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Re: Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Anyone who has participated in an active mailing list or forum has seen this same drama played out dozens of times. I've seen numerous flamefests degenerate into threats that enter the same range that Kathy has seen (FWIW right down to the use of a noose picture). Semi-anonymity, quick/thoughtless responses and the very human urge to take something just a little bit further to get attention can as easily end in ugliness on the internet as they can on a playground. I would like to agree that anyone involved owes Kathy an explanation. Or that anyone who knows folks involved in meankids, etc, should be leaning on them. By calling in the police, Kathy almost assuredly over-reacted to indefensibly tasteless joking harassment. ALMOST assuredly. That's a big damned almost when it's your safety or that of a loved one on the line. BUT now that it's spilled into the real world, the police, FBI, lawsuits may be involved. The possibility for community self-policing is gone. I'm sure your lawyer would tell you that public disclosure now would be idiocy.
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