Mike Arrington posted on Twitter something with the text “This is not good…” and a link. The link was to a post on Kathy Sierra’s blog. Read her intro:
As I type this, I am supposed to be in San Diego, delivering a workshop at the ETech conference. But I’m not. I’m at home, with the doors locked, terrified. For the last four weeks, I’ve been getting death threat comments on this blog. But that’s not what pushed me over the edge. What finally did it was some disturbing threats of violence and sex posted on two other blogs… blogs authored and/or owned by a group that includes prominent bloggers. People you’ve probably heard of. People like respected Cluetrain Manifesto co-author Chris Locke (aka Rageboy).
Source: Creating Passionate Users: Death threats against bloggers are NOT “protected speech” (why I cancelled my ETech presentations)
I read it. I was shocked. I was sickened. Given the comments on the post (growing by the minute), others feel the same way. Tim Bray has a simple post just to draw attention to it. I join him.
Look, you can disagree with someone. Heck you can even call them “stupid” or similar names if you don’t like their ideas. It isn’t right, but sometimes it comes with the territory, but threats. Threats of death and harm. That is beyond the pale. This is when a comment becomes a police matter. It isn’t an issue of free speech. Sorry no matter how you read the First Amendment, this isn’t covered.
We all need to support Kathy. She needs to know we will not stand for this. We will not, as a community, condone treating another person this way. Kathy needs to know that we will not stand by and watch from the sidelines.
We will stand up.
We will look for answers.
We will demand those responsible be punished.
We will be united for a friend.
Yes, Tris, this is not a simple case of spam or even a harsh disagreement. It is evil, malicious and brings the use of social media as a marketing strategy under scrutiny.
We can’t allow the bad guys to halt what has become an important business communication strategy.
Tris, I’m outraged by this.
In this country we have to stop this abusive attacking of women. For the love of God, we all came from mothers who sacrificed greatly for our life. Even the worst of moms went through child-birth and were able to keep us alive into adulthood. So we need to stop with all this voilence against women. There is no place in society for this abuse. And there is no place in the blogosphere for this type of terror.
I have every indication that Kathy is a kind and giving person who deserves nothing leaning toward these threats.
[...] this country we have to stop this abusive attacking of women. For the love of God, we all came from mothers who sacrificed greatly for our life. Even the worst [...]