Absolutely horrendous. Harassment and threats have become so ingrained in society, with countries turning a blind eye and social media choosing to ignore the issue. Hate mobs are alarmingly active, contributing to the normalization of such behavior.
While it’s evident that a significant portion of those involved explicitly targeted JoCat for not conforming to hypermasculine ideals and being supportive of the trans community, it’s crucial to acknowledge that others may have joined in for different reasons, perhaps simply dismissing JoCat as “cringe.” Even if they didn’t directly engage in harassment, their participation in the negativity added to the overall swarm.
I’ve witnessed individuals who are undoubtedly left-leaning and queer expressing frustration with mutual friends or followers who contributed to the pile-on.
Ultimately, the motivations behind the attacks become irrelevant. It transforms into a mass of people, a swarm of aggressors relentlessly inflicting harm. Those participating in such pile-ons should reflect on their actions. This pattern is not new, as seen with Gamergate employing similar tactics, leveraging figures like TotalBiscuit to recruit others who might not have otherwise joined.
JoCat’s decision to step back is entirely understandable. Any malicious actor can reignite the situation, and they often receive reinforcement for their actions. The current state of social media is fundamentally flawed, actively fostering and rewarding this toxic behavior.
To be brutally honest, I’d prefer a hundred JoCats creating wholesome content that celebrates women in all their diversity over a single individual in this forum arguing about the perceived unattractiveness of video game characters. More JoCat, less of the latter.
