> What I don't get is why people willingly go onto an online community (knowing that there exist a potential for harassment) and then cry about it when it happens.
> As before, downvoters should explain their reasoning.
All right. I'm downvoting you for (a) victim-blaming, because you're basically saying that anyone who participates in any online community should expect an organized campaign of social violence and have only themselves to blame for it, (b) because you seem to imply that staying anonymous is sufficient protection when there are trolls who specialize in uncovering identities, and (c) because you're pretending that not intentionally participating in a community makes you safe from that community. Right now, in Gamergate, we've got a bunch of dudes trying to manufacture a political movement based on hounding one woman out of her home because her ex says she cheated on him.
Basically, in your world, no one deserves to be safe unless they cut off all human ties and live like a hermit. And that's bullshit.
I wish I could downvote, but I don't havethe "karma" and it appears the original post was deleted. That's like saying Sure you can go to school, but if you do, don't be surprised if you get bullied. The internet frankly is/is becoming a "right" to have, and being told that using that right justifies this crap is crazy.... So....I'll just have to upvote your comment, I was actually afraid to click on the comments for this post, (I keep hearing crap about how HN commenters are the worst), Fortunately for the most part people were empathetic, and not complete "jerks". I am thankful for that. Unfortunately there are/always will be those that pull this kinda junk.
I seem to vaguely remember Codinghorror talking about the various ban types. In some ways it would be nice to see that kind of thing implemented for people that keep doing this, it wouldn't prevent the real life attacks, but at least online could be prevented, and in some cases if you don't get any traction online, well....it might just stop there (for that troll anyways). You can't stop all the crazies all of the time, but you can (maybe) stop some of the crazies some of the time..... This got really long, sorry, but I just get really sad when I hear about the harrassment, and needed to vocalize it.
> As before, downvoters should explain their reasoning.
All right. I'm downvoting you for (a) victim-blaming, because you're basically saying that anyone who participates in any online community should expect an organized campaign of social violence and have only themselves to blame for it, (b) because you seem to imply that staying anonymous is sufficient protection when there are trolls who specialize in uncovering identities, and (c) because you're pretending that not intentionally participating in a community makes you safe from that community. Right now, in Gamergate, we've got a bunch of dudes trying to manufacture a political movement based on hounding one woman out of her home because her ex says she cheated on him.
Basically, in your world, no one deserves to be safe unless they cut off all human ties and live like a hermit. And that's bullshit.