Sad as it is, it'll happen every time you stick a TV camera in a crowded place, regardless of the occasion.
But what can be worse than a bunch of idiots making faces on television? 2chan has the answer! 'Cause there's nothing like Internet road rage to restore the dignity of actual road rage victims.

Forehead, meet palm. Palm, forehead. Now, say hello. Hard.

I think I prefer it when Internet loudmouths stick to bitching n' moaning and arguing pointlessly about pixel counts, religion and politics.

Antiterra

It just goes to show you that America doesn't have a monopoly on stupid people.

RolexDPracer

What bothers me about "internet justice" is that there is no structure to it. It's a bunch of angry people who have decided that an acton is wrong, and that somehow, they are justified in taking corrective action. And they're not. The reason the police and the government are often referred to as "the authorities" is for this very reason. Regardless of how really, really sure you are that you are justified in forming an angry mob to serve the greater good, YOU AREN'T. It's for the cops and the courts to determine, end of story.

I would imagine in most cases, the group will also be "fortified" with more than a few jocular asshats along for the ride who don't care whose ribs they're kicking in, so long as they get their turn and there is a big crowd around them allowing them to quickly fade back into anonymity. Suddenly, some guy who made a funny face at a camera is getting hit with a deluge of angry email and threatening phone calls (at the very least). The authories have a term for this: Harassment. Making faces at what amounts to a really large funeral isn't illegal. Harassing someone is.

You know what works much better when you see some random dick being a dick? Say to yourself "what a dick" and move on. Don't spare another moment worrying about it. If an effort like this has to be made to identify these guys, chances are they're nobodies anyway. Walk on by, click on the next web page, do whatever you have to do to forget about these guys. Lynch mobs weren't cool when the KKK formed them, and they sure as hell aren't cool now.

TitillatedOcelot

@Brian Crecente: Excuse my ignorance Brian but those sites seem to be quite infamous on Kotaku. What are they about? From the subject matter they are mentioned in, they sound like an amoral bunch of emo-pubescent band of people. I had that image without taking this story into account.

okenny :)

@Brian Crecente: Yeah but didn't 4chan come from 2chan. So wouldn't it be the other way around?

FLYBOY611

@Chalice: its supposed to be, but in fact it is not.

Gantz: Your Trusted Friend in Science.

Anyone ever consider that these people may not have even known what was going on? They might have been out all day, not heard anything, popped into town and seen a camera crew and thought "hey, cool!".
Fact is, even though news travels fast, not everyone heres it! Case in point, there was a fire in Cardiff last week while I was walking through the town center, apparently myself and many others were completely oblivious to it until we got home and actually watched the news.

Thing is, you don't know what these people were thinking just from stills, and its ridiculous to assume that you do.

coffeehair

Needless to say but this video is far more sinister and can be fuel for disturbed minds. The people in the video at worst look like fools. The person who made this video at worst could have blood on his hands.

Then again, the person who made this video is probably already broken enough to think they have a right to pass judgment. Probably a homeless hunter.

okenny :)

Oh noes the internet if after them... come on this is ridiculous, there's always people doing that on live tv reports, retarded or not I bet some didn't even knew what happened. Meanwhile while I wrote this post dozens of children died from starvation, is that not ok to be sad about ? Lets all be sad 24/7.

IroKuMata

@Brian Crecente:
Isn't it kind of the other way round?

Chalice

I gotta say, I never did feel at ease when I was in Akihabara, and in fact, my girlfriend didn't even want to get off the Yamanote line. We felt there were lots of people like this hanging around, attention seeking. Seemed like only a matter of time before something like this would happen here.

My heart goes out to the victims and their families. Such a tragedy.

furiku

They probably didn't know what was going on.

okrangerbob

yawn.

nutmilk

ah come on..
its just the little kid in all those people that popped out.
They are truly all sad and stuff.. Then camera points at them
and its: hey i'm on tv!, how's my hair? HI MOM /wave
wow cool look at me i'm on the 6o clock news!
..were only human..

vln

they wanted attention so they're being punished with...attention?!?

yeah, so many punishments work when you give people exactly what they want...

PGGB

mob mentality the dumbest form of cooperation there is. the man is entitled to laugh at whatever he finds amusing, once you start dictating emotional responses you become worse than anything they did. This 2chan crusade is not going to seem so harmless if someone ends up hurt because of this witch hunt. Say what you will about Something Awful, they may be raging assholes, they may be inconsiderate, but they don't really harm anyone. Unless theres provocation they really don't get belligerent and usually the storm that comes from their interest is gone in 1-2 days. Theres a difference between internet dickery and sanctioning mob justice.

DasKonstruct

@mphz:

They aren't in shock, nor are they grieving. They're just people who thought it would be cool to be on TV. I don't even know if I can call it disrespectful as this happens all the time in every country, regardless of whether or not it was a tragedy. Its not like they were laughing and grinning at what happened.

CCCombobreaker

SHARK 'EM! WHO'S LAUGHING NOW!? Probably still them.

Vengeance is so pointless if you actually think about it.

KenogaBrave

Lol, I think these so called "bad" individuals were only trying to get on TV, because they thought that it was a segment on the MGS4 pre-launch party...Either that or they thought that the female reporter was some hot ass clown, hehe.

S0NY

half of these people dont seem to be waving or grinning

bigman88zz

We really don't know the context.

Garo

What the hell? Most of them aren't smiling at all, they're just standing there - were they supposed to disappear off the face of the earth because the TV crew showed up?
For me this whole debacle is lost in translation (sorry, I always wanted to say it).

dionion

Uh, isn't this a bit of an overreaction? Yes, it's a tragedy, but keep in mind that people don't always think clearly when in shock or grieving.

mphz

I don't think they are necessarily bad people, it's just that when something of this magnitude happens you might not realize what's going on, and what to do or how to act.
This is why people don't help someone when they see something happened, it's just not something you're supposed to know what to do. You just expect that "someone" is going to do "something"
... well, same thing I think. Japanese people sometimes are not good with emotional stuff, so they end up doing/saying things they didn't mean.

Waka in Japan

Only in America...

wait...

CCCombobreaker

I can see how what these guys did was disrespectful, but what I can't see is how what they've done is even remotely as disrespectful as the shit going down at somethingawful.com every single day. Sounds like someone needs to look at the big picture.

BtownDesignGuy

When is vigilante internet justice not appropriate?

Heliophage

c'mon, like this will affect him, this whole using the internet to bash people thing is really sad.

RET_Ghost

@Brian Crecente: lmao

Schoolimangooli the doogie mag goosie!

The video doesn't show anything. Just picutres.

I fail to see their reprehensible behavior that will make go and actually look for them.

Herodito

I don't know, what's the guy laughing about exactly? A lot of the images on the video show people with half smirks or just standing there.

Swordmonkey

Those ain't the real criminals. I guess it wasn't in good taste what they did, but come on. This internet revenge action is just pointless and plain stupid.

andpin

Internet vigilante justice = Proper moral enforcement

CanaryWundaboy

2chan, striving daily to be 4chan.

Brian Crecente

that guy is a asshole with no respect for the deceased. Lets internet tar and feather him ASAP!

castout

4chan only wishes that it had as much influence as 2chan. There's been books, dissertations and even a popular TV series (Densha Otoko) based on 2chan.

SolInvictus

I'd have to follow 2chan to see if anything comes of it but I doubt it.
I don't think it's going to be like that korean lady that let her dog poop on the (train?/subway?).

Channing

I really don't think this was that bad. They might not have even known why the reporter was there. Plus, not all of them even look happy, some looked mournful. Plus! You can't demand certain emotions of people in a given situation, people are free to do whatever they wish within the bounds of the law. Taking it too far people.

FiendishMoogle

@heretrix: Exactly. Japan isnt the most advanced country in the world. It's as troubled as everywhere else.

Ryfael

Yeah, right. If "poor taste" were a crime worthy of mob justice, half the people who comment on this site would be dead.

"Internet justice" is nonsense. I guess in that regard it's not that different from plain old vanilla justice.

KaneRobot

@Angryrider:
"it seems the Japanese are learning more and more to be shameless. Time to add this to the list of what's wrong with the most advanced country in the world."

Jesus Christ. Why do people suck off Japan so much? They have and always will have fucking idiots there just like everybody else.

heretrix

Some of 'em aren't even smiling.

Clushje

These folks kinda got what they were looking for, but the whole situation is going to turn ugly if mob justice takes its toll.

evslin

@RolexDPracer:
Word up.

heretrix

@thisisasignin: Yessss, I'm eeevil that way...

Antiterra

You know these grinning morons have committed a sin that breaks the tenets of Asian culture. To be happy when people are DEAD?! Ever since "something" was outlawed, it seems the Japanese are learning more and more to be shameless. Time to add this to the list of what's wrong with the most advanced country in the world.

This is just saddening on so many levels.

Angryrider

@Antiterra: pixel counts

Oh you HAD to go there, DIDNT YOU?!

thisisasignin

Hmm. The people on 2chan do> have lives outside of the forum...right?

Do Kesubei

@andpin: @RET_Ghost: Agreed. Really sad that Kotaku would support this.

L_K_M

@Brian Crecente: arent they basically the same? if you REALLY think about it

SupaPhly

@Brian Crecente: and I thought it was the other way around...

Though I don't think 2chan is as wild as 4chan...

Shiroi Kaze

@okenny :): I'll answer. 4chan is an imageboard that can be used with complete anonimity, creating a anarchy-like system were moral dies and 96% of the internet memes come from, see:

[www.4chan.org]

2chan is the japanese version of 4chan, only that the later was born from this one, but now surprases it; 2chan is the child of 2channel, ze biggass japanese forum.

[www.2chan.net]

(俗・ ) Grey Gecko

good for 2chan; intervening to serve the greater good when the authorities can't.

creepwood

It's about time for you KIRA to use the eye now. Justice in Japan?

Asmodeal

They just wanted to crowd around the female...

but on a side note, that guy in the above picture reminds me of that lead actor from the Korean film The Host.

MelodyKitn

I admit that this is pretty damn lame. I mean, this happens in every country. Welcome to Earth, home of the human species. I live in Pittsburgh, PA, and I've been in many, many situations in which traffic slows down for a crash that happened on the other side of the median strip due solely to the fact that people are nosy assholes.

In fact, calling these people out is hypocrisy at its finest.

kubevubin

what a load of bullshit, so the guy smiled?
wtf are you people - the thought police?

Vileyaser

@(俗・ ) Grey Gecko: Thanks for that :)

okenny :)

@L_K_M: I must have missed the part about Kotaku supporting this. Oh wait, they didn't: Certainly, these people acted disrespectful, but not sure if vigilante internet justice is appropriate either.

That's about as neutral as it gets, actually leaning towards a negative opinion on this. Don't know where you are coming from dude.

Candlejack

I don't think they knew what was going on. They just saw a camera crew, and like, hey, I wanna be on TV. Everyone wants their 15 minutes, and it's only human.

zerokoolpsx

Dumbass..Kick him hard.Retarted fool..Plow him down and stab him..And let him feel how it feels to die!

motogp

Man there's alot of foreigners in that place!

KnightRider

Talk about an over reaction. I was expecting someone to actually be doing something dumb. 2Chan is somehow dumber than 4chan...

Akira119

Actually, I was ready to write a comment about "you want to see 'man children,' here you go!" but watching the video, most of them looked like a typical crowd behind a newscast. The one who was actually smiling was talking on a phone. Most of them probably can't even hear what she's reporting, and the story itself is "What kind of place is the crime scene?" so really, that shows it - it's a place with a bunch of geeks who stand around curiously, smile, and snap photos of a TV camera.

@Brian Crecente:
Nice. That about sums it up.
On both of them, it's great the that boards are anonymous, but it seems to compel and encourage people to behave childishly and whimsically, and mobilize internet goon squads for anything they think would be FUN, not neccesarily right. In Anon vs Scientology I've read anonymi complaining that they've lost sight of their goals by actually doing something useful, and that they should only do it "for the lulz" - anything else is just hipsterism and posing. WTF? Actively trying to make sure they are the dregs of society...

fuchikoma

@okenny :): no problem-o ;)

(俗・ ) Grey Gecko

Get 'em 2 chan !

AuthenticM

@FLYBOY611: @Chalice: @SupaPhly:

thatsthejoke.jpg

Withmyrice

The internet needs to learn about [en.wikipedia.org] because that could well be what's up here.

Mister Adequate

One guy looked like he heard a good joke on his phone, don't think he should get killed or hunted down over it though.

Vigilante justice doesn't do much about the tragedy that as already occurred. However, I would read the Manga.

Gypsyfly

@motogp: Hey there, psycho. Maybe you should only be allowed plastic utensils from now on. Violent overreaction much?

wild homes v: treyarch attacks

Really, we all have to look at ourselves. We understand perfectly that the complete lack of accountability on the Internet is problematic, and so when we encourage any form of Internet vigilantism-- awesome or funny or whatever-- it sends a message of approval. Just like all of you, I found it hilarious when that story was posted recently about how INTERNET JUSTICE caught that kid who stole the 360 and sent a ransom note. But supporting something like that sends an out-of-context message that the normal bounds of acceptable behavior don't apply-- that in the great world of the Internet, your masked superhero ass can cross whatever lines you want-- do anything you wouldn't do in real life-- because, well, it's just the Internet and no one gets hurt. That's not to say this is just like the 360 ransom thing, but when we give out-of-context approval to anonymous Internet vigilantism, we're fostering this kind of behavior.

wild homes v: treyarch attacks

I think there is something funadmentally wrong with hunting people down for smiling. And just the idea that people are actually going vigilante about this is more disturbing to me than the idea that someone could not share empathy for a tragedy.

Jeremy

@Brian Crecente: ???? Ha Ha Ha. Oh wow.

William "Killer" Shatner

Face it, three quarters of you kotaku heads would be right out there with them, waving like morons, calling your friends at home and saying hay look at me, I'm on TV.
Check that your own sh*t don't stink before you cast stones.

chris_wing

@Brian Crecente: You mean 2Ch. 2Chan is the retarded mutant child of 2Ch. In turn, 4Chan is the even more retarded mutant child of 2Chan...

Lockenator

What a jackass.

KM91

Lousy 2Chan.... Well, at least they're following the rule: Pics or it didn't happen.

thekoopatrooper

The forum in question is actually 2ch and not 2chan.

2ch/2channel is the largest BBS in the world, and covers a wide range of topics, attracting all kinds of posters with its anonymous posting system.

2chan is an image board based on 2ch's concept and the direct predecessor of 4chan.

The article references 2ch and not 2chan.

DarkMirage

@Candlejack: I think LKM's implication was that Kotaku was inadvertently supporting the guy by giving him more attention.

Toasticus

@Brian Crecente:

Pretty sure it's the other way around, 2ch was there years before 4chan was established >>

AuraHACK

@Candlejack: Kotaku supports this by reporting it. That's the entire point of what these people are trying to achieve: Public humiliation. And kotaku is delivering it. It doesn't matter what Brian actually writes; actions speak louder than words.

Not supporting this vigilantism would mean not giving it free publicity.

L_K_M

What a load of horseshit. Most of the reactions of bystanders were perhaps out of pure surprise when a 8mm is stuck right in front of you; most common citizen will pull the same shit if MSNBC truck parked in front your lawn.

Goddamn, at least they to came to pay their dues. It wasn't as if they were pissing on the deceased.

PsycheE

No good could possibly come out of this.

Fenris Wolf

@Brian Crecente: @
So true.

So, very, very true.

sean09

Wow this is great, just what we need after a big tragedy like this.

Seriously, these people are not even doing much. Sure a few of them are little excited to be on tv and laughing, but do they deserve to be shown on the internet and called vigilantes?

Inferno_22

Kotaku, please pull this story/online hit list. It would be a shame if people actually went after these gawkers, you know, since you guys could be held partly liable if said person was a Kotaku reader.

chris_wing

People, people. Don't you know when people (read: Crecente) are being sarcastic? I'm sure he knew that 2chan came first, you don't have to blast the guy with thirty of the same correctional posts, especially if so many others before you have already done the same.

Blah8

A lot of people isolate themselves from the incident and crack jokes as a coping method (Especially younger people). They didn't commit any crime. Teenagers grinning when there's blood on the street is the exact same amount of stupid as making a big deal out of some grinning teenagers when there's blood on the street. lol hypocrisy.

Encouraging internet shithole brand vigilante justice is risky business. Raids like this end in tears, and SITE TEMPORARILY UNAVAILABLE.

Mr. Mastodon Farm

@Squirrelbot3000: "Hey, it got Jerry, Elaine, George and Kramer thrown in the slammer."
Excellent reference!

chris_wing

@Mr. Mastodon Farm: "Encouraging internet shithole brand vigilante justice is risky business. Raids like this end in tears, and SITE TEMPORARILY UNAVAILABLE."

Or site removed and operators fined & barred from online publishing for spreading misguided hate in the wake of a tragedy.

ps. Has anyone mentioned that this has zero video gaming connection?

chris_wing

Hey, it got Jerry, Elaine, George and Kramer thrown in the slammer.

Squirrelbot3000

Where's that pic with the caption "Sorry babe, got to SAVE THE INTERNETS!"

Sabre_Justice: Okay, no more long name.

These people aren't the only fools that act like Muppet's on the news, it happens all over the world even if it is a horrible tragedy, there is always one person who will act up on television.

I don't think it's fair that these guys are going to get Internet vigilantes after them but that's just my belief.

Anto103

@chris_wing:
@Squirrelbot3000:

Incorrect, illogical reference: The Seinfeld group was put "in the slammer" because they failed to act DURING a crime in a reasonable fashion. They actually broke a legitimate law in that town.

This is very different. This was a despicable act of disrespect committed AFTER a crime.

A schmuck who grind and goofs around for a camera in the background of a tragic, sad, devastating story is disgusting and shouldn't even deserve a fair shake. I honestly hate people who do this: preening for the camera during the report of a murder or something equally horrible.

Find him, and do what you will. I'm behind that all the way.

Doug

Stupid.
So what if the guy was laughing or whatnot.
Shure the event was tragic, but maybe some people aren't even considering the possibility that the guy was just passing by at that moment and didn't knew what was happening.

Internet justice is only on the same level of what the killer did.

Bokusatsu_Tenshi

@Doug:"A schmuck who grind and goofs around for a camera in the background of a tragic, sad, devastating story is disgusting and shouldn't even deserve a fair shake. I honestly hate people who do this: preening for the camera during the report of a murder or something equally horrible.

Find him, and do what you will. I'm behind that all the way."

Let me set the scene for you.
A reporter is doing a report on the street. You, while walking down the street see the reporter. As you pass the reporter you turn to the camera and wave with a smile on your face, you continue along. You didn't take any note as to what the reporter was saying, or what the story is about. Someone watching at home has the advantage of the story and facts framed for them by the network, someone walking on the street doesn't.

I know that these people stayed and gawked, but I would say that at any given time 1/2 to 1/3 of the peanut gallery had no clue what the event was. All I'm saying is consider other peoples perspectives before you sign death warrants.

And I will say it again, Kotaku, pls pull this online hit list.

chris_wing

Wow, I guess in a way I am glad to see that idiocy and acting like a jack ass to be seen by your friends on t.v. is universal and not restricted to the U.S.

Mr.SithNinja

People do strange things to get on tv. Sometimes its funny, sometimes its highly in appropriate.

+ Watch video

sander_dutch

Vigilante isn't the way to go, but these grinners should be shot.

michaelleung

violence begets more violence? gg human race.

shendragon

@michaelleung: "these grinners should be shot."

haha lol, no wait are you serious? What the hell is wrong with you?

TheToiletDuck

@TheToiletDuck: People who think these grinners should be shot should be shot! It's true!

L_K_M

i honestly dont know if anyone mentioned this but pretty much something similar happened in the anime series Gantz in which one of the characters goes to a district and shoots everyone on sight

AnimeGamer201

And they say that American and British kids have been de-censortised to violence?!?!

The_Vindicator

@sander_dutch That was the funniest vid I have seen in a while!

But seriously, on the topic of the video hit list, there are more consequences besides being shunned by his friends. This guy may even be shunned by his coworkers, family and maybe even town.

KansaiCutie0712

What they need to go after are the persons who did'nt do anything when the assailant attacked the survivors with his knife. Same as the girl that got beat up in a train full of passengers, no one helped her everyone just stood still ignoring the situation because it's mendoukusai for them to do anything.

mendoukusai

Why do people feel the need to enforce their own moral compass on others. True the giggling ass in the picture was being disrespectful of the dead and while I find it sad I also find it's no concern of mine.

I'm not sure what I find to be more offensive the people who can laugh and titter in the face of tragedy or the ones who feel the need to force themselve to cry and fake outrage and remorse at someones death.

Shy420

@Brian Crecente: Uhh how about when it comes to over-the-seas news and gossip, 2ch kicks 4chan's hentai ass? :P

Anyway, I think it's pretty funny lol although maybe they're just trying to bring humor into a sad situation?

Ryuk

Expet from the massacer I find this post funny...

I mean a bunch of japanese people hunts smiling people throught the internet by sending out wanted videos and pictures. It's fucking bizzar...

Binslayer

What the hell is wrong with these people?

"Hey, look! I'm on TV... at the scene of a horrible fucking tragedy! *Giggles*"

SublimelyDaft

what if someone said something funny to him that's why he was laughing. why is it insisted he was just being a douche bag!?????????????????????????????? I'm just saying...........

freespeech