Sir, – Jennifer O’Connell boasts that she dealt with online abuse by growing a thick skin (“Politicians: try using social media before you start legislating for it”, Life, January 9th). She suggests that those who find themselves in similar positions should follow her lead. This suggests a lack of empathy for those whose spines aren’t sufficiently steely to withstand the onslaught of anonymous abuse. There are few people whose mental equilibrium can withstand a constant barrage of abuse, whether from online or more traditional media. If advice to toughen up is the best Ms O’Connell has to offer the recipients of anonymous abuse, then it’s clear she isn’t taking the problem seriously.
Would she write a column telling someone who is depressed to “just get on with it“? – Yours, etc,