Online abuse

Public debate in Greece has been swept by a growing wave of intolerance and fanaticism over the past few years. The ongoing financial crisis should not be used as an excuse for ailing phenomena such as those that can be observed on Greek websites and social media.

[Arkas, a well-known local cartoonist and satirist, drew a barrage of online abuse from leftist commentators yesterday following the publication of two sketches that were critical of the SYRIZA-led government. The Facebook page which usually runs Arkas’s cartoons was suspended for a few hours following the incident.]

Lack of respect for difference of opinion is a threat to democracy. When people get used to or, worse, become addicted to nonsensical conspiracy theories, extreme forces gain in strength.

Society needs to put the brakes on ad hominem attacks that border on character assassination. Such methods are bound to damage all parties and opinions.