Yeah I'm not informed on journalism's ethical or legal standards, but that ending honestly read as bizarre to me. It kinda negated the rest of the article.
It would have been better to not name him and just not address the reasoning than to try and explain away his sociopathic behavior, whether endogenous or generated via group dynamics, as just a lonely lil guy looking for friendship.
He just wants to belong Thats why he dodged any accountability and shows up with lawyers to ‘apologise’ to a little girl for relentlessly bullying her.
I’m so sick of grown men getting away with the worst behaviour because it would be too harsh for them to face any consequences.
Didn't expect Billy Baker to come off as such a piece of trash. He should look inward and question why a group of guys who cyber-bullied a six year old would be so comfortable socializing with him.
Great line: "Instead, this meeting showed me something bigger about this country: when it comes to aggression, we are raising men; when it comes to accountability, we are raising little boys. "
Troll works with children and when asked to apologize to a little girl in person, gets mommy and daddy and their lawyer to come. Lawyer also says after the meeting the troll feels better knowing that the mom seems like a good mom, after meeting her, jfc. Real man, this Charlie.
Seriously. He interacts with the bullies as if he's in any position to forgive them for what they'd done to other people. Lecturing the trolls about what they've done, fine, but then going out with them and posting a picture of himself throwing a peace sign with them? Draper was right. It lets those guys go home thinking they're all fine while making no actual amends.
In this case, agreeing sincerely to have a repentant talk with the kid he'd bullied and her mom who was trying to have that talk with him, going into the conversation intending to be earnest, and finding out from them if there's anything he could reasonably do to make up for the harm he caused them. Or if they only want a face to face apology or what. Normal conflict resolution things.
>"I know Stevens created the account in high school so he and his friends could say things without being ~~observed or judged~~ held accountable."
Fixed it for you.
I'm wishing these men were turned in to the University of Iowa. Most large, public campuses have clauses in their conduct codes that off-campus behavior can affect on campus status. This surely would have fallen under that had someone turned him in.
Those guys are an absolute menace to society. I'm far from an expert, but generally I think public universities can't expel students for obscene or cruel speech? Though maybe when they harassed female students they crossed the line into a Title IX violation?
Insane how awful not only the kid comes across, but smug Billy Baker and the kids parents who apparently possess a complete inability to hold their kid accountable. Cowards and losers all around
I wish I could unread this. I wish I didn’t know this senseless cruelty existed. all I can do is hope for the best for this kiddo, she deserves so much more from this world.
That's exactly how I felt when I read it the other day. Wish I could just delete it from my brain. I'm usually a fan of the writer, but she's way too lenient on these horrible people. She seems like she's trying to find a deeper meaning for their actions, but there isn't one. The cruelty is the point. The 21-year old who took joy in bullying a 6-year old is an asshole who finds pleasure and entertainment in being cruel to those who are weaker than him and that's unlikely to change.
I think it's really hard for empathetic people to handle the reality of how much dumb, pointless cruelty there is in the world. It's something I struggle with on a daily basis.
What a bunch of vile people. The trolls, the parents (especially the parents! Their precious son needs to be protected after bullying a 6 year old??) And that Billy Baker sounds like a right asshole, too. I hope the town outs these entitled pricks and some karma kicks their, and their parents, behinds.
Imagine raising a kid like that and then hiring a lawyer to protect them when they do something like this, instead of making them fix their shit. Jesus wept.
wow, i'm feeling such seething contempt for that "journalist" who tried mumbling some bullshit about not understanding Twitter to excuse his appreciation of a bunch of malicious fascist assholes
Men are really something. And why shouldn’t they be? They’ve been taught that they can get away with anything. Which, sadly, is the truth. This story is proof. Highly doubt this 21 year old learned anything at all especially with his parents backing him up with a lawyer when he was just supposed to apologize to the little girl. Why should he suffer any real consequences? He hasn’t been outed and will keep doing what he’s doing to others and has now learned even if he gets caught, realistically there are zero repercussions for his career and reputation.
Yes, I see that now - someone linked it. Charlie Willmott Jr., though I’m not sure I understand why this reporter chose not to name him. The parents already put it out there and the whole piece is about the search for his true identity, and more generally a piece about internet culture and how it allows for anonymity while rewarding toxicity.
The writer of the article was too busy handwringing about mob justice and how poor little Charlie just wanted to fit in to actually come down hard on him.
I’m not saying this happened, but it seems like it would be in character for this family to pay off a reporter or news agency to keep their names out of an article.
It's absolutely galling what people will say online these days, and I remember the wild west of the early 2000s. This kind of debauchery used to be the exclusive realm of logged-on geeks back then. Now it's everyone, anyone. And there's no bottom.
'The wild west of the 2000s', as you call it, is still going. And has spread.
I was reminded of "lolcows", and how that phenomenon was then viewed as something restricted to specific corners of the internet. But it was never just that.
The peeing on things is incredibly disturbing to me. I had a male friend drive me home once and ask if he could use my bathroom. I didn't think anything of it, I knew him, others knew him, he seemed like an ok guy. The minute he got in my house he put the moves on me and I unequivocally said no and get out. He said he really did have to pee so I let him. After he left, I went in my bathroom and he had PEED ALL OVER THE FLOOR. Everywhere but in the toilet. It is incredibly disgusting and degrading to have to clean up someone's pee, knowing that he did it deliberately. I still wonder why he did it? To teach me a lesson? Anger? Marking what he thought was his territory? Ew.
I got revenge though. I went into the bar where we all hung out, him most of all, and told the bartender what had happened. She lit him up, told everyone, and he never came back again.
raphaellaskies | 21 days ago
I don't think this is nearly as nuanced as Lyz Lenz seems to. "I know Howard Stevens is just a guy who wants to belong." Do you? Do you.
JabroniusHunk | 21 days ago
Yeah I'm not informed on journalism's ethical or legal standards, but that ending honestly read as bizarre to me. It kinda negated the rest of the article.
It would have been better to not name him and just not address the reasoning than to try and explain away his sociopathic behavior, whether endogenous or generated via group dynamics, as just a lonely lil guy looking for friendship.
Rrmack | 21 days ago
As if wanting to belong to a group of people bullying kids isn’t a choice
slainascully | 21 days ago
He just wants to belong Thats why he dodged any accountability and shows up with lawyers to ‘apologise’ to a little girl for relentlessly bullying her.
I’m so sick of grown men getting away with the worst behaviour because it would be too harsh for them to face any consequences.
Outrageous_Setting41 | 21 days ago
Didn't expect Billy Baker to come off as such a piece of trash. He should look inward and question why a group of guys who cyber-bullied a six year old would be so comfortable socializing with him.
raysofdavies | 21 days ago
I cannot get over the guy telling a woman in public that her baby is ugly. What an awful person.
TheDiceBlesser | 21 days ago
But he didn't WANT to be derogatory! Surely that's worth something? /s
People who act like that make my blood boil. It's like it never occurred to them that they don't HAVE to open their mouth.
MoulanRougeFae | 21 days ago
What kind of pitiful sad sacks of shit bully a 6 yr old? They should be outed and shamed. Disgusting behavior
bouvitude | 21 days ago
Name & shame away!
https://standinguptotrolls.blogspot.com/2025/12/a-twitter-troll-bullied-my-6-year-old.html
ThatPhatKid_CanDraw | 21 days ago
Great line: "Instead, this meeting showed me something bigger about this country: when it comes to aggression, we are raising men; when it comes to accountability, we are raising little boys. "
Troll works with children and when asked to apologize to a little girl in person, gets mommy and daddy and their lawyer to come. Lawyer also says after the meeting the troll feels better knowing that the mom seems like a good mom, after meeting her, jfc. Real man, this Charlie.
And that Boston Globe "reporter" is trash.
jreznyc | 21 days ago
Yeah that reporter is the 2nd biggest piece of shit in this story.
HumbleFatalist | 21 days ago
Seriously. He interacts with the bullies as if he's in any position to forgive them for what they'd done to other people. Lecturing the trolls about what they've done, fine, but then going out with them and posting a picture of himself throwing a peace sign with them? Draper was right. It lets those guys go home thinking they're all fine while making no actual amends.
raphaellaskies | 21 days ago
And then he says "well I didn't know about the worst of it because I didn't look at their replies!" Bro. You're a JOURNALIST.
Leoni_ | 21 days ago
How does a troll make actual amends
HumbleFatalist | 21 days ago
In this case, agreeing sincerely to have a repentant talk with the kid he'd bullied and her mom who was trying to have that talk with him, going into the conversation intending to be earnest, and finding out from them if there's anything he could reasonably do to make up for the harm he caused them. Or if they only want a face to face apology or what. Normal conflict resolution things.
Leoni_ | 21 days ago
Sounds just as disingenuous as what happened
HumbleFatalist | 21 days ago
I don't understand what you mean.
Leoni_ | 21 days ago
Why downvote me then. This isn’t community 😖
Outrageous_Setting41 | 21 days ago
Not by going out to lunch with a third party
bouvitude | 21 days ago
Yeah, it’s pretty long, but she’s a hell of a writer!
velveteensnoodle | 21 days ago
Wow, now this was a compelling read. That mom showed her kid what bravery and integrity looks like.
arianrhodd | 21 days ago
>"I know Stevens created the account in high school so he and his friends could say things without being ~~observed or judged~~ held accountable."
Fixed it for you.
I'm wishing these men were turned in to the University of Iowa. Most large, public campuses have clauses in their conduct codes that off-campus behavior can affect on campus status. This surely would have fallen under that had someone turned him in.
They are boils on the butt of humanity.
[OP] flamehead243 | 21 days ago
Those guys are an absolute menace to society. I'm far from an expert, but generally I think public universities can't expel students for obscene or cruel speech? Though maybe when they harassed female students they crossed the line into a Title IX violation?
owlbait | 21 days ago
Insane how awful not only the kid comes across, but smug Billy Baker and the kids parents who apparently possess a complete inability to hold their kid accountable. Cowards and losers all around
fuckforcedsignup | 21 days ago
I wish I could unread this. I wish I didn’t know this senseless cruelty existed. all I can do is hope for the best for this kiddo, she deserves so much more from this world.
simplegreen_lovesong | 21 days ago
That's exactly how I felt when I read it the other day. Wish I could just delete it from my brain. I'm usually a fan of the writer, but she's way too lenient on these horrible people. She seems like she's trying to find a deeper meaning for their actions, but there isn't one. The cruelty is the point. The 21-year old who took joy in bullying a 6-year old is an asshole who finds pleasure and entertainment in being cruel to those who are weaker than him and that's unlikely to change.
I think it's really hard for empathetic people to handle the reality of how much dumb, pointless cruelty there is in the world. It's something I struggle with on a daily basis.
DyllCallihan3333 | 21 days ago
What a bunch of vile people. The trolls, the parents (especially the parents! Their precious son needs to be protected after bullying a 6 year old??) And that Billy Baker sounds like a right asshole, too. I hope the town outs these entitled pricks and some karma kicks their, and their parents, behinds.
PartyPorpoise | 21 days ago
Man, if I were parent to a guy like that I’d fucking disown him.
Allianoraa | 21 days ago
Imagine raising a kid like that and then hiring a lawyer to protect them when they do something like this, instead of making them fix their shit. Jesus wept.
EatMorePieDrinkMore | 21 days ago
I have not read the Rolling Stone piece, but I did read the mom’s Substack - Raygun linked to it. It was so good and so heartbreaking.
ErsatzHaderach | 21 days ago
wow, i'm feeling such seething contempt for that "journalist" who tried mumbling some bullshit about not understanding Twitter to excuse his appreciation of a bunch of malicious fascist assholes
confusedgreenpenguin | 21 days ago
Men are really something. And why shouldn’t they be? They’ve been taught that they can get away with anything. Which, sadly, is the truth. This story is proof. Highly doubt this 21 year old learned anything at all especially with his parents backing him up with a lawyer when he was just supposed to apologize to the little girl. Why should he suffer any real consequences? He hasn’t been outed and will keep doing what he’s doing to others and has now learned even if he gets caught, realistically there are zero repercussions for his career and reputation.
UpbeatEquipment8832 | 21 days ago
I think the mom's substack does name them. Linked In even pulled up a profile. I wonder if they've gotten named and shamed to their boss yet.
confusedgreenpenguin | 21 days ago
Yes, I see that now - someone linked it. Charlie Willmott Jr., though I’m not sure I understand why this reporter chose not to name him. The parents already put it out there and the whole piece is about the search for his true identity, and more generally a piece about internet culture and how it allows for anonymity while rewarding toxicity.
raphaellaskies | 21 days ago
The writer of the article was too busy handwringing about mob justice and how poor little Charlie just wanted to fit in to actually come down hard on him.
confusedgreenpenguin | 21 days ago
I’m not saying this happened, but it seems like it would be in character for this family to pay off a reporter or news agency to keep their names out of an article.
LazloHollifeld | 20 days ago
Probably cause they can’t link him definitively to the tweets and don’t want to get sued for libel.
ErsatzHaderach | 21 days ago
Those parents made a rotten child and doubled down on it
zipiddydooda | 21 days ago
Yeah those darn men! Four billion of em! I’m sick of em. They’re all terrible, and this story proves it. You nailed it, sister.
confusedgreenpenguin | 21 days ago
lol if that’s what you took from my comment you’re telling on yourself. I’m happily married, to a man (I think).
[OP] flamehead243 | 21 days ago
Archive Link
tintin_in_tibet | 21 days ago
tysm 🙏
candyappleorchard | 21 days ago
It's absolutely galling what people will say online these days, and I remember the wild west of the early 2000s. This kind of debauchery used to be the exclusive realm of logged-on geeks back then. Now it's everyone, anyone. And there's no bottom.
ThoughtsonYaoi | 20 days ago
'The wild west of the 2000s', as you call it, is still going. And has spread.
I was reminded of "lolcows", and how that phenomenon was then viewed as something restricted to specific corners of the internet. But it was never just that.
ArtSlug | 21 days ago
The mother’s blog was a very long and very good read. I highly recommend it as well.
ClearwaterAJ | 20 days ago
The peeing on things is incredibly disturbing to me. I had a male friend drive me home once and ask if he could use my bathroom. I didn't think anything of it, I knew him, others knew him, he seemed like an ok guy. The minute he got in my house he put the moves on me and I unequivocally said no and get out. He said he really did have to pee so I let him. After he left, I went in my bathroom and he had PEED ALL OVER THE FLOOR. Everywhere but in the toilet. It is incredibly disgusting and degrading to have to clean up someone's pee, knowing that he did it deliberately. I still wonder why he did it? To teach me a lesson? Anger? Marking what he thought was his territory? Ew.
I got revenge though. I went into the bar where we all hung out, him most of all, and told the bartender what had happened. She lit him up, told everyone, and he never came back again.