for thinking the 'Twittersphere' throws up some very nasty individuals

Me too, I couldn't agree more. That's why I don't have a twitter account. I do look at FB but hardly ever comment. I just like to be nosey.

I have "been on" Twitter for a while. I have never (repeat, NEVER) encountered any rudeness. One chooses who to engage with on Twitter (as on other forms of social media); one doesn't have to engage with unpleasantness.

Stop blaming Twitter and ignore the toerags. If you use Twitter, block immediately anyone who gives you grief. It's very simple. There is also a report facility. People can and are traced for criminal abuse.

I don't dislike Twitter. I dislike nasty people. I always have disliked nasty people.

With the greatest of respect Thatbags I don't think you've just got engaged to the nation's heartthrob. Fortunately for you and lots of other 'quiet' tweeters you don't do anything to invoke the ire of other tweeters who don't happen to agree with your thoughts or actions.

Stephen Fry was one of the first to sign up to a twitter account and in 2009 he was so fed up with the nastineess and agression he had encountered he left for a while... he's back but is quitting again until December... for some unknown reason It's obviously addictive!

I've been told countless times that I should have a Twitter account for 'self- promotional purposes'. Call me a coward but I don't feel like putting my head above the parapet in order to have it shot off for promotional purposes

It seems to me that all internet forums expose some nastiness.
It is the equivalent of mixing with people that you normally wouldnt mix with in rl.
I vastly limit my personal exposure to the internet as a whole because of it.

You can find some lovely people on Twitter. There are these two gay vicars - they got married recently - and they have just had the fourth addition to their gorgeous little family. Very sweet.

Oh! Should mention. The 'family' are lovely little dachshunds.

Good point, absentg, about my not having just got engaged to Someone Famous. Is she famous too? You'd think the addictiveness thing might be overcome by too much exposure to nastiness, at least temporarily, but apparently it isn't. Caroline Criado-Perez said she should have blocked and reported when she received abusive tweets instead of reading them and suffering as a consequence.

I would never tell anyone they should have a Twitter account, or any other kind of account come to that. Why do people do that?

Ignoring low level bullies works in rl.

But if they post on the internet, the nastiness is shared to a much wider audience.
I still think that if it is low level, it should be ignored.
But there are always always people that will respond on the internet. Which unfortunately keeps them going, and motivates them further.

The higher level bullies should be reported.
In actual reality they rarely carry out anything they are writing. But it will happen one day.

Announcing his engagement in The Times could be viewed as being slightly pretentious.

There are nasty people everywhere. I don't do Twitter or FB, but am on a few social forums. High level bullying and some nastiness can be reported to Twitter, it is now a criminal offence [depending on what is said.]Famous people and even minor celebs have to put up with a lot.

So where should he have announced his engagement, jingl?

Why did it need announcing? I know the answer of course: for the publicity.

Yes, I know that's cynical. but it may still be true.

Like most things in life there is a grey area and the likes of twitter is no exception.

If you are a controlled, rational thinking person who uses it with respect it can be a good social experience, I would think because I don't use it.. If however you are one of the sad, malicious tongued users who hides behind the anonymity to cause trouble then you are plain and simply not worth taking notice of.

The problem is the latter type of user get's all the attention and I think we are being ruled by a minority of such people all too regularly and they have obtained too much control.
It has become an obsession for people to feel the need to apologise at the drop of a hat because of a back lash on twitter. Celebrities, politicians, other media outlets no longer challenge what is being said, even if it is taken out of context or reported falsely. It can at times be a sinister avenue for those who have a desire to seek out trouble and they use it to their full advantage.

I find it's power to cause trouble quite alarming at times and I think the constant stories related to the 'nasty' aspect of it's use an issue. It certainly is a concept that has evolved into the good, the bad and the downright ugly.

Twitter of course Durhamjen.

POGS, liked your post. We hail from edinburgh and 27 years ago moved south. In the lead up to the scottish referendum OH reasoned on twitter his views as to why we should stay in the union. Well, rudeness and abbreviated swearing knew no limits. What was worse was the fact that he received death threats.
Alex

alex.

I agree with POGS too.

And I dont think that the police or law can anywhere near keep up currently.

I wonder what would happen if everybody who disagreed with the trolls, instead of complaining, actually gave up twitter for a month.

Does he do twitter, jings? I do not, and would not know how to find out, but I'm sure you could.

There is a Cumberbatch appreciation account on Twitter called @Cumberbitches. I think the OP may have picked up the wrong end of the stick.

I thought announcing engagements births etc is more popular for the posh or would be posh in the Telegraph. ;-)

I am on Twitter and never see any unpleasantness unless I come out of my nice little corner of nature lovers, walkers, knitters etc It is the same as anywhere - a cross section of all sorts. I have only once come across anyone being unpleasant to me and I just totally ignored him- I wan't going to feed the troll by responding.

Is it the celebrities that are the ones that mainly get it in the neck? That suffer the most?

It doesn't excuse the rudeness but perhaps it is part and parcel of celebrity life, of being famous, that unpleasant people will express their envy, or whatever it is, in abuse.

Here is a story showing the good side of social media.