There's an article on cnn.com that explores the phenomenon of griefing -- what it is, where it came from, and what to do about it. It opens with a bit about Anshe Chung's attack in 2006, which is how it's relevant here. The second paragraph has it that the Internet ' ... was to be a libertarian's paradise, where people could meet and form lasting relationships with other individuals from around the globe, free from the constraints of daily existence - all without having to leave their bedroom.'

The thing is, despite griefing, the Internet is all of that. I have personal experience with friends who have met partners and more online in just this fashion. Ultimately, what makes a griefer is summed up best in this Penny Arcade comic (adult language to follow). Anonymity + an audience = antisocial behavior. There's more to it than that, however, as many, perhaps even the majority of those online are not griefers at all. One must be of the mentality that causing harm to others is pleasurable. The Avatar Bill of Rights, mentioned in the article, is a first step toward quelling griefing behavior, but it tells us nothing about how to prevent it in the first place.

So, where does that leave us? SL still doesn't allow the average user to mount up a posse and hunt down a griefer with the purpose of banning him, and cries for help to LL aren't always heeded. Is it possible to cobble together some sort of groundroots response? Are antiscript sims the answer? Have you seen a method that works?

(via cnn.com)