Newsweek reporter Kurt Eichenwald quits Twitter after Trump-loving troll induces seizure with tweet

[DonViejo]

16 DEC 2016 AT 14:09 ET

Reporter Kurt Eichenwald is taking a “short break” from Twitter after another user sent him a flashing image that allegedly triggered a seizure.

The Newsweek reporter appeared Thursday night on Fox News, where he engaged in a combative interview with host Tucker Carlson over his social media claims that Donald Trump had been hospitalized for mental illness in 1990.

Eichenwald claimed Friday afternoon on social media that the Twitter user @jew_goldstein posted a GIF that caused him to have a seizure due to his epilepsy, and he announced he would take a break from posting there while he and his lawyers built a case against the culprit, reported Mediaite.

Kurt Eichenwald ✔
@kurteichenwald

For self-protection, I am taking a short twitter break. I will be spending that time with my lawyers & law enforcement going after 1 of u...

Kurt Eichenwald ✔
@kurteichenwald

Last night, for the second time, a deplorable aware I have epilepsy tweeted a strobe at me with the message "you deserve a seizure' on it...

12:59 PM - 16 Dec 2016
1,019 Retweets 1,011 likes

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http://www.rawstory.com/2016/12/newsweek-reporter-kurt-eichenwald-quits-twitter-after-trump-loving-troll-induces-seizure-with-tweet/

[bettyellen]

1. Disgusting !

[ananda]

2. Oh come on.

I'm sure he could use protective eyewear while on Twitter.

This is not to minimize the assault, nor to say anything
against the lawsuit, which I believe is warranted.

[MineralMan]

7. What? Many people with epilepsy can have an attack

if they're confronted with an image that flashes or blinks at a certain rate. It's a well-known phenomenon, and just that sort of stimulation is used during EEGs as a diagnostic tool. I know, because I had one of those seizure challenge tests a year after recovering from viral encephalitis. No seizure, though, so I was OK.

If someone deliberately sends an image like that to someone known to have epileptic seizures, it is a deliberate assault. There's no eyewear that can block a strobing or flashing GIF image.

Here, do this search: https://www.google.com/search?q=seizure+gif

See this link, as well: http://www.ibtimes.com/animated-gifs-epilepsy-dangers-849817

Also, this link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photosensitive_epilepsy

Knowledge is good!

[Quackers]

3. Here's an interesting article about what could legally happen.

https://www.newscientist.com/article/2109028-does-a-tweet-designed-to-trigger-seizures-count-as-assault/

[TheDebbieDee]

4. DT was institutionalized with mental health issues in 1990?

:0

[dumbcat]

12. Of course he was, everybody knows that

It was on the internet.

[babylonsister]

14. I've read about that,

but never saw any substantive proof.

[blue neen]

5. I hope Eichenwald goes after the idiot with every legal avenue he's got.

Awful.

[ck4829]

6. Trump terrorism

[Different Drummer]

8. Amazing that people on Twitter are referring to Twitter's

suspension of the @jew_goldstein account as being "anti-Semitic."

[LanternWaste]

9. Waiting for an idiot to trivialize that Eichenwald wants a safe space for a while

Waiting for an idiot to trivialize that Eichenwald wants a safe space for a while 'cause he can't handle the real world...

:sacrcasm:

[KittyWampus]

10. Every Democrat should boycott Twitter for giving Trump a megaphone

to spread his hate.

[babylonsister]

15. That sounds like a fine idea, but

I don't use it so easy for me to say. I do get to see all that's important (or not) being repeated.

[sarcasmo]

18. CNN, MSNBC, Fox, and every media outlet gave Trump said megaphone.

Orange Julius received 70 percent of the media coverage compared to 30 percent for HRC.

[Warren DeMontague]

19. Might as well boycott the entire internet, then.

That's a terrible idea. I know that a lot of us with more years in the 20th century than the 21st don't always "get" twitter, but it's pretty fucking crucial to the minute-by-minute global conversation. Ceding it to the right wing would be a disaster.

Anyway, the means of communication is not responsible for the message.

[Maru Kitteh]

11. Heir Trumps Amerika!

[resistance2016]

13. Perhaps it's time to take a look at the 1st Amendment?

If people are doing this, then obviously we as a country do not have the responsibility needed for freedom of speech.

[Cha]

16. I hope he's heals well and gets that heinous

asshole taken care of.

We need your voice, Kurt!

TYou, Don

[mainer]

17. Eichenwald is a heroic journalist

I've followed him on Twitter and yes, he says he has seen evidence that Trump was hospitalized after longtime amphetamine abuse in the 80's. but he needed someone brave enough to corroborate this. Unfortunately, sources clammed up.