So let me ask you would you be OK with be ok with someone close to you being subjected to a constant bullying/harassment campaign as long as they don't "really hurt" them?

Second question: even if the statistics are that only 1 in whatever people actually is dangerous. If you get 100s of hate messages a day, how do you know that one of them isn't a physical threat. Because that is the intent create fear, torture can be pretty effective just through threats of violence.