Wrong Answer

Scoble on the Kathy Sierra mess:

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.

It's not specifically internet culture - we've seen this in email (and further back, on BBS systems) for years. People will say things in text that they would never say in person - because they feel like it isn't "personal". The answer isn't pulling back - it's more speech, more condemnation, more un-acceptance of bad behavior. If we want bad behavior to stop, we have to stand up to it. Pulling back only encourages it.

So here's my part of the disapproval: The people Kathy mentions in her post who were willing participants (active or passive) in this set of disgusting threats (including death threats) against Kathy - you should all be deeply ashamed of yourselves, and - at the very least - you should all offer personal apologies to her. Failure to do so will demonstrate one thing, and one thing only: that you have no character. I mean you, Jeneane Sessum, and you, Allen Herrel, and you, Chris Locke. I would hope that those three (and anyone else involved) get actively shunned until they publicly apologize. Maybe Scoble wants to withdraw and not call a spade a spade. That's not me.

Update: Sadly no - this blizzard of "Not Me!" doesn't count as an apology or explanation.

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