Bloggers receiving death threats? Can’t happen, right? After all, blogosphere denizens are all intelligent, thoughtful people with intellectual capacities and moralities far beyond most mortals, correct?
Well, think again, because a programming instructor/blogger from Colorado by the name of Kathy Sierra cancelled her appearance at the O’Reilly ETech conference in San Diego after receiving astoundingly horrid death threats via e-mail and postings at a number of rather debased websites.
What follows is a disturbing tale as the creator of the “Head First’ series of books about computer programming posted Monday at her “Creating Passionate Users” blog (h/t Instapundit). However, the reader is cautioned to proceed with care, for her account is raw, vulgar, and extremely shocking:
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.
How disgraceful.
Those interested should continue here. But be advised: this is some very disturbing stuff.
*****Update: Mitch Wagoner of Information Week weighed in:
The sort of language used against Sierra is outrageous, unacceptable, and, unfortunately, it's become normal on the Internet. Name-calling is routine, and death threats aren't particularly unusual. It's hard to read any public forum on the Internet without coming away wanting to wash your hands.
Internet users as a community need to take a stand on this one. We need to let Sierra know that she has our complete support, and we need to let the people writing these vile messages know that their behavior is simply unacceptable.
Moreover, the owners of the forums where these threats were made need to take a stand. They need to cooperate with police in investigating the threats, and help bring Sierra's attackers to justice.
Hear, hear!
—Noel Sheppard is the Associate Editor of NewsBusters. Follow him at Facebook and Twitter.
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
Does anyone know why she wo
March 27, 2007 - 10:04 ET by balboaDoes anyone know why she would draw this kind of ire from people? I was going through her blog and she doesn't appear to be controversial at all. It's a tech blog fer cryin' out loud. Or am I missing something?
There are sick, sick people out there.
Bal
March 27, 2007 - 10:08 ET by Noel SheppardB,
I've been searching, too, and discussed exactly that with my wife this morning. Why is this a controversial figure? I don't get it. ns
I don't get it either. Is she
March 27, 2007 - 10:14 ET by balboaI don't get it either. Is she an advocate of Red Hat Linux and the Unix people hate her for it?
Either way, there's no excuse for such ugliness.
Rooting around some more, Kat
March 27, 2007 - 10:24 ET by balboaRooting around some more, Kathy is not well-liked for some reason. The author of the blog the comments appeared on--while disagreeing with the ugliness of the anonymous posts--is on record as saying "Kathy Sierra is a dipshit." So there's GOTTA be some kind of stance she has on things that people don't like.
Mr Leftist, meet the Anarch
March 27, 2007 - 10:38 ET by liberal_bug_zapperMr Leftist, meet the Anarchist. This creature is timid in small numbers or when exposed to sunlight, but get it in large mobs or in deep dark basements and it becomes an 'anything goes' and 'any action is ok if it allows me to vent' creature which is a danger to anyone or anything around it.
____________________________________________________
"We can only reason from what is; we can reason on actualities, but not on possibilities." ~ Thomas Paine
I've never understood the log
March 28, 2007 - 08:55 ET by EvilRoyI've never understood the logic in disliking attractive women. Whatever her opinion on programming why in the world would someone want to harm her? Hell, if I've got a problem with her I would suggest a dinner in a public place and chilled bottle of merlot to discuss options. You may not change her mind but it would be an enjoyable evening.
personal relationship?
March 27, 2007 - 13:05 ET by Ten7sIts possible that this is solely related to her blogging. But isn't it more probable that this has to do with some close personal relationship, be it private or professional?
I don't get it either. In f
March 27, 2007 - 11:43 ET by CrimsonfistedI don't get it either. In fact I found the content useful!
WhatAMaroon
I imagine that if I were a w
March 27, 2007 - 10:09 ET by Dan The Man 2I imagine that if I were a woamn I would be threatened. Of course my personal information is not as widely known as hers is and if it was I might be even more frightened. Perhaps the government should step in and fine the blogs or the providers, but that is a slippery slope coated with teflon.
It only takes one of those threats to be genuine to make them real.
Nuke em til they glow then shoot em in the dark. -- save my gun, shoot a liberal.
I hereby take a pledge to n
March 27, 2007 - 10:20 ET by liberal_bug_zapperI hereby take a pledge to never again suggest a hanging for a traitor (At least not before a fair trial according to all the laws and our Constitution).
Noel, you are right. Mitch Wagoner is right. It's time we start to police ourselves. To stop giving these people a stage. It's time to stand up for what is right.
Too many times in the past, I have allowed emotions to overwhelm me and I've posted things about acting on the Constitution's punishment for traitors, but I've always regretted that I didn't take a more lawful approach to calling for justice.
I feel strong anger against those who I believe threaten the very existence of this wonderful country, and I have been reacting quite strongly ever since my innocent little girl was born last year. But the kind of vile filth that is being spewed by these people out there makes what I was saying seem tame.
Here at NewsBusters, you and Mark and all the bloggers have pointed out the hypocrisy of the left, their vile anger and hatred that spews forth every day, and we have recoiled from it. But we, as a community, have allowed it to continue. It's time that we say no more. It's time that we begin to research companies who host these vile hate sites and sue to have them taken down. If they (the site owners) refuse to report their participants to the authorities for making threats, I say we start suing the Internet Service Providers for allowing them to make death threats.
What do you think?
____________________________________________________
" Reason obeys itself; and ignorance submits to whatever is dictated to it." ~ Thomas Paine
Zapper
March 27, 2007 - 10:57 ET by Noel SheppardZap,
Well, I imagine you've noticed that I am always courteous to members here, in particular those on the left who don't agree with my views. And, I am regularly sending PMs to folks that are either getting out of line, or "feeding the trolls" so to speak.
Taking this further, a great degree of civility was demonstrated by Mike Stark and myself some weeks back when we did our blog debate. Most of the feedback I received from liberal bloggers and blogospherans was extremely positive, with some exceptions.
The point is that we are indeed all Americans despite our disparate views, and should rejoice in the right to express them rather than threaten folks for doing so. Sadly, as this is what we see from our political leaders and the media, what do we have to guide us in a more humane, civil, and desirable direction?
If the answer is "nowhere," then we must lead ourselves to such warmer, more temperate waters, for if we don't, we are just part of the problem, and should stop complaining about the caustic political discourse in our country.
Maybe more importantly, we should get used to death threats like these, and just ignore them as a cost of doing business on the Internet.
Wouldn't that be a sad outcome? ns
and should rejoice in the r
March 27, 2007 - 11:03 ET by BlameTheMediaand should rejoice in the right to express them rather than threaten folks for doing so.
I'm glad to hear this. I'm also glad to hear that you monitor things in here. Healthy debate is so much more productive than name calling, which seems to be the common denominator in here most days.
I love hearing all views. Wouldn't this be boring if everyone had exactly the same view?
Oh, the inhumanity!
March 27, 2007 - 11:51 ET by RJ"Healthy debate is so much more productive than name calling, which seems to be the common denominator in here most days."
Why, you poor fellah! You mean that when you offer up such brilliancy as "Jim Webb a gun-toting racist?? If he were a republican, they'd be falling over themselves to pin a medal on him!" posters here actually respond with derision? Oh, the inhumanity!
" ... we must lead ourse
March 27, 2007 - 11:39 ET by IgnatzJFahrquar" ... we must lead ourselves to such warmer, more temperate waters, ..."
No need to move Noel, according to the Global Gorists, warmer waters will come to us.
"I have been through some terrible things in my life, some of which actually happened." Mark Twain
Ignatz
March 27, 2007 - 13:10 ET by Noel SheppardIg,
Well, those waters may be warmer, but are they more tolerant? :-) ns
Noel, it would be a sad outco
March 27, 2007 - 11:48 ET by liberal_bug_zapperNoel, it would be a sad outcome if people stopped feeling free to express themselves. However, I believe that it is vitally important that we as a nation police ourselves, and hold those of vile and wicked intent culpable for their threats and of their acts of intimidation, which take away other peoples right liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
Isn't it up to us to stop this behavior? Isn't up to us to shun these people for their vile words? Unlike that blogger who refused to 'censor' the hateful threats, I believe that it is up to us, the citizens to take the filth out of society by shunning it. Hence my call for suing the ISPs that host vile sites which allow threats and more to go on.
It's not a slippery slope. Do we say it's a slippery slope to make stealing illegal? Most sane people do not. Do we say it's a slippery slope to make incest and child molestation illegal? Do we say "Privacy of the family outweighs the safety of the child?" No, we don't. We as a community decide what is allowable and what is not. The anarchists, communists and leftists want to use our own Declaration of Independence, Bill of Rights and Constitution against us by convincing us that these documents forbid us of placing limits on behavior, and that even behavior we find vile should be allowed.... ok, so how far do we go?
We're already saying that killing a 5 month old baby in the womb isn't murder... how much further will we go? Millions of Americans don't think that killing a five month old baby in the womb is murder... and most of them think that abortion is just like removing a tumor. How has this happened? Killing babies is ok, and making death threats is considered allowable... at least by the people who do it.
Where do we draw the line? When do we draw the line? If we keep waiting, soon, there will be no place for us to draw any line. We must stand together and say 'ENOUGH!' We must stand up and say "You will not do that and we will stop you!" Otherwise, the continued whining of our side will not do a thing. We've been waiting for far too long, and we've been losing the battle.
Rush said something the other day when he was interviewing Arnold Schwarzenegger, he said, the left have never given up their principals, only lessened them. This is the extent of what has been called compromise. Our side has been the only side to compromise. Why is that? It's time that we draw the ideological line in the sand and go no further. Who cares if government grinds to a halt. Let's hope that's the case. Government is at it's best, a necessary evil, and at it's worst, an intolerable one.
We must be the adults if no one else will take the responsibility.
____________________________________________________
"An army of principles can penetrate where an army of soldiers cannot." ~ Thomas Paine
liberals
March 27, 2007 - 10:43 ET by iveseenitallDeath threats are the logical result of years of division in this country. From the nine Democrats who pounded President Bush before the last election to the MSM'S relentless spewing of hate, to the Democrats doing the same, the atmosphere of animosity is palpable. Anything today can be construed as deserving vile hatred. The Democrats are now spending day after day with committees, not to do good for the nation, but to get the President and, as liberal Alan Colmes says, "his henchmen". Unfortunately, this is just the beginning. Sad that America has come to this. I blame P.C. and the liberals who've irrespnsibly brainwashed a generation.
NEVER,NEVER trust a liberal
George Will just wrote a column about increasing anger levels
March 27, 2007 - 10:52 ET by RJGeorge Will just wrote a column on the subject, discussing how many in America have been upping the ante in their expression of anger. He doesn't openly say so, but it's clearly the left that is the driving force in most of it.
It's a good read, and it ends: "Today, many people preen about their anger as a badge of authenticity: I snarl therefore I am."
http://jewishworldreview.com/cols/will032607.php3
RJ
March 27, 2007 - 11:04 ET by Noel SheppardRJ,
Great article. I snarl therefore I am. How many in the media and in the blogosphere does this now describe? ns
and more, Noel...
March 27, 2007 - 11:17 ET by RJAlso: "the new anger often has a look-at-me-character of performance art",
"anger has become an all-purpose emotional stance",
"a credential for group membership",
"vagueness and elasticity of the grievances" (we see that a LOT here!)
and more...
I found it good in spots bu
March 28, 2007 - 09:34 ET by sarcasmoI found it good in spots but (typical for Will) clueless in others. For example, for all the conservative whines about the situation in San Francisco, if it were even close to remotely-true in SF that: "The only rules concern parking," as Will laments, I'd have moved-there and politically-shut-up long ago... I'm still yakkin' quite a bit, because in reality-ville San Francisco (among other places) is still a land of control freaks, no-matter how George Will wants to portray it.
JMR
RJ - Will article - thanks
March 27, 2007 - 12:46 ET by Gary HallRJ - Will article - thanks.
Those who want a different course, should lead - not call others names.
That was a fantastic read. It
March 28, 2007 - 02:38 ET by tracheostomyThat was a fantastic read. It really caused me to do some self-assessment of my own attitude. Am I becoming a part of the problem, or part of the solution?
-PJ
Cowardly Evil Language
March 27, 2007 - 10:48 ET by CTI do not know 'Kathy Sierra' nor of course why anyone would attack her. The vile language while an English speaker does not sound American to me.
There are just too many clichés concerning nasty Internet dialog due to its anonymity, but there has been a coarsening of public discourse that should be unacceptable in a civilized society. Consider the recent outbursts of Sean Penn, Bill Maher and Rosie O’Donnell. Their vulgar speech and Ad Hominenm attacks only denigrate the public conversation, yet they go unquestioned in the MSM today. News coverage of this tripe sounds more like children whispering oooh so and so said a bad word than warranted condemnation.Both sides do it... Ann, Rush
March 27, 2007 - 10:58 ET by BlameTheMediaBoth sides do it... Ann, Rush... but it does seem the MSM acts more shocked when conservatives do it. No one's hands are clean here. Just read these blogs and listen to the anger, rage, name-calling, death wishes for groups... politics are very divisive and have become more so in the last decade.
There you go again, Blamer
March 27, 2007 - 11:04 ET by RJThere you go again, Blamer, trying to provide cover for the angry, bullying left. Got any evidence of your charges? Got any examples that match the subject of this thread? ....didn't think so.
more hypocrisy from R J BS
March 27, 2007 - 12:15 ET by tumbler_2007Look at the odd style of character assassination you keep practicing of late, R J. Of course, ;^> --makes it all right coming from your side. Hoping old men die soon, referring to one of us here as demented old fool, and on the whole just killing the messenger when you hate the message. Try a little more CYA, Kid.
My goodness, Tumbler
March 27, 2007 - 12:27 ET by RJMy goodness, Tumbler, I didn't know that Blamer is your buddy. Trying to enlist the libs to your cause now? A little identification of kindred souls on your part? Well, I guess it fits, considering that you match LaRaza's position on the illegal aliens. Plus, I've always said you argue like a liberal.
P.S. I've often said you're a demented old fool, because on the subject of illegal aliens you are...but I've never said you should die soon. ;^>
continued hypocrisy
March 27, 2007 - 12:42 ET by tumbler_2007You're well-aware I have NOT responded to Blame the Media in any way; I comment on your "Do as I say, not as I do," brand of BS. -- Nobody is more deliberately insensitive and dishonest ("Tumbler called me Nazi,") in these arguments than RJ, or as we now know him, BSRJ.
He emails everybody to beg, "Please ! Stop me before I denigrate and curse again !"
And now he's preaching respect on the blogs. Oh, Boy !
Is it the time of the month, Tumbler?
March 27, 2007 - 12:50 ET by RJGeez, Tumbler, are you determined to hijack yet another threat to pursue your demented agenda? As for your paranoia, I haven't contacted anyone about you. Don't need to. Your insanity is on display for everyone to see.
P.S. Sometimes you admit that you called me Nazi, sometimes you deny it....is it tied in to the time of the month?
(In deference to the guidelines of the site, this is my last response to you on this thread.)
I haven't seen your trash
March 27, 2007 - 12:57 ET by tumbler_2007Is it that time of the month ? I can't say, because those rags haven't come out of your house yet. (Why derail another thread talking about your waste products ?)
Insanity ? NO. Hypocrisy, and (Gasp!) on the Right !
Gentlemen
March 27, 2007 - 13:02 ET by Noel SheppardGentlemen,
You can't fight in here. This is the War Room!
That said, isn't it a tad unseemly to be so bickering in a thread about a blogger getting death threats?
Can't we all just get along? :-) ns
lol Noel
March 27, 2007 - 13:11 ET by RJlol, Noel....unseemly....or appropriate...depending on your point of view. As far as I'm concerned, you can dump both of our last few posts if you want...either way is fine. Tumbler has been chasing several of us around for hours, so I expect he'll continue.... ;^>
RJ
March 27, 2007 - 13:19 ET by Noel SheppardRJ,
Nah. It made for a good joke -- and you NEVER want to delete those!!! :-)
BTM, calling someone a faggot
March 27, 2007 - 11:28 ET by liberal_bug_zapperBTM, calling someone a faggot (i.e. wussy, wimp, pussy, less than a man... name your gender demeaning name here) and calling our commander and chief a criminal, a liar or murdering Nazi are two very very different things.
I have never heard Rush call anyone a name like those listed above. He calls John Edwards 'The Breck Girl' ... big whoop, he calls Harry Reid 'Dingy Harry'.... oh, my goodness, call the police... and he calls the Feminists of old 'Feminazis' for their intimidation tactics.... oh my, so bad. However, in spite of his pet names for Democrats or Liberal groups, he never actually makes ad-hominem attacks... meaning, he always attacks liberal policy (calling them names isn't ad-hominem, calling them criminals or nazis would be ad-hominem).
Attack my policy BTM. Attack George W. Bushes policy BTM. But saying that George W. Bush took us to war based on a lie.... with zero proof that any lies were told, is an ad-hominem attack.
We conservatives believe that attacking the message is the way to defeat your opponent. The majority of leftists I have ever conversed with continually attack the messenger, and of course, try and discredit anything the messenger says by means of smearing him.
Now here at NewsBusters, we tend to make the same arguments over and over and this grates on nerves. Many times, we eventually retort with hyperbole or sarcasm (like my quotes from movies in the Seymour Hirsch thread that you didn't catch.) Your side is continually coming at us with cliche after cliche and it gets tiring. Then, if some on our side are articulate, you resort to ad-hominem attacks. If some on our side are not articulate, you still resort to ad-hominem attacks. The Copperheads of 1860 called Lincoln 'Dull', the Copperheads of 2000 ~ present call George W. Bush 'Idiot'. See a trend here?
What is it with your side and the politics of slime? Do you have no substance?
____________________________________________________
"Character is much easier kept than recovered." ~ Thomas Paine
BlameTheMedia Says: Both si
March 27, 2007 - 12:22 ET by DontFeedTheTrollsBlameTheMedia Says: Both sides do it...
Yeah, you have democrat congresspersons calling George Bush a liar, a Nazi, a murderer, a terrorist and more . . .
and you have George Bush calling Bin Laden an outlaw.
How shocking.
D
A day without NewsBusters is like a day without sunshine.
Agreed
March 27, 2007 - 11:07 ET by iveseenitallAgreed, CT. Free speech comes with responsibility. The MSM and the Democrats have none. Liberals,in general, have none. Lying is now embedded in the fabric of this nation. This site notes everyday the vile lies of major celebrities (including politicians)-- words without accountiblity. It is ripping the nation apart. But isn't this exactly what is desired by those who hate everything America was founded upon? Christianity and Western culture is the enemy of liberal Socialist/Communists around the world. Teachers must be "agents for change". Ask yourself, "to change what?" To change everything which has made this nation great? Our very existence is under attack by liberal loons. This is the real "death threat" for Americans.
NEVER,NEVER trust a liberal
Yes, this is what I'm talking
March 27, 2007 - 11:09 ET by liberal_bug_zapperYes, this is what I'm talking about. For the past six years, the left in this country have been spewing vile hate speech and trying to gain cover from the Freedom of Speech clause in the first Amendment. They claim that we're Nazis if we want them to stop writing books dreaming up ways of assassinating a sitting President, or making movies of the same thing. They claim we are taking away civil rights when we want to clamp down on their hateful rhetoric which really is just provoking more vitriolic bile from their side.
We call them stupid, they call us criminals. We claim they're socialists, they claim we are global criminals complicit in destroying the environment and should be tried Nuremberg style. Sure, there are people who claim to be on our side who spew some pretty nasty stuff, but I'll bet you anything the more creative and deadly sounding threats and hate can be found on their side of the aisle.
How about when their side prints lies that are provable lies? Briton has some pretty good laws dealing with Slander, however, even they cannot seem to stop the likes of George Galloway. But when lies get out of control and begin to incite actual violence against people, we need to stand up as a culture and say no. We need to tell the lawmakers that we will not stand for it. We need to tell the Judges that they may not make law, only uphold those laws our lawmakers make. We must back these Internet Bullies and criminals down. We must make the leftists pay for their lies with their reputations. We must require the use of some way to identify someone as a habitual liar... how about dying their skin bright LIME GREEN for continued offenses. How about forcing them to keep a banner add on their website that states "THIS PERSON IS A CHRONIC LIAR".
Of course, this would not go for opinion pieces, just for those pieces that claim to be telling the truth, but can't back it up, but say it anyway to try and destroy those they don't like.
____________________________________________________
"Society in every state is a blessing, but government, even in its best stage, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state an intolerable one. " ~ Thomas Paine
Two comments, one regarding
March 27, 2007 - 11:02 ET by mtwokaysry double post: Reason? NB taking forever to post. come one NB!!!
I'm tired of waiting on NewsB
March 27, 2007 - 11:10 ET by SouthJersey1953I'm tired of waiting on NewsBusters.org
Hmmm....Not sure what your problem is. I am relatively new as well, but I have never had a problem logging on.
Be thankful we're not getting all the government we're paying for. - Will Rogers
mt -- sorry NBuddy. This is
March 27, 2007 - 11:27 ET by Jack Bauermt -- sorry NBuddy. This is a long term problem that is getting progressively worse.
You do have to really care about the site to persevere sometimes. Heavy trafiic starts around 11am and goes through to early evening.
I have no idea why this site is almost unique in its slowness and freezes.
Two comments, one regarding
March 27, 2007 - 11:03 ET by mtwokayTwo comments, one regarding subject and the other newsbusters.org.
1. The only reason a computer geek would receive death threats would be if she said something negative about open source. The commie, socialist programmers who think MS sucks and all software should be free are just as radical as the commie libs running the Democratic Party. Say one negative thing against open source and these wacko socialist programmers will jump on you like white on rice.
2. I’m tired of waiting on newsbusters.org. 10min to log in, sometimes it works sometimes it doesn’t. Click on a topic, sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. Humm….sounds like open source to me. Get your act together NB. I’m new but getting discouraged rather quickly.
The reason you are having t
March 27, 2007 - 16:09 ET by daberkmanThe reason you are having trouble logging in is because you are using Explorer, which is rather slow to remember a site and because the nature of blog commenting is best suited for the communist supported Firefox. So, it's either use Explorer like a patriotic capitalist or go about becoming a Fidel-worshipping Firefox user.
Also, soy beans will make your children gay.
Rights
March 27, 2007 - 11:31 ET by iveseenitallLiberals, fortunately for them, have a "right" to their opinions. The problem is that they allow no room for the opinion of others. From schoolrooms to the major media, dissent is stiffled or ignored to give vent to liberal gibberish and liberal lies. And it's deliberate. Don't ever allow yourself to think a lefty is being honest with you. They deserve no quarter because they've given none to you and never will. Their only focus is your demise. Oh, they'll cover it with sweet talk and mendacity, but as one can see from what the Dems are doing right now in Congress, if you disagree with them, they'll come after you. Moveover, their agenda is to have a Soviet style America, replete with a state run press (note our MSM), socialized health care ( note Hillary lately), propagandized schools (note Algore's movie being shown in classrooms), and a collectivist economic system ( tax the rich), to name just a few of their "goals". And watch out; they are the "masters of deceit". Their "ideas", such as global warming or national health care, are simply covers for them to ultimately take away your right to individuality, freeedom of choice, and legitimate dissent, among other things.
NEVER,NEVER trust a liberal
Don't forget the lefts atta
March 27, 2007 - 13:48 ET by American InfidelDon't forget the lefts attack on Christianity and their never ending obsession of taking our guns away. Reminds me of how Communism is established, first take the guns and outlaw religion.
We've finally given liberals a war against fundamentalism, and they don't want to fight it. They would, except it would put them on the same side as the United States.
Ann Coulter
Though, it is true that the l
March 27, 2007 - 14:08 ET byThough, it is true that the law should do something about such threatening posts, we cannot let threatening posts stop us from being free –anymore than we would let a bad neighbor stop us from being free. I have had people from online stalk me, threaten me, and slander me –all because of my Christian teachings. The last thing I would do is let harassers stop me from my work. Here are some things stalkers have posted online:
My home address
My town board meeting info
My oldest daughter's college
Information of a malpractice lawsuit
The cost of my house when I purchased it
The square footage of my house
The names of past mortgage companies of mine
Doctored up pictures
Defamatory statements
Postings, with my name attached either out of context, embellished or made up.
Threats that someone should come and 'take care' of me and 'shut [me] up'
Every vulgar word in the book has been posted about my two daughters and me
An AOL account of mine was subpoenaed in a divorce suit --I was named as the 'other woman' in the New Jersey case, and I have never even been to New Jersey, nor have I met either of the two --The woman's lawyer dropped her as a client after speaking to me on the phone
Postings claiming that I fly all over the country to meet men --I have never flown, nor as of this day have I ever met anyone, male or female, from online.
There were two blogs formed --one for posters to trash me, and the other to join forces to get me kicked off of AOL. It was weird, to say the least.
They also tried to find my husband’s work. They wanted to harass his boss and one woman wrote an 8-page letter that she wanted my husband to read. Weird!
I am told by friends who are still on AOL, that a year after the demise of my old account, I am still the daily/nightly topic in the ‘Christian’ chat forum. It was anti-Christians, causing the most of the trouble there and AOL did not care about us Christians at all –from what I know, they still don’t care.
We cannot let harassment, slander, and discrimination, even threats stop us from doing whatever it is that we are doing online and in life. We cannot allow people to scare us into hiding in our homes. I don't. I won't.
Why did people threaten this woman? Who knows? Maybe cause she is pretty. We simply do not know what motivates nuts to harass others.
But no matter what, this is America. If someone does not like us for 'whatever' the reason may be, we do not give in to threats, harassment, slander, or terrorism of any kind.
If you want to read about AOL and what happened, click here.
Debra...
Debra, that's bizarro stuff
March 27, 2007 - 14:23 ET by John in CADebra, that's bizarro stuff. Sounds much like what Michelle Malkin goes through. I think she actually had to move because of threats to her family and her address being published online with encouragement to harass her.
Their justification for finding and posting her address was because Michelle posted the contact information to a university president (or someone like that) that Michelle got from the university's public contact information!
Much of this argument from the left of "well, they (the right) does it too!", is moral equivalence - which liberals excel at.
Give a Democrat Party free America a chance!
Hi John, Yes, they always hav
March 27, 2007 - 14:43 ET byHi John,
Yes, they always have excuses for what they do. That is how abusive people operate.
In my case, they said that I was the stupid one who gave my address to a woman online, who I built a web page for. She turned out to be a type of "fatal attraction" person, whom I had to pull away from --she went nuts and gave my information out like candy online to all who she knew wanted it. Other information, like where my daughter attends college, I still have no idea how they learned. I have had it suggested that someone has driven by my home for them. One of them boasted of having a realtor friend here, who could tell him everything he wanted to know about where I live and my home etc.
Abusive people, always blame the ones they are abusive towards. Notice, I won't say victim. In most cases, we are only victims if we succumb to such abuse and let it affect us and how we live. I have learned that we don’t die till God says we die; and nothing happens to us that God does not allow to happen to us. –So, I am simply not scared of them. (At one time they did scare me, but not anymore.)
Debra...
Good for you Debra...We may h
March 27, 2007 - 14:30 ET by bigtimerGood for you Debra...
We may have our differences...but hang in there gal!
Bravo to you!
I sincerely mean that.
Thank you, bigtimer,That is k
March 27, 2007 - 14:52 ET byThank you, bigtimer,
That is kind of you to say..
Debra... :o)
Stealth Bullies
March 27, 2007 - 21:37 ET by Jerry MackThreats like these are made by cowards. They have no other way to strike back at the world for their pitiful existence. But eventually they will be exposed.
I feel bad for Kathy and al
March 27, 2007 - 22:43 ET by radiofitz34I feel bad for Kathy and also for Debra. I don't think any blogger should receive death threats. So much can be said about this.
Sometime soon, a psychologist will coin a term for "internet blogging hatred" such as what was done with the term "road rage" for driving.
I don't see how a person can sufficiently vent their anger while typing on a keyboard. Sure I agree that after a rather thoughtfully (or thoughtlessly) written post, I'll go back and chuckle at my own remarks. But some of these folks on other blog sites really act homocidal and may be soon be ready for the "padded" van.
I also realize that some posters will drink too much or will do these vile posts simply because they CAN.
I'm glad the standards at NB are logical when it comes to free speech.
Perfectly said, radiofitz34.
March 28, 2007 - 00:09 ET byPerfectly said, radiofitz34.
liberal bloggers receiving de
April 3, 2007 - 11:20 ET byliberal bloggers receiving death threats??
It is scary about death threats. From reading this site, it appears that some right wingers have come to the point of internet road rage at this site frequently when an ocassional "lunatic liberal" visits this site on a very limited visa.
I am glad that since I have been gone, we have not allowed to let the govt have total control. Democracy took place to oust so many of the right wingers who could act without impunity. Hopefully, govt officials with checks and balances are limited access to our personal lives and political philosophies... if this were to go in effect as many wanted to with the Patriot act, people could very easily intimidate citizens whether right or left!
We finally have some checks and balances to what was formerly an unchecked government!
A free press is one of the first things to go in a totalitarian government. Montana Lyons