It appears that trolls are getting much more creative in their N-word (and other slur word) towers, and Twitter has yet to implement a rule that detects this kind of behavior or moderate these kinds of tweets. The latest cases we see of creation, unfortunately, is that trolls are now implementing - and abusing literature and poetry to disguise their towers so that they can now abuse others more freely while evading detection. Here are just two of many, many ways and tactics that the trolls are getting around moderation and evading suspensions. Acrostic Poems Our first example of trolls getting more creative in their ways to create their slur word towers, in an attempt to avoid being detected or picked up by Twitter, is the use of the acrostic poem, which is a popular form of poetry used by poetry writers and social media users alike. This poetry involves using words in which the starting letter of each word forms a word vertically down. An example is below - I created an example of this and used random words and place names to create the word "ABSTRACT" when read vertically. The starting letter is highlighted in bold, to highlight the letter that is supposed to be read vertically down. Sometimes, each word used in this poem may be done to a theme, but in the case example below, I picked random places and words. Below is an example of trolls nearly forming the N word tower, using innocent words in an acrostic poem using the reply feature - to attempt to avoid being detected by Twitter. Note that trolls have used the theme of chemistry and science to try to evade being detected by both Twitter and the public. Each element in each reply starts with a capital letter. Another troll has incited other trolls to start of the N word tower, and give those trolls themes - and ideas on how to do it. Luckily, one of the accounts appear to have deactivated, resulting in the slur word poetry tower not being complete. Let's hope it stays that way. The single words in each reply may seem innocent to unwitting Twitter users, and perhaps to science enthusiasts, may be interested in the science chain like that above but if you follow the reply thread, then read the first letter of each word vertically downwards, then you will know that it is anything but innocent. Trolls are deliberately doing this to evade detection, moderation actions and even account suspensions. It is also, like the original N word letter tower, a form of platform manipulation and spam, as these word and poetry chains can be deceptive. Using single letters in a phrase to form a vertical word In other cases, trolls use single letters to turn what should be an otherwise innocent phrase - into a phrase that is used to create a hateful slur on Twitter via the reply function. In some cases, trolls may start off the chain with either a tweet that is not a reply, or a quote tweet. Below in this image, I have created an example of how trolls can use phrases and/or sentences to form a word/slur word chain. I have used a random name - "ANNE" as an example. Here are the trolls below participating in an N word tower, in the form of a phrase. In some cases, like below, these can also, like the acrostic poem, be poetic, and can also be rhythmic. Clearly, the OP of this one is stupid, because the N word tower is NOT one of power. Again, this can go against the rules of platform manipulation and spam as these sentences and phrases are tweeted with intent to incite hatred against black people (in this case, at least), while disguising it as innocent phrases. This is what would be described as deceptive and hateful behavior. In the case above, it appears that Hunter Walker, a verified journalist, had unwittingly started of the N word poetry tower chain through no fault of his own - the trolls decided to take advantage of him calling out racism - and using his tweet to create a tower. In this case, this not only is a case of platform manipulation/spam and hateful conduct, but it is targeted harassment since they are not only dogpiling onto him, and they are also abusing him as well as they have created the N word tower chain - and aimed it at him while exploiting his tweet against him. Unfortunately, it appears there is still no policy on this kind of behavior as of yet - and the rules on harassment, hateful conduct and platform manipulation and spam need to be updated. Twitter has updated their hateful conduct to include incitement against protected categories, but has not included encouraging others to participate in abusive behavior towards a category, and neither have they included using the reply function to abuse others based on their race or nationality. Twitter needs to do better and must update all three of their policies to include slur towers and phrases, and other forms of slur towers disguised by any other means, including GIFS, memes, videos and imagery. Twitter also must implement a system that detects any type of slur word chains, and add an option for reporting under hateful conduct as "this user is using the reply function to create hateful slur or phrase towers" so that trolls will have a harder time creating these towers.
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