Comments on: Kathy Sierra: the dark side of anonymity http://www.mathewingram.com/work/2007/03/26/kahy-sierra-the-dark-side-of-anonymity/ ... at the intersection of media, technology, business and the web Fri, 19 Mar 2010 14:46:36 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: jdm http://www.mathewingram.com/work/2007/03/26/kahy-sierra-the-dark-side-of-anonymity/comment-page-1/#comment-335107 jdm Thu, 04 Oct 2007 15:00:18 +0000 http://www.mathewingram.com/work/2007/03/26/kahy-sierra-the-dark-side-of-anonymity/#comment-335107 Shakespeare expressed our dilemma as succinctly as any: "The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, But in ourselves, that we are underlings." The moral slugs who fabricated the excuses for this war, and who helped to mobilize weak-souled men and women into a mindless support for it, are certainly accountable for their wrongs. But instead of focusing our anger upon them :) Shakespeare expressed our dilemma as succinctly as any: “The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, But in ourselves, that we are underlings.” The moral slugs who fabricated the excuses for this war, and who helped to mobilize weak-souled men and women into a mindless support for it, are certainly accountable for their wrongs. But instead of focusing our anger upon them :)

]]> By: Peter http://www.mathewingram.com/work/2007/03/26/kahy-sierra-the-dark-side-of-anonymity/comment-page-1/#comment-242191 Peter Fri, 30 Mar 2007 21:14:37 +0000 http://www.mathewingram.com/work/2007/03/26/kahy-sierra-the-dark-side-of-anonymity/#comment-242191 Let me quote from Kathu Sierra's blog item: “I wish to thank everyone for their support, but honestly–the high visibility and coverage of this one post has led to more trouble for me. Now, even people who had never heard of me are expressing hatred and creating new problems (posting my social security number and address, horrific lies about me, etc).” Kathy Sierra was the tragic victim of criminal death-threats/”sexually harassing” comments, along with a hate campaign instigated by a group of “rival bloggers” and mindless trolls. The events were deplorable. But was the blog-diva assaulted? Did she suffer an unrepairable physical trauma? No, she did not. In fact, she widely publicized the incidents, and don’t we all know what happens if you feed the mentally unstable part of the blogosphere? Let me quote from Kathu Sierra’s blog item:

“I wish to thank everyone for their support, but honestly–the high visibility and coverage of this one post has led to more trouble for me. Now, even people who had never heard of me are expressing hatred and creating new problems (posting my social security number and address, horrific lies about me, etc).”

Kathy Sierra was the tragic victim of criminal death-threats/”sexually harassing” comments, along with a hate campaign instigated by a group of “rival bloggers” and mindless trolls. The events were deplorable.

But was the blog-diva assaulted? Did she suffer an unrepairable physical trauma? No, she did not.

In fact, she widely publicized the incidents, and don’t we all know what happens if you feed the mentally unstable part of the blogosphere?

]]> By: Phil Butler http://www.mathewingram.com/work/2007/03/26/kahy-sierra-the-dark-side-of-anonymity/comment-page-1/#comment-241137 Phil Butler Wed, 28 Mar 2007 01:07:17 +0000 http://www.mathewingram.com/work/2007/03/26/kahy-sierra-the-dark-side-of-anonymity/#comment-241137 One of the most frustrating things about blogging is sincerely wanting to share things with people, and for so many to either not care or exhibiting terrible behaviors. I agree with with your assessment Matthew, and admire Scoble too, but I think this may only encourage the types that perpetrate awful behaviors. The Internet community is suffering from some kind of psychological illness brought on by many factors. I think the largest variable is the disposable nature of real human interaction here. Perhaps we need to develop a more substantial and cohesive fabric to it all somehow. Thanks, Phil Butler One of the most frustrating things about blogging is sincerely wanting to share things with people, and for so many to either not care or exhibiting terrible behaviors.

I agree with with your assessment Matthew, and admire Scoble too, but I think this may only encourage the types that perpetrate awful behaviors.

The Internet community is suffering from some kind of psychological illness brought on by many factors. I think the largest variable is the disposable nature of real human interaction here. Perhaps we need to develop a more substantial and cohesive fabric to it all somehow.

Thanks,
Phil Butler

]]> By: Ted Sbardella http://www.mathewingram.com/work/2007/03/26/kahy-sierra-the-dark-side-of-anonymity/comment-page-1/#comment-241020 Ted Sbardella Tue, 27 Mar 2007 17:40:27 +0000 http://www.mathewingram.com/work/2007/03/26/kahy-sierra-the-dark-side-of-anonymity/#comment-241020 This is the new trend of griefing - there are some really good articles about it out there - seems like a psychiatric disorder but it can be un-nerving like having a dog barking at you while you try to walk down the street you just never know what to do, unless you are trained in dog psychology. The problem is that the poor guys find just the right person to do it to. I probably would enjoy it it would be better than the Nigerians I usually bait. This is the new trend of griefing – there are some really good articles about it out there – seems like a psychiatric disorder but it can be un-nerving like having a dog barking at you while you try to walk down the street you just never know what to do, unless you are trained in dog psychology.

The problem is that the poor guys find just the right person to do it to. I probably would enjoy it it would be better than the Nigerians I usually bait.

]]> By: Creditwrench http://www.mathewingram.com/work/2007/03/26/kahy-sierra-the-dark-side-of-anonymity/comment-page-1/#comment-241014 Creditwrench Tue, 27 Mar 2007 17:19:32 +0000 http://www.mathewingram.com/work/2007/03/26/kahy-sierra-the-dark-side-of-anonymity/#comment-241014 This is no different than "Uncle Normie" making death threats and making obscene comments about me. I was publicly threatened with death on a forum not long ago and falsely accused of beastiality and other obscene actions. One of my domain names was "stolen" via a blog using the same name as my domain which was then used to discredit and defame me. Uncle Normie also did the same thing more recently to another web master and blogger. This is no different than “Uncle Normie” making death threats and making obscene comments about me. I was publicly threatened with death on a forum not long ago and falsely accused of beastiality and other obscene actions. One of my domain names was “stolen” via a blog using the same name as my domain which was then used to discredit and defame me.

Uncle Normie also did the same thing more recently to another web master and blogger.

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