
Where did these people direct their hatred before social media?
BT Sports presenter Lynsey Hipgrave has been subjected to a torrent of abuse after offering an opinion, that some on Twitter disagreed with, on Lionel Messi's penalty.
If you've just arrived back to Earth from Mars, you may have missed the Barcelona genius set up Luis Suarez from the penalty spot, rather than shoot himself, during the team's 6-1 win over Celta Vigo on Sunday evening.
Most seemed to enjoy the piece of trickery, others, including Hipgrave, found it "disrespectful."
https://twitter.com/lynseyhipgrave1/status/699236298805141504
However, as everyone's entitled to an opinion, someone holding a view contrary to your own isn't the end of the world, or cause for outrage or vile abuse.
Yet that's exactly what Hipgrave experienced.
https://twitter.com/juanalbert098/status/699250824539557891
https://twitter.com/ForestEchoNews/status/699247599677607936
https://twitter.com/kzke10/status/699245147037552640
https://twitter.com/Simon_Rowntree/status/699249272051671040
https://twitter.com/SheikhItHaris/status/699244603766140929
https://twitter.com/lynseyhipgrave1/status/699247048160313345
Most right minded people supported the BT Sports presenter.
https://twitter.com/adamhillscomedy/status/699265512807755776
https://twitter.com/prodnose/status/699252222388002816
https://twitter.com/Adz77/status/699527299369201664