Comments on: Women Bloggers Attacked: The Kathy Sierra File

By: Liza

Liza — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 20:29:54 +0000

I’m often horrified by the way people behave online. I’ve had a number of nasty commenters during my blogging career (I was told several months ago that I was "spreading ideological AIDS", and this commenter left so many scary comments of a similar nature that I felt forced to start moderating comments until he/she finally disappeared). I had another situation where it got so bad that I almost stopped blogging.

This was a great blog entry, and so important. Keep it up.

By: Arab Lady

Arab Lady — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 18:49:53 +0000

I can relate to every single word you wrote….i get loads of hatred e-mails & comments on some controversial posts & I’m really scared to open up & be myself on my spot…I feel afraid to reveal my name, post my pictures, etc…many Arab bloggers have been harassed by the legal authorities of their countries…its so disappointing ..i turned the comments off but decided to moderate them instead..we should have the courage to continue what started!

By: Vincent

Vincent — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 21:11:15 +0000

Abu Kareem is right on the money. Hear, hear.

By: Sewmouse

Sewmouse — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 17:58:21 +0000

I’m female. Been blogging for a couple of years. A few very simple things have kept me from ever being "paranoid".

First off - "Near Chicago" is a pretty generic term. I look at the world around me, at the incredible number of people who live here - and realize that for someone to pick ME out from the millions of people who can say they live "Near Chicago" is unlikely in the extreme.

Secondly, I have created an "alternative identity" - complete with address and telephone number. The telephone number, not coincidently, is the same as a somewhat local police department. It’s a trick I learned in school for when guys just would NOT give up asking you for your phone number.

Finally - the amount of actual "personal" information I give out is minimal. I do not keep photos of myself on my computer, nor do I keep passwords or usernames - or, (can’t believe anyone WOULD) credit-card information!

Yes, someone could come to my blog and start leaving nasty messages. I do, however, check it several times daily, and I just delete anything that is inappropriate. Eventually they learn that all they’re doing is wasting their time to type things, because once someone crosses "the line" with me, I’ll delete EVERYTHING they post - good, bad or indifferent.

I’m not particularly forgiving that way. It may be a fault, but I’m willing to take my chances on it.

By: Abu Kareem

Abu Kareem — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 02:16:58 +0000

I for one think that the voices of women especially in the Middle Eastern blogosphere are critically important. So if it takes kevlar skin to deflect the abuse, so be it. Turn on comment moderation and delete every offending bastard into oblivion. And if that is not enough, turn off comments altogether. But whatever you do, you should continue to make you voices heard.

By: Craig

Craig — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 00:09:06 +0000

I’m not so sure sexism and misogony is the biggest problem on the blogosphere. I’d say bigotry and racism is worse. And I’ve been threatened in blog comment sections. I’ve been threatened with lawsuits, and I’ve also been threatened by somebody who knew my real (full) name and where I live. And pointed it out, publicly. And I’m not a woman. The blogosphere is full of abusive people. The internet seems to attract people who are too inhibited to vent their rage against people in real life, but feel empowered to be abusive in online "anonymous" forums. It’s a problem. But waht is the solution?

By: Vincent

Vincent — Sun, 01 Apr 2007 23:35:35 +0000

This kind of behavior is endemic in the "blogosphere." I’m reminded of an instance about a year ago in which a fairly prominent American conservative blogger and his child were threatened by a deranged academic who happens to reside in the same city I live in. In that case, the victim(s) were male and the psychopath was female.

The internet has a strange way of allowing people drop their usual inhibitions — thanks to the veil of anonymity — and gives them an opportunity to say things that they’d never in a million years say to someone’s face, if not because of social decorum than for fear of walking away with a busted face.

I imagine women face extra challenges in this area — your post seems to indicate as much. Calling someone a homosexual or posting comments filled with obscene language is a pretty superficial way of trying to insult someone, and that’s as far as it usually seems to go when male bloggers are involved. Photoshopped pictures, sexual innuendo, and not-so-subtle rape threats, however, are entirely more personal, and it’s rare that male bloggers are the target of those sorts of attacks.

Sadly, there’s no easy solution, since the internet does grant anonymity. There’ll always be people like that out there, and it’s certain that they’ll end up posting on internet forums. No amount of social progress will change that. At some point, law enforcement has to get involved.

By: safiya

safiya — Sun, 01 Apr 2007 20:21:36 +0000

I heard about this story too and it really is vile.

Most female bloggers I know I have had to turn comment moderation on their blogs at some point, especially the Muslim ones.

It is the misogynistic nature of the abuse that’s so disturbing. One persistant pest began by telling me to take of my hijab and get a nice haircut and then ended by calling me a "F**king whore", because that’s the mentality of these people.

By: Devil's Mind

Devil's Mind — Sun, 01 Apr 2007 15:04:05 +0000

Under the law, you (or any user in general) have the right to file a complaint to the police department about direct threats on the internet. (Thats American Federal law)

Threatening people online is considered an offense that is punishable by the law. (Just like threatening people in real-life is also an offense)