The recent case of Mary Bale, who was caught on CCTV putting a cat in a wheelie bin, has angered the internet community. The woman was found by internet users and then soundly abused by the entire internet community. Which, in my eyes, is quite justified.

The same thing has happened with other animal abusers. Two boys who posted a video on a social media site of themselves abusing a cat were found, hated and then arrested. The same thing happens with abusers of children – such as the pigs who killed baby P. The abusers were hated online and the entire internet community devoted themselves to showing their disgust at such people.

In many cases it’s a good thing. These abusers are found and punished by the internet community, driven into hiding as they feel the full weight of the hatred against them. However, this mob mentality – which is what it really amounts to – is slowly but surely becoming more easily triggered. Soon, the smallest thing is going to be enough to trigger condemnation by half the world.  The internet wields an enormous power – you just have to use it wisely.