When passionate users become dispassionate abusers |
Kathy Sierra has received some vicious death threats online and has posted about here real fear offline, debating whether to engage online any more or not. So disturbed Ms. Sierra is that she has canceled all her speaking engagements including her scheduled talk at eTech:
Do not put these people on a pedestal. Do not let them get away with calling this “social commentary”, “protected speech”, or simply “criticism”. I would never be for censoring speech–these people can say all the misogynistic, vile, tasteless things they like–but we must preserve that line where words and images become threats of violence. Freedom of speech–however distasteful and rude the speech may be, is crucial. But when those words contain threats of harm or death, they can destroy a life.
You can click over to her blog to read some of the trash thrown her way, I’m not going to dignify her subhuman attacker(s) by spreading their poison.
These comments made against Ms. Sierra are hate speech, pure and simple. This type of activity is illegal, immoral and wrong. I hope whomever is responsible for these comments is found and prosecuted to the full extent of the law. It’s good to see the comment section of Kathy’s post are supportive.
I’ve had to delete some vile comments left on this blog over the nearly four years of this journey and my time spent as a moderator on several different messageboards over the years has mostly soured me on anonymous cowards. I’m not saying there’s no legitimate case for posting anonymously, but it seems far too often online the anon card is used to mask bad — strike that — downright evil behavior.
Do the web a favor and moderate third party activity on your websites. Yeah, moderation is manpower and that costs $$, but I’d rather see advertising to support paying moderators to keep crap like that off the web then see ad-free sites that have hate speech on them.
Update 5:53am PST: Ron E commented below that he created the following Zero Violence graphic to show support for peace instead of violence:
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There was no threat made to Kathy. The entire thing is a misunderstanding or an intentional hoax which stems from my criticism of her books. I am the “Joey” she is referring to and I ask that you read my reply at her site; assuming she doesn’t delete it.
Comment by Joey — March 26, 2007 @ 8:19 pm PST
Hello TDavid and readers,
In trying to express my rage and unrest towards these violent events made to Kathy, I created a small graphic called Zero Violence Blog. I\’ve posted it in my blog hoping people will download the images and include them in a small post relating to freedom of speech, and expressing the support Kathy must be needing today. If you feel like doing so, please head there or ask me and I will e-mail the logos directly to you.
[Editor note: no need to email, I just included the image above]
I hope you are moved enough as to try to express yourselves and do something now, before violence spreads wider into our blogging lives.
Thanks,
Ron E.
Comment by Ron E. — March 26, 2007 @ 10:13 pm PST
Joey, it appears as if others do not share your perspective from what I read over there.
Comment by TDavid — March 27, 2007 @ 5:45 am PST