Is it ever appropriate to send death threats to people simply because you disagree with them?

I think there are some genuinely crazy people online. I don't know if they think they can't be traced, (but they can), and making a death threat against anyone is a crime. The FBI has a cyber-harassment unit that will prosecute death threats and cyber harassment inside the United States.

I just have to add to this. Today, on the news, I watched a woman in Boston ATTACK an EMS worker because he would not allow her to enter a pizza shop to get pizza. There was a person inside having a stroke or a fit or a heart attack or something similar, and they had closed the place down so the EMT's could work.

This nutcase went after the EMS worker...started hitting him. Over pizza. The whole thing was filmed, and this woman was arrested, for assault. Over pizza.

So...if you EVER get a death threat online, make a screenprint and save it. You need proof that can't be deleted later by the sender. Send it first to the admins of the site you are on. They will usually terminate the user's account and report the incident. If the threat was credible and seemed as though it might become real, report it yourself to the FBI's cyber harassment unit.

I've definitely been threatened with death over my political and religious beliefs. That's the internet for you.

For some people their religious and political beliefs are their identity, so disagreement with them is like disagreeing with who they are and they see that as a threat, so they threaten back.

Pretty much every day here since I came back one right winger here or another has used killing or murder as the punch line do a "joke". They seem to think everyone will back them if they are violent enough.


One of them just commented that they do it to troll and be a bully since they think it's funny to upset other people.

You should totally die for having an opinion different to my own. 🙄

It's a serious problem and shows any lack of self control and a tremendous fear. It is very self destructive to them and scary to those on the receiving end. I have received them for stating that fluoride should not be added to the water.