So do these harassers think the shooting didn't happen? What a bizarre story.........
A Canadian man who was shot in the head at a Las Vegas concert has shut down his Facebook and Instagram accounts after being bombarded with messages from conspiracy theorists accusing him of faking his injury.
Taylor Matejka said his brother Braden has received "hundreds, if not thousands" of threats and harassing comments since he was injured in the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history.
The Lake Country, B.C., man was celebrating his 30th birthday with his girlfriend at the Vegas concert on Oct. 1 when a bullet struck the back of his head. He is expected to make a full recovery.
The phenomenon is nothing new. There are numerous websites, YouTube channels and social media accounts dedicated to exposing so-called "false flags" — mass shootings and other public tragedies that conspiracy theorists believe were staged by the media and the government.
"These people have been doing this to victims since Sandy Hook and beyond," Matejka said.
"Orlando, San Bernardino, all these shootings — and they think that the victims are all ... all crisis actors paid to essentially pretend like they're a part of this tragedy."
And they often go after victims and their families.
"The easiest target is victims. They're tangible. They're easy to access. They're real people on Facebook," Matejka said.
He said the situation has taken a toll on his brother, who is still recovering both physically and psychologically from the deadly attack.
"I've had some stuff on my page, but the magnitude on his is outstanding. I can't imagine opening Facebook to talk to friends and family and seeing this atrocious material being fed to him."
more
Canadians injured in Las Vegas shooting harassed online by conspiracy theorists - Home | As It Happens | CBC Radio
A Canadian man who was shot in the head at a Las Vegas concert has shut down his Facebook and Instagram accounts after being bombarded with messages from conspiracy theorists accusing him of faking his injury.
Taylor Matejka said his brother Braden has received "hundreds, if not thousands" of threats and harassing comments since he was injured in the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history.
The Lake Country, B.C., man was celebrating his 30th birthday with his girlfriend at the Vegas concert on Oct. 1 when a bullet struck the back of his head. He is expected to make a full recovery.
The phenomenon is nothing new. There are numerous websites, YouTube channels and social media accounts dedicated to exposing so-called "false flags" — mass shootings and other public tragedies that conspiracy theorists believe were staged by the media and the government.
"These people have been doing this to victims since Sandy Hook and beyond," Matejka said.
"Orlando, San Bernardino, all these shootings — and they think that the victims are all ... all crisis actors paid to essentially pretend like they're a part of this tragedy."
And they often go after victims and their families.
"The easiest target is victims. They're tangible. They're easy to access. They're real people on Facebook," Matejka said.
He said the situation has taken a toll on his brother, who is still recovering both physically and psychologically from the deadly attack.
"I've had some stuff on my page, but the magnitude on his is outstanding. I can't imagine opening Facebook to talk to friends and family and seeing this atrocious material being fed to him."
more
Canadians injured in Las Vegas shooting harassed online by conspiracy theorists - Home | As It Happens | CBC Radio
