Kathy Sierra wrote a disturbing account of receiving death threats left on her blog Passionate: Creating Passionate Users.
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.
As I read Kathy's article, I felt sad for her, even though I have never met her. I do not like to see others bullied or harassed. I believe strongly in free speech. Though, I am not supportive of hateful speech, speech that makes others live their lives in fear.
From what Kathy has written on her blog, she appears to be targeted because she is a woman working in a male dominated technology sector. We here in Canada have witnessed a similar ugly act of aggression where a murderer gunned 14 innocent women studying engineering in Montreal. There is no humor in threats or acts of intimidation.
I am fully supportive of her right to blog and her right to work and participate in the technology sector. I wish Kathy and her family the best. And I hope she returns soon, stronger and more determined that ever before.
Please visit Kathy's blog and read her article.
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