#reply guy

The real problem with Swynlake (aside from the goo monsters and storm demons and evil vampires who were into human sacrifice) was that nobody felt bad for Lightning. As much as Lightning resented what the stranger at Chippamunka’s had said to him, it was kind of true. Nobody really cared. 

Lightning was mulling this over in the Hunted Deer over an IPA when it occurred to him that he wasn’t the only one. The only one who had gotten ripped apart by the online mob, that was! He had seen what had gone down with that @firestarter69 the other day, and here he was, at the same bar! 

Now, Lightning did not necessarily approve of what this guy had been accused of saying, but he was a young guy! Clearly a bit of a shit stirrer. Did everyone really need to account for everything they said offhand? Maybe this was the ally he was looking for. 

“What a week, huh?” He chuckled, shaking his head, like they were both in on this joke.

[outfit]

...Still, reply guy behavior can escalate quickly — which is why a lot of women choose not to block the offenders. I once had a reply guy whose comments started off innocuous, then steadily became more frequent — and more suggestive — when I stopped liking his replies. Eventually, he also found me on Instagram and Facebook, where he continued to engage with the vast majority of my posts. 

I didn't block him, though. I didn't want to make him angry. One never knows how far a man will go to make a woman's life hell.