Bock Receives Death Threat
Posted on Saturday, September 22, 2007I must be doing something right.
You might remember a little while back I suggested banning chewing gum.
Well guess what? Last night I received the following email from somebody inside a chewing gum factory:
i stumbeled upon your website and i would rate it as my worst fuckin web experience of the year.
the snap pop-up pissed me off so much that i will never return again and i’m a typical web user
you have not got a fuckin clue about how to run a website and if i had a gun, i would shoot you for being such a shit web-master
you are a wanker
(You’ll notice I’m leaving out names at the moment but that might change. For now, I’ll just call him TOSSPOT.)
I replied, not unreasonably, That’s fine. Why don’t you go fuck yourself?
But then I thought Hold on a minute! This guy threatened to shoot me, so I sent details to his service provider and wrote to him as follows: Your threatening email has been reported as abuse to your service provider.
Here’s what he replied:
and do u know what they will do…………………
……………….nothing cos i didn’t use their SMTP server or network to send the email
so that proves you know nothing about networks OR webdesign
why don’t you just end it all now and top yourself
fool
What TOSSPOT didn’t seem to realise was that I had all the visitor logs, and I knew exactly who he worked for, so I replied: Which article did you particularly object to? Was it the one about chewing gum?
Silence. TOSSPOT suddenly realised the shit he was in and he didn’t answer, so I wrote to him again:
Hi there TOSSPOT.
Just keeping you up to date. I attach an email received from the service provider abuse team, and while I realise that I know nothing about these matters, maybe they’ll know more than I do.
The other thing I was thinking is, why not forward details of your visit and your emails to the people I think are your employers? Again, I might be wrong about that, but hey, no harm done if you don’t work where I think you work.
What do you reckon, TOSSPOT?
Still no answer. Then I got on to Mulley, who gave me the final bit of information I needed to identify this cowardly little swine. Here’s the last email I sent him:
Hi there TOSSPOT.
It’s me again. Bock.
How’s that Dell Inspiron you use? I was thinking of getting one myself.
Now look, I’m preparing tonight’s post, and I just wanted to give you an opportunity to comment on what goes into it, in the interest of fairness, you know?
What I’m going to say is this:
“Some time ago, I wrote a post about the damage chewing gum causes to the environment. Well, imagine my surprise when I received a threatening email last night from a chewing-gum manufacturer! Among other things, the person who wrote it (and who may well have been drunk) said that if he had a gun, he’d shoot me.”
Obviously, I’ll have to include all the threatening emails you sent me as well.
Now, TOSSPOT, this is going to happen. The only question is whether I mention your name in the article, and that depends on whether I get a genuine apology from you right now.
Bock
Tosspot still hasn’t replied. Mulley thinks I should just pass on this threat to his employers and the police, but I’m a bit more soft-hearted. What do you think?
Do you think I should go public on the name of the company and the name of the person?
============
Original post: : Stamp Out Sticky Streets
Later: The Silence of the Chewing-Gum Killer
Much later: The Confession of the Chewing Gum Killer
============
Stumble it!
September 22nd, 2007
Post the IP address and the company details! You’re too fucking soft. I’d have his job. I’d be tracking down the company directors and making them do the legwork of calling in the coppers. And I’m in a good mood this week!
September 22nd, 2007
My read on this, Bock, is tell the employer. If they don’t act, then tell the Gardaí if you believe you need to. I’d love to say “name and shame” both now, but then you’re stooping to their level. My gut reaction is to name and shame, and let folks know there is no such thing as anonymity on the Internet, it’s a myth, but that’s just a gut reaction and following a sensible process would be best.
September 23rd, 2007
Nah don’t worry he’s probably shat himself at this stage anyway
On a side note, your post for some reason reminded me of those old trick chewing gum packs that used to act like a mouse trap on your mates fingers when you offered them a stick of gum. Remember them?
September 23rd, 2007
I really love the threatening emails and comments. Life is less interesting without these little insects trying to intimidate us. The guy is probably huddled in a corner, his arms clasped around his knees, trembling while looking at his disconnected pc. Yars ago, I’d have him walking the plank, but these days I believe in second chances. Send him one more mail, asking him to apologise.
September 23rd, 2007
leave him (or her?) be. you’ve already frighteneed the shite out of them and taught them a lesson.
a very funny one.
September 23rd, 2007
Hang him high! Oops did I say that! - What I meant to say was of course more like this: Pray for him - Bombard him with love - Oh and send a member of the clergy to hear his confession! At the end of all that he will probably opt for hanging anyway ;-)
September 23rd, 2007
Damien: I know. I’m just a big softy.
Primal: The question is, what’s a sensible process?
Richie: He might have shat himself, but if he didn’t he’s still just a little turd.
Cap’n: I sent him several.
Rose: We’ll see if he passes the attitude test,
PaddyAnglican: Indeed. Perhaps he’ll repent.
You might do the needful if I give you the details. Send in Robo-Priest!
September 23rd, 2007
Nah, fuck him. If he’s that fucking stupid, he shouldn’t be trying to hold down a fucking job anyway. I mean, for all we know he A) may operate heavy machinery at work, B) may hold a driving license and C) may be considering breeding. All of which are reasons to STOP HIM NOW!
Oh, and he’s clearly a cunt.
September 24th, 2007
Seems to me that you’ve been very reasonable and ,dare I say it, forgiving.Yer man isn’t able or willing to see this so it’s time to get on to his job at the very least.
Welcome to the Death Threat Recipient Club.
September 24th, 2007
[…] Bock Receives Death-Threat […]
December 27th, 2007
I’m not too sure our lovely Gardai would be best pleased and willing to extend their sympathies to your petty complaint after reading this:
“Don’t get me wrong. I think we need a strong professional police force. I just don’t think we have one. Instead of a police force, it seems to me that we have a clan, a tribe, which regards the rest of society with suspicion and approaches people sometimes with undisguised aggression. Who hasn’t been on the receiving end of boorish, disrespectful behaviour by some Guard on a power trip? Annoying though such an experience can be, I’m afraid this has a more worrying consequence. Any force such as our own must police by consent, and unfortunately it seems that many members of the force are busily eroding the support of the very law-abiding people they need on their side.”
December 27th, 2007
The Guards are paid to do a job.