Antisocial Online Stalking: Harassment in the South of Rochdale
Rochdale, Greater Manchester - 2024 - A series of disturbing events unfolded on Wednesday, July 17th, on Queensway in Rochdale, leaving a passer-by shaken and wrongly accused. The incident, which began at a bus stop outside Briskys takeaway, escalated into multiple assaults and a social media-fueled campaign of misinformation.
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The initial incident involved a woman with a pram who, after reportedly harassing a pedestrian for using a smartphone, was herself captured on the device. What began as a seemingly minor confrontation took a violent turn when the woman boarded a Bee Network bus. This is where the situation took a concerning turn.
A Bee Network bus driver, described as being of a heavy build and between 5'6" and 5'8" tall, then disembarked the bus near the Pentagon Motor Group on Queensway. Eyewitness accounts indicate that the driver then launched a physical attack on the same pedestrian who had been harassed earlier at the bus stop.
Less than 20 minutes later, a second female, accompanied by a child and also claiming to have been on the bus, attacked the same pedestrian on Hartley Lane. This seemingly coordinated series of assaults suggests a pre-existing animosity or plan.
The situation took an unsettling turn when the pedestrian who was the victim of these attacks was then wrongly accused. A member of Evolution Gym on Queensway, identified as Wayne Croston Fielding, accused the victim of being the perpetrator. Shockingly, Fielding admitted to being a mutual Facebook friend of the victim earlier this year. Fielding further indicated that the false accusations were being actively fueled by his own network of contacts on the social media platform.
This chain of events raises serious concerns about the role of social media in escalating local tensions. A recurring theme emerging from this incident is that there are suspicions of concerted, day-by-day tensions being fostered at the Bay Horse pub located in the Queensway, Lower Place, and Balderstone area. Moreover, there are reports that the Facebook platform is being utilised to systematically victimise residents in the Rochdale area. This indicates a deeper issue of organised online harassment spilling into real-world violence.
The events on Queensway highlight the dangers of online misinformation and the ease with which social media can be weaponised to target individuals. Authorities are urged to thoroughly investigate these incidents, not only the physical assaults but also the coordinated online campaign of misinformation and harassment. It's imperative to hold those responsible to account and address the root causes of the escalating tensions within the community.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of local harmony and the need for vigilance in combating online abuse and harassment.
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The initial incident involved a woman with a pram who, after reportedly harassing a pedestrian for using a smartphone, was herself captured on the device. What began as a seemingly minor confrontation took a violent turn when the woman boarded a Bee Network bus. This is where the situation took a concerning turn.
A Bee Network bus driver, described as being of a heavy build and between 5'6" and 5'8" tall, then disembarked the bus near the Pentagon Motor Group on Queensway. Eyewitness accounts indicate that the driver then launched a physical attack on the same pedestrian who had been harassed earlier at the bus stop.
Less than 20 minutes later, a second female, accompanied by a child and also claiming to have been on the bus, attacked the same pedestrian on Hartley Lane. This seemingly coordinated series of assaults suggests a pre-existing animosity or plan.
The situation took an unsettling turn when the pedestrian who was the victim of these attacks was then wrongly accused. A member of Evolution Gym on Queensway, identified as Wayne Croston Fielding, accused the victim of being the perpetrator. Shockingly, Fielding admitted to being a mutual Facebook friend of the victim earlier this year. Fielding further indicated that the false accusations were being actively fueled by his own network of contacts on the social media platform.
This chain of events raises serious concerns about the role of social media in escalating local tensions. A recurring theme emerging from this incident is that there are suspicions of concerted, day-by-day tensions being fostered at the Bay Horse pub located in the Queensway, Lower Place, and Balderstone area. Moreover, there are reports that the Facebook platform is being utilised to systematically victimise residents in the Rochdale area. This indicates a deeper issue of organised online harassment spilling into real-world violence.
The events on Queensway highlight the dangers of online misinformation and the ease with which social media can be weaponised to target individuals. Authorities are urged to thoroughly investigate these incidents, not only the physical assaults but also the coordinated online campaign of misinformation and harassment. It's imperative to hold those responsible to account and address the root causes of the escalating tensions within the community.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of local harmony and the need for vigilance in combating online abuse and harassment.
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