I am interested in how this issue may be discussed at the Social Media Club - New York later tonight. I know I will be there, so wonder how the sold-out meeting will tackle this topic. It has certainly shown us that the blogosphere is mainstream enough to have bullies just like the F2F world.

Perhaps this does show us that social media really is mainstream.

Francine,
It is definite terrible what Kathy is going through right now. While she is a public figure and would have trouble hiding anonymously compared to others, I think (as I mentioned to Chris Heuer) SMC should hold guides or in-person classes on how to smartly keep private online, especially on social media sites like Twitter, MySpace etc.

For example, I surprisingly saw a well known social media evangelist mention his phone number on twitter (which was public). This is definitely something anyone should think twice before doing in a public, widely accessible medium. I would love SMC to be involved in educating people, especially kids in school, on how to better keep safe online and what to do when something like this happens.

I was sent what they wrote on meankids.org about Maryam. Really vile, vile, stuff. Everyone involved in that site owes Maryam a public apology. The fact that they are all trying to justify that site’s creation and didn’t end it the moment that was posted about Maryam says volumes about their characters. The fact that we haven’t yet received a public apology? Even more volumes.

If you attack other people on the Internet you shouldn’t be surprised when it comes back onto your own head.

Sow as you would reap.

I think THAT is an awesome lesson to discuss at Social Media Club. Treat other people how you’d like to be treated, and all that.

I would vote ‘Yes’ use it as a topic, bring the issue up (it’s timely) and then carry on - the subject is both useless and inane if carried on too far…

Francine and others, Thanks for this thread. Yes, we will cover this at Social Media Club tonight.
There are issues of identity, taking responsibility for one’s own words and actions, and also stuff that goes past blogging into the law and death threats. Let’s be clear, that’s not what we stand for.
Howard

I am sorry that Kathy Sierra is going through this experience, and I am glad that many in the blogosphere have come forth to defend her. It seems that there are many layers to this controversy, and I would like us to discuss not only how to protect privacy online, but also some of the larger issues involved–for instance, are women and other minority bloggers at more risk online?

What can we do in our overall society, as well as in the blogosphere, to change the mindset that permits violence against women and stalking online and off?

How does this situation affect others of us who run blogs? Are we censoring ourselves more than usual out of fear, and what can we do about it? (We could discuss other inhibiting fears relevant to social media and blogging, not just death threats and stalkers).

I would like to see this topic expanded to include discussion about other issues involved in revealing one’s self online, and how much one should do so in various types of social media.

Thanks for opening this up for discussion.

Cathryn Hrudicka