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Avondhu journalist Sandra Quinn, pictured with her boyfriend Daniel. Photo: Eddie Hennessy

"The comment was so unexpected that it felt like I'd been physically struck." This was how Avondhu journalist Sandra Quinn, described how she felt following a comment about her on Twitter by an internet troll. She says that for her, it puts online bullying and supposedly flyaway comments online, into context. 

Sandra entered a Ryanair competition on Twitter and posted a picture of herself and her boyfriend, saying how they would love to win return flights to Pisa.

"It's probably one of the most innocent things I've posted online. Anyway, a guy I don't know (his handle was @celticpaddy2), mentioned me in a commenton Tuesday saying that I should go to Weight Watchers. The comment was so unexpected that it felt like I'd been physically struck."

Sandra has since blocked any further comments from the perpetrator and reported the abuse to Twitter. Incidentally, this happened on 'Safer Internet Day' which was being celebrated in Ireland and which saw post-primary students attempt to do something to address cyber bullying in their local communities.

Sandra explained that, as a journalist, she uses social media a lot and has also been on the receiving end of her fair share of abuse and harassment, "particularly when I cover things like court or anything controversial."  

She says she can understand that people can be petty or bitter, but says it was the nature of the comment and how unprovoked and unwarranted it was, that really got to her. 

"I would consider myself to be a very confident person, happy in my own self image and with no issues in relation to my weight or appearance, but since the comment was made at about lunch time on Tuesday, I've felt physically sick and even though I'm not typically an emotional person, I have found myself breaking down into almost hysterical tears every hour or so. My stomach has also been in a constant knot and I've felt almost violated."

Sandra says the incident has made her think about the prevalence of online bullying, trolls and cyber safety.

"While it doesn't seem like much - a comment that a 'keyboard warrior' probably didn't even consider, but it does make me think. It has also made me consider how a teenager for instance, or someone who is not confident or has self-image issues, might react to this, how this could affect their mental health and possibly be the catalyst that could tip them over the edge and consider hurting themselves."

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