southwark, south London, admitted unlawful wounding and will be sentenced on 7 November.
Threatening exchanges
The pair met in an internet chatroom called Yahoo, Islam 10 as both had an interest in the Muslim faith, the Old Bailey was told.
Their exchanges soured after Gibbons accused Mr Jones of spreading rumours about him.
"There was an exchange of views between the victim and the defendant which were threatening on both sides," said prosecutor Ibitayo Adebayo.
Gibbons, a man with a violent past, traced Mr Jones to his home using personal details about himself that he had put online.
Cut with a knife
Gibbons arrived at Mr Jones' home armed and accompanied by another man carrying a machete, the court heard.
Mr Jones, whose partner and three children were in the house, opened the door holding a knife for protection, said Mr Adebayo.
A fight broke out during which Mr Jones was disarmed and beaten with the pickaxe handle and cut with the knife.
Gibbons fled after the victim's partner called for help. Mr Jones suffered cuts to his head, neck and hands.
Identity safety
Det Cons Christopher Creagh, of the Metropolitan Police, said: "This is the first instance of a web-rage attack."
Det Sgt Jean-Marc Bazzoni, of Essex Police, added the case demonstrates the importance of protecting one's identity on the internet.
"Mr Jones had posted pictures of his family on the web and had chatted to Gibbons on an audio link," he said.
"It demonstrates how easily other users can put two and two together and also shows how children could also find themselves in danger."
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Now, I've seen my fair share of flame wars, but I've never seen it come to real blows before.
What's interesting is that several people I've talked to about it (on other boards and in RL) have made comments about it being because the Yahoo! group in question was about religeon - I don't buy that, but it's not a shock that it's being spun that way.
Anyone ever come across anything like this in RL? 
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