I’m physically ill after reading what happened to Kathy Sierra. Maryam and several others here at PodTech asked me about it and are concerned since the same sites that are attacking Kathy also mentioned me and Maryam. Maryam is really freaked out about it. So am I.
She doesn’t feel safe. I don’t either after reading Kathy’s post. I, like Mike Arrington and other bloggers, have gotten threatened and I’ve just ignored it. It comes with the territory, or so they say. But what Kathy is going through is just totally disgusting. I note that only one of the four that Kathy specifically mention has apologized. That itself is disgusting. Those people are NOT my friends and I don’t support that kind of blogging or commenting and remove such attacks if left here against other people (I leave attacks against me up, but that’s cause generally most people here are pretty cool, even if they think I’m a jerk).
We’re putting ourselves out there in ways very few people do. We should be safe from death threats and other sexual attacks and stuff, especially from other bloggers.
So, since she doesn’t feel safe. I’m going to stop blogging in support of Kathy, who I consider a friend and someone who’s voice would be dearly missed here. I’ll be back Monday.
The Internet culture is really disgusting. Today when I was on Justin.TV the kinds of things that people were discussing in the chat room there were just totally disgusting and over the top.
We have to fix this culture. For the next week, let’s discuss how.
And, Kathy, Maryam and I love you and are there for you. Don’t let these jerks get you down.
It’s this culture of attacking women that has especially got to stop. I really don’t care if you attack me. I take those attacks in stride. But, whenever I post a video of a female technologist there invariably are snide remarks about body parts and other things that simply wouldn’t happen if the interviewee were a man.
It makes me realize just how ascerbic this industry and culture are toward women. This just makes me ill.
[...] commented on Scobleizer "Taking the Week Off", where Robert has pledged to not blog for a week in [...]
OK, let’s get real now.
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.
These events were most 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?
(Quote from Katty Sierra): “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).”
Death threats online are common crimes. But is this woman just another attention-addict who will “cover” the problems she insist on posting?
At any rate, you and I, “the regular non-high-profile bloggers with 300 pageviews a day” only tend to suffer from comment spam.
Some high-profile bloggers however insist on elaborately detailing the ’shocking’ comments received from the mentally unstable, making their real motives questionable.
By the way Robert,
why are you openly publishing your cell phone number prominently on your blog – ready to be used, or, more likely, abused?
(no one I know has their private cellular number online – I fail to say the added benefit on a blog).
OK, let’s get real now.
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.
These events were most 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?
(Quote from Katty Sierra): “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).”
Death threats online are common crimes. But is this woman just another attention-addict who will “cover” the problems she insist on posting?
At any rate, you and I, “the regular non-high-profile bloggers with 300 pageviews a day” only tend to suffer from comment spam.
Some high-profile bloggers however insist on elaborately detailing the ’shocking’ comments received from the mentally unstable, making their real motives questionable.
By the way Robert,
why are you openly publishing your cell phone number prominently on your blog – ready to be used, or, more likely, abused?
(no one I know has their private cellular number online – I fail to say the added benefit on a blog).
OK, let’s get real now.
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.
These events were most 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?
(Quote from Katty Sierra): “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).”
Death threats online are common crimes. But is this woman just another attention-addict who will “cover” the problems she insist on posting?
At any rate, you and I, “the regular non-high-profile bloggers with 300 pageviews a day” only tend to suffer from comment spam.
Some high-profile bloggers however insist on elaborately detailing the ’shocking’ comments received from the mentally unstable, making their real motives questionable.
By the way Robert,
why are you openly publishing your cell phone number prominently on your blog – ready to be used, or, more likely, abused?
(no one I know has their private cellular number online – I fail to say the added benefit on a blog).
[...] You can read more about it on Robert?s post [...]
[...] famous bloggers, Scoble is one of few that seems to genuinely care about other people. He was also one of the first to come out against the attacks on Kathy Sierra. Although calling people ignorant is certainly not the same as the horrible attacks on Kathy, it [...]
[...] went dark By Sue Many blogs went dark on Saturday, March 31, as a show of support for threatened (women) bloggers, most notably, Kathy [...]
Kathy sounds like she has a really thin skin. As I checked out techmeme, I see the self-proclaimed “a-list” blogger mafia trying to make this a case of the problem of anonymity on the web.
Tell you what: when I’m paid to babysit you corporate shills and hypesters like you are, I’ll step out of anonymity.
Kathy sounds like she has a really thin skin. As I checked out techmeme, I see the self-proclaimed “a-list” blogger mafia trying to make this a case of the problem of anonymity on the web.
Tell you what: when I’m paid to babysit you corporate shills and hypesters like you are, I’ll step out of anonymity.
Kathy sounds like she has a really thin skin. As I checked out techmeme, I see the self-proclaimed “a-list” blogger mafia trying to make this a case of the problem of anonymity on the web.
Tell you what: when I’m paid to babysit you corporate shills and hypesters like you are, I’ll step out of anonymity.
Two comments
1) I prefer anonymity because I don’t want an internet profile. I keep my counsel in person too generally. I post, infrequently, when I think I have something that others might want to hear, which is typically not abuse. That said, if it comes to it, and anonymity is deemed too much of a problem, I would rather be silent than resist a viable solution to the problem that has led to the attack on Kathy and others.
2) Wrt the WAPO article postd by RyanB (http://tinyurl.com/2kmofh), I would like to suggest that the “moral equivalence” argument it implies is a big part of the problem too. When we are encouraged not to discriminate between an occassional outburst and systematic abuse is it any wonder that it is difficult to achieve any standards. I frequent both sites mentioned and the tone is qualitatively different – not even close. I’ll leave it to your readers to work out which is which.
Two comments
1) I prefer anonymity because I don’t want an internet profile. I keep my counsel in person too generally. I post, infrequently, when I think I have something that others might want to hear, which is typically not abuse. That said, if it comes to it, and anonymity is deemed too much of a problem, I would rather be silent than resist a viable solution to the problem that has led to the attack on Kathy and others.
2) Wrt the WAPO article postd by RyanB (http://tinyurl.com/2kmofh), I would like to suggest that the “moral equivalence” argument it implies is a big part of the problem too. When we are encouraged not to discriminate between an occassional outburst and systematic abuse is it any wonder that it is difficult to achieve any standards. I frequent both sites mentioned and the tone is qualitatively different – not even close. I’ll leave it to your readers to work out which is which.
Two comments
1) I prefer anonymity because I don’t want an internet profile. I keep my counsel in person too generally. I post, infrequently, when I think I have something that others might want to hear, which is typically not abuse. That said, if it comes to it, and anonymity is deemed too much of a problem, I would rather be silent than resist a viable solution to the problem that has led to the attack on Kathy and others.
2) Wrt the WAPO article postd by RyanB (http://tinyurl.com/2kmofh), I would like to suggest that the “moral equivalence” argument it implies is a big part of the problem too. When we are encouraged not to discriminate between an occassional outburst and systematic abuse is it any wonder that it is difficult to achieve any standards. I frequent both sites mentioned and the tone is qualitatively different – not even close. I’ll leave it to your readers to work out which is which.
Anon: Kathy might have a thin skin but the stuff being written about her, and to her, is really vile stuff. Or, do you condone telling people that a noose would fit nice around their necks?
Anon: Kathy might have a thin skin but the stuff being written about her, and to her, is really vile stuff. Or, do you condone telling people that a noose would fit nice around their necks?
Anon: Kathy might have a thin skin but the stuff being written about her, and to her, is really vile stuff. Or, do you condone telling people that a noose would fit nice around their necks?
As Anon 415, I would like to clarify that I am not anon 414. I am starting to see new problems in anonymity. And as Anon 415, in answer to your question Robert, absolutely not. Thin skins (real or perceived) having nothing to do with the appropriateness of physically aggressive speach, which IMHO should be condemned for its nature.
As Anon 415, I would like to clarify that I am not anon 414. I am starting to see new problems in anonymity. And as Anon 415, in answer to your question Robert, absolutely not. Thin skins (real or perceived) having nothing to do with the appropriateness of physically aggressive speach, which IMHO should be condemned for its nature.
Ann Coulter, Al Franken, Bill O’Reilly and the rest say that anonymity is not in fact a cure for being a rude jackass.
Really.
Ann Coulter, Al Franken, Bill O’Reilly and the rest say that anonymity is not in fact a cure for being a rude jackass.
Really.
Ann Coulter, Al Franken, Bill O’Reilly and the rest say that anonymity is not in fact a cure for being a rude jackass.
Really.
Wow. BBC, CBS and now CNN on Monday. Can someone at PodTech tape the show so we can watch it later? At least give us the link we can watch the CNN interview.
I am waiting for the media to clear the path for us, Tech females. If things look bright, I will be happily to speak on stage.
(Group Chorus)
When the dog bites
When the bee stings
When I’m feeling sad
I simply remember my favorite things
And then I don’t feel so bad
(Dancing and spinning around with arms open)
Wow. BBC, CBS and now CNN on Monday. Can someone at PodTech tape the show so we can watch it later? At least give us the link we can watch the CNN interview.
I am waiting for the media to clear the path for us, Tech females. If things look bright, I will be happily to speak on stage.
(Group Chorus)
When the dog bites
When the bee stings
When I’m feeling sad
I simply remember my favorite things
And then I don’t feel so bad
(Dancing and spinning around with arms open)
Wow. BBC, CBS and now CNN on Monday. Can someone at PodTech tape the show so we can watch it later? At least give us the link we can watch the CNN interview.
I am waiting for the media to clear the path for us, Tech females. If things look bright, I will be happily to speak on stage.
(Group Chorus)
When the dog bites
When the bee stings
When I’m feeling sad
I simply remember my favorite things
And then I don’t feel so bad
(Dancing and spinning around with arms open)
I am waiting for the media to clear the path for us, Tech females. If things look bright, I will be happily to speak on stage.
Why would you wait for others do this for you?
I am waiting for the media to clear the path for us, Tech females. If things look bright, I will be happily to speak on stage.
Why would you wait for others do this for you?
I am waiting for the media to clear the path for us, Tech females. If things look bright, I will be happily to speak on stage.
Why would you wait for others do this for you?
[...] as controversy churned over Internet death threats targeting female blogger Kathy Sierra. Bloggers rushed to take sides on whether Sierra’s subsequent shuttering of her blog was a justified response or a [...]
Scoble,
I posted here and the post is removed? What am I supposed to think about this, that it’s not ok for people to do this to Kathy, but not to me?
Ginger
Scoble,
I posted here and the post is removed? What am I supposed to think about this, that it’s not ok for people to do this to Kathy, but not to me?
Ginger
Hmmm, I didn’t remove your post. Maybe it was caught by my spam filter?
Hmmm, I didn’t remove your post. Maybe it was caught by my spam filter?
Sorry- my mistake! Long thread.
Sorry- my mistake! Long thread.
[...] week, there has been a spate of blog posts and online magazine articles (watching an ad may be required to see the whole article on [...]
Let’s review some interesting trends:
1. I type too fast and misspell “kitten” with “kitty” on my comment
Today Kathy Sierra is referred as Cute Kitty in CNN and this blog
http://onegoodmove.org/1gm/1gmarchive/2007/04/cute_kitty_rage.html
2. I add the dance move line to match the song lyric on my comment
Today Yahoo! Music is promoting J.Lo-like moves contest
http://music.stage.music.yahoo.com/promo-40241836
(Good try folks. Unfortunately I am busy submitting contest aiming for VC funds)
3. Singing fever spreads over UK with BBC coverage
Apple invested in Oscar Ad instead of our “Browser Wars” show. Now Steve Jobs is capturing the music fever here and landing a major deal? Like “Charle Brown”, I say “Good Grief”!
http://www.emigroup.com/Press/2007/press18.htm
Yes our theme song “We’re All In This Together” has a sing-along version and a dance-along version. “Good Grief”!
You ask why females are cute? That is your answer.
Let’s review some interesting trends:
1. I type too fast and misspell “kitten” with “kitty” on my comment
Today Kathy Sierra is referred as Cute Kitty in CNN and this blog
http://onegoodmove.org/1gm/1gmarchive/2007/04/cute_kitty_rage.html
2. I add the dance move line to match the song lyric on my comment
Today Yahoo! Music is promoting J.Lo-like moves contest
http://music.stage.music.yahoo.com/promo-40241836
(Good try folks. Unfortunately I am busy submitting contest aiming for VC funds)
3. Singing fever spreads over UK with BBC coverage
Apple invested in Oscar Ad instead of our “Browser Wars” show. Now Steve Jobs is capturing the music fever here and landing a major deal? Like “Charle Brown”, I say “Good Grief”!
http://www.emigroup.com/Press/2007/press18.htm
Yes our theme song “We’re All In This Together” has a sing-along version and a dance-along version. “Good Grief”!
You ask why females are cute? That is your answer.
You know, there is an alternative to simply cowering in fear, and that is to get a firearm and learn to use it. The police can’t be everywhere all the time, so relying on the telephone to protect you is an inadequate plan.
You know, there is an alternative to simply cowering in fear, and that is to get a firearm and learn to use it. The police can’t be everywhere all the time, so relying on the telephone to protect you is an inadequate plan.
[...] editor Joan Walsh, and several other popular bloggers like Robert Scoble, have been ablaze with an ugly truth about misogyny: that it’s alive and well, and [...]
Ok, you are weak. Physically ill becuase someone was threatened? Taking time off? Please, why don’t you take time off becuase you have no testicles. Your a gutless new age man who is best on his knees saying “please, honey it’s all my fault.”
I have seen worse comments on blogs targetd toward men but you do not see them crying to the police…and whining!
You can take her weak blathering and your testosterone free ass and take a whole decade for all we could care.
Ok, you are weak. Physically ill becuase someone was threatened? Taking time off? Please, why don’t you take time off becuase you have no testicles. Your a gutless new age man who is best on his knees saying “please, honey it’s all my fault.”
I have seen worse comments on blogs targetd toward men but you do not see them crying to the police…and whining!
You can take her weak blathering and your testosterone free ass and take a whole decade for all we could care.
I would have to agree with getting a gun.
I would have to agree with getting a gun.
The only gun I have is the “water” gun. The only time I pull out my extra small size gun is when I go to beach, guys.
The only gun I have is the “water” gun. The only time I pull out my extra small size gun is when I go to beach, guys.
Scobleizer your male voice of reason in this very important conversation is such a comfort. As a woman blogger who focuses on issues of societal violence, i have experienced outrageous personal attacks that have at times spilled off my blog into other digital arena’s I enjoy and even to my front door.
I totally get why Kathy is freaked.
But back to you. When I first discovered blogging about 4 years ago it was through the Scobleizer blog and other articles scattered around with your by line. I found Google, Blogger, myspace and wordpress. Love love love.
I am thrilled that you are so supportive of the whole blogging experience and your constant support of all things good in the “sphere”, and I agree we need this conversation about how to combat this type of cyber terrorism against women (in general) and specifically with regards to writers, bloggers and other progressive female icons.
I’m tired of complaining, I’m looking for solutions.
Sign me up!
Sincerely
Hazel8500
Scobleizer your male voice of reason in this very important conversation is such a comfort. As a woman blogger who focuses on issues of societal violence, i have experienced outrageous personal attacks that have at times spilled off my blog into other digital arena’s I enjoy and even to my front door.
I totally get why Kathy is freaked.
But back to you. When I first discovered blogging about 4 years ago it was through the Scobleizer blog and other articles scattered around with your by line. I found Google, Blogger, myspace and wordpress. Love love love.
I am thrilled that you are so supportive of the whole blogging experience and your constant support of all things good in the “sphere”, and I agree we need this conversation about how to combat this type of cyber terrorism against women (in general) and specifically with regards to writers, bloggers and other progressive female icons.
I’m tired of complaining, I’m looking for solutions.
Sign me up!
Sincerely
Hazel8500
[...] a little ironic given that it was prompted by events that caused some very well known bloggers to temporarily and perhaps permanently give up blogging. For anyone not familiar with what occurred, a very brief [...]
[...] one blogger put it, “It makes me realize just how ascerbic (the tech) industry and culture are toward [...]