Comments on: The Blogosphere Alight http://www.christopherspenn.com/2007/03/the-blogosphere-alight/ Wed, 08 Feb 2012 23:56:00 +0000 hourly 1 By: Jay Moonah http://www.christopherspenn.com/2007/03/the-blogosphere-alight/#comment-225 Jay Moonah Tue, 27 Mar 2007 14:48:35 +0000 http://www.christopherspenn.com/2007/03/27/the-blogosphere-alight/#comment-225 I want to first say that I wandered into a Twitter conversation yesterday about Digg not realizing that this had happened, so I want to apologize to anyone who thought I was being insensitive to this particular issue. I thought the comments being made were about the general cynical nature of many Digg posters, not this particular criminal. Threats of violence are obviously horrifically unacceptable, that's why they are illegal. My fear with these kinds of things is when it is generalized so that people think this says something about blogging and bloggers, for instance. This is one stupid idiot among a lot of good people. It is not (I hope!) the beginning of a movement, or the beginning of the end of blogging or anything of the sort. Chris has exactly the right attitude about how to deal with this -- find the moron, charge and/or sue him. The next time this happens -- and sadly it will happen again -- do the same thing. I believe if you're going to have a free society which I think we all want, that's the only way to deal with this stuff. I want to first say that I wandered into a Twitter conversation yesterday about Digg not realizing that this had happened, so I want to apologize to anyone who thought I was being insensitive to this particular issue. I thought the comments being made were about the general cynical nature of many Digg posters, not this particular criminal.

Threats of violence are obviously horrifically unacceptable, that’s why they are illegal. My fear with these kinds of things is when it is generalized so that people think this says something about blogging and bloggers, for instance. This is one stupid idiot among a lot of good people. It is not (I hope!) the beginning of a movement, or the beginning of the end of blogging or anything of the sort.

Chris has exactly the right attitude about how to deal with this — find the moron, charge and/or sue him. The next time this happens — and sadly it will happen again — do the same thing. I believe if you’re going to have a free society which I think we all want, that’s the only way to deal with this stuff.

]]> By: Jay Moonah http://www.christopherspenn.com/2007/03/the-blogosphere-alight/#comment-13444 Jay Moonah Tue, 27 Mar 2007 14:48:00 +0000 http://www.christopherspenn.com/2007/03/27/the-blogosphere-alight/#comment-13444 I want to first say that I wandered into a Twitter conversation yesterday about Digg not realizing that this had happened, so I want to apologize to anyone who thought I was being insensitive to this particular issue. I thought the comments being made were about the general cynical nature of many Digg posters, not this particular criminal. Threats of violence are obviously horrifically unacceptable, that's why they are illegal. My fear with these kinds of things is when it is generalized so that people think this says something about blogging and bloggers, for instance. This is one stupid idiot among a lot of good people. It is not (I hope!) the beginning of a movement, or the beginning of the end of blogging or anything of the sort. Chris has exactly the right attitude about how to deal with this -- find the moron, charge and/or sue him. The next time this happens -- and sadly it will happen again -- do the same thing. I believe if you're going to have a free society which I think we all want, that's the only way to deal with this stuff. I want to first say that I wandered into a Twitter conversation yesterday about Digg not realizing that this had happened, so I want to apologize to anyone who thought I was being insensitive to this particular issue. I thought the comments being made were about the general cynical nature of many Digg posters, not this particular criminal.

Threats of violence are obviously horrifically unacceptable, that’s why they are illegal. My fear with these kinds of things is when it is generalized so that people think this says something about blogging and bloggers, for instance. This is one stupid idiot among a lot of good people. It is not (I hope!) the beginning of a movement, or the beginning of the end of blogging or anything of the sort.

Chris has exactly the right attitude about how to deal with this — find the moron, charge and/or sue him. The next time this happens — and sadly it will happen again — do the same thing. I believe if you’re going to have a free society which I think we all want, that’s the only way to deal with this stuff.

]]> By: Christopher S. Penn http://www.christopherspenn.com/2007/03/the-blogosphere-alight/#comment-224 Christopher S. Penn Tue, 27 Mar 2007 01:55:10 +0000 http://www.christopherspenn.com/2007/03/27/the-blogosphere-alight/#comment-224 @Whitney: my world revolves around money, and the power it has. While it's not the only form of power, it's one everyone readily understands. How quickly would an ISP react if it were threatened with a lawsuit pertaining to a case like this? How quickly would a forum owner? IIRC, ISPs are not held liable in criminal cases for the actions of their users, but does that extend to civil litigation, tort, etc.? @Whitney: my world revolves around money, and the power it has. While it’s not the only form of power, it’s one everyone readily understands. How quickly would an ISP react if it were threatened with a lawsuit pertaining to a case like this? How quickly would a forum owner? IIRC, ISPs are not held liable in criminal cases for the actions of their users, but does that extend to civil litigation, tort, etc.?

]]> By: Christopher S. Penn http://www.christopherspenn.com/2007/03/the-blogosphere-alight/#comment-13443 Christopher S. Penn Tue, 27 Mar 2007 01:55:00 +0000 http://www.christopherspenn.com/2007/03/27/the-blogosphere-alight/#comment-13443 @Whitney: my world revolves around money, and the power it has. While it's not the only form of power, it's one everyone readily understands. How quickly would an ISP react if it were threatened with a lawsuit pertaining to a case like this? How quickly would a forum owner? IIRC, ISPs are not held liable in criminal cases for the actions of their users, but does that extend to civil litigation, tort, etc.? @Whitney: my world revolves around money, and the power it has. While it’s not the only form of power, it’s one everyone readily understands. How quickly would an ISP react if it were threatened with a lawsuit pertaining to a case like this? How quickly would a forum owner? IIRC, ISPs are not held liable in criminal cases for the actions of their users, but does that extend to civil litigation, tort, etc.?

]]> By: Whitney http://www.christopherspenn.com/2007/03/the-blogosphere-alight/#comment-223 Whitney Tue, 27 Mar 2007 01:50:15 +0000 http://www.christopherspenn.com/2007/03/27/the-blogosphere-alight/#comment-223 we don't yet have standard codes of behavior online that everyone agrees to- the anonimity factor lets some people unleash their inner demons on others, forgetting the person on the other end is a very real human being, or simply not caring about the real impact this has in the real world. This is the same reason chat rooms, forums, and even secondl life can be dangerous for some people- there is sometimes no distinction between online and offline, either. The intellectual process of reading things and communicating with others is powerful, yet do we really ever get a sense of how our words affect countless others? And what happens when we take these online relationships into the real world? A large majority of my online friendships have some link in the real world- even if just phone conversations, or meet ups like podcamp. I feel singularly responsible to my online friends in the same way I do to my offline friends- there is little distinction for me. But I know for many others, the online world breeds a certain freedom that allows they to behave badly. The anonymous nature, the ability to pretend to be anyone you want, or to take on a role removes them from usual boundaries or morality. (If you want to see one of the most astonishing examples of this, there is a website which is an "interactive horror story" allegedly about someone who has been kidnapped and readers need to solve problems or the person kidnapped will be harmed.....I was frankly shocked and appalled.) Freedom brings out the best in some people and the worst in others. I'm not sure how to stop this kind of insanity. I wish I did. we don’t yet have standard codes of behavior online that everyone agrees to- the anonimity factor lets some people unleash their inner demons on others, forgetting the person on the other end is a very real human being, or simply not caring about the real impact this has in the real world.

This is the same reason chat rooms, forums, and even secondl life can be dangerous for some people- there is sometimes no distinction between online and offline, either. The intellectual process of reading things and communicating with others is powerful, yet do we really ever get a sense of how our words affect countless others? And what happens when we take these online relationships into the real world?

A large majority of my online friendships have some link in the real world- even if just phone conversations, or meet ups like podcamp. I feel singularly responsible to my online friends in the same way I do to my offline friends- there is little distinction for me. But I know for many others, the online world breeds a certain freedom that allows they to behave badly. The anonymous nature, the ability to pretend to be anyone you want, or to take on a role removes them from usual boundaries or morality. (If you want to see one of the most astonishing examples of this, there is a website which is an “interactive horror story” allegedly about someone who has been kidnapped and readers need to solve problems or the person kidnapped will be harmed…..I was frankly shocked and appalled.)
Freedom brings out the best in some people and the worst in others. I’m not sure how to stop this kind of insanity. I wish I did.

]]> By: Whitney http://www.christopherspenn.com/2007/03/the-blogosphere-alight/#comment-13442 Whitney Tue, 27 Mar 2007 01:50:00 +0000 http://www.christopherspenn.com/2007/03/27/the-blogosphere-alight/#comment-13442 we don't yet have standard codes of behavior online that everyone agrees to- the anonimity factor lets some people unleash their inner demons on others, forgetting the person on the other end is a very real human being, or simply not caring about the real impact this has in the real world. This is the same reason chat rooms, forums, and even secondl life can be dangerous for some people- there is sometimes no distinction between online and offline, either. The intellectual process of reading things and communicating with others is powerful, yet do we really ever get a sense of how our words affect countless others? And what happens when we take these online relationships into the real world? A large majority of my online friendships have some link in the real world- even if just phone conversations, or meet ups like podcamp. I feel singularly responsible to my online friends in the same way I do to my offline friends- there is little distinction for me. But I know for many others, the online world breeds a certain freedom that allows they to behave badly. The anonymous nature, the ability to pretend to be anyone you want, or to take on a role removes them from usual boundaries or morality. (If you want to see one of the most astonishing examples of this, there is a website which is an "interactive horror story" allegedly about someone who has been kidnapped and readers need to solve problems or the person kidnapped will be harmed.....I was frankly shocked and appalled.) Freedom brings out the best in some people and the worst in others. I'm not sure how to stop this kind of insanity. I wish I did. we don’t yet have standard codes of behavior online that everyone agrees to- the anonimity factor lets some people unleash their inner demons on others, forgetting the person on the other end is a very real human being, or simply not caring about the real impact this has in the real world.

This is the same reason chat rooms, forums, and even secondl life can be dangerous for some people- there is sometimes no distinction between online and offline, either. The intellectual process of reading things and communicating with others is powerful, yet do we really ever get a sense of how our words affect countless others? And what happens when we take these online relationships into the real world?

A large majority of my online friendships have some link in the real world- even if just phone conversations, or meet ups like podcamp. I feel singularly responsible to my online friends in the same way I do to my offline friends- there is little distinction for me. But I know for many others, the online world breeds a certain freedom that allows they to behave badly. The anonymous nature, the ability to pretend to be anyone you want, or to take on a role removes them from usual boundaries or morality. (If you want to see one of the most astonishing examples of this, there is a website which is an “interactive horror story” allegedly about someone who has been kidnapped and readers need to solve problems or the person kidnapped will be harmed…..I was frankly shocked and appalled.)
Freedom brings out the best in some people and the worst in others. I’m not sure how to stop this kind of insanity. I wish I did.

]]> By: Christopher S. Penn http://www.christopherspenn.com/2007/03/the-blogosphere-alight/#comment-222 Christopher S. Penn Tue, 27 Mar 2007 01:40:24 +0000 http://www.christopherspenn.com/2007/03/27/the-blogosphere-alight/#comment-222 Ze Frank's Sports Racers found Ray in about two weeks. I wonder how long it will take for Kathy's antagonists? When they are found, to whoever finds them, please immediately call for legal backup. It won't initially feel as good as a punch in the junk, but in the long run it will be a lot more satisfying to see the lawsuit from hell. Ze Frank’s Sports Racers found Ray in about two weeks. I wonder how long it will take for Kathy’s antagonists? When they are found, to whoever finds them, please immediately call for legal backup. It won’t initially feel as good as a punch in the junk, but in the long run it will be a lot more satisfying to see the lawsuit from hell.

]]> By: Christopher S. Penn http://www.christopherspenn.com/2007/03/the-blogosphere-alight/#comment-13441 Christopher S. Penn Tue, 27 Mar 2007 01:40:00 +0000 http://www.christopherspenn.com/2007/03/27/the-blogosphere-alight/#comment-13441 Ze Frank's Sports Racers found Ray in about two weeks. I wonder how long it will take for Kathy's antagonists? When they are found, to whoever finds them, please immediately call for legal backup. It won't initially feel as good as a punch in the junk, but in the long run it will be a lot more satisfying to see the lawsuit from hell. Ze Frank’s Sports Racers found Ray in about two weeks. I wonder how long it will take for Kathy’s antagonists? When they are found, to whoever finds them, please immediately call for legal backup. It won’t initially feel as good as a punch in the junk, but in the long run it will be a lot more satisfying to see the lawsuit from hell.

]]> By: Justin Kownacki http://www.christopherspenn.com/2007/03/the-blogosphere-alight/#comment-221 Justin Kownacki Tue, 27 Mar 2007 01:36:05 +0000 http://www.christopherspenn.com/2007/03/27/the-blogosphere-alight/#comment-221 As long as the internet is "anonymous," people will believe they can play asinine games like this. I flat out guarantee none of these things would have been said to Kathy's face, ever, no matter the incivility of the parties involved. But when you take a treehouse and then make it invisible, it frees the miscreants of the world to have a field day. Everything in life boils down to one decision: personal responsibility. Do you have it or don't you? As long as the internet is “anonymous,” people will believe they can play asinine games like this. I flat out guarantee none of these things would have been said to Kathy’s face, ever, no matter the incivility of the parties involved. But when you take a treehouse and then make it invisible, it frees the miscreants of the world to have a field day.

Everything in life boils down to one decision: personal responsibility. Do you have it or don’t you?

]]> By: Justin Kownacki http://www.christopherspenn.com/2007/03/the-blogosphere-alight/#comment-13440 Justin Kownacki Tue, 27 Mar 2007 01:36:00 +0000 http://www.christopherspenn.com/2007/03/27/the-blogosphere-alight/#comment-13440 As long as the internet is "anonymous," people will believe they can play asinine games like this. I flat out guarantee none of these things would have been said to Kathy's face, ever, no matter the incivility of the parties involved. But when you take a treehouse and then make it invisible, it frees the miscreants of the world to have a field day. Everything in life boils down to one decision: personal responsibility. Do you have it or don't you? As long as the internet is “anonymous,” people will believe they can play asinine games like this. I flat out guarantee none of these things would have been said to Kathy’s face, ever, no matter the incivility of the parties involved. But when you take a treehouse and then make it invisible, it frees the miscreants of the world to have a field day.

Everything in life boils down to one decision: personal responsibility. Do you have it or don’t you?

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