Kathy Sierra Receiving Death Threats

Just yesterday, I wrote that Kathy Sierra is among my favorite bloggers.  Today, it's going rapidly around the blogosphere that Kathy has received a series of ugly, twisted, perverted and frightening death threats. Two prominent bloggers, Jeneane Sessum,, of Blogher and Christopher Locke a Cluetrain co-author appear to be directly or indirectly involved.

Scoble says he is so upset he is taking the week off.  I'm not going to do that, but I have to say I need to step back for a second. I somehow did not expect something like this to happen.  It saddens and frightens me that it did. Kathy is one of the finest voices in marketing in the blogosphere or out. And for anonymous scumbags or famous bloggers to do something this goddam ugly just makes me very, very sad.

I wish I had a profound or dramatic statement to make but I don't. I wish there was something I could do or say to make it better for Kathy, but there isn't.

I think tonight I'll just go watch TV. It's safer.

Comments

[antonis hontzeas]

Hello. From far away Athens I/ve been reading this and I must say I am horrified. One of the essential principles of freedom of speech (whether its done via technology or plain old speaking) is advanced citizenship which entails responsibility and respect wrt how we act and how we communicate. Indeed, advanced citizenship implies both benefits as well as responsibilities. Clearly (if things are as they appear to be, and I suspect the police will determine this), Mrs Sierra is being subjected to harassment by people that have no place in a free and responsible society, and are in no way entitled to that society's benefits.

[Toby]

Shel - This is evil, malicious and every legit blogger should be outraged. This type of comment has been occuring on women's blogs for quite a while. However, if there is any good that has come out of Kathy's horrid experience it is the bright spotlight on something that has been swept under the table for too long *and* the support from the community .. both men and women. We can’t allow the bad guys to halt what has become an important business “conversation.”

[Curt]

I suggested on Scoble's blog that anyone who wants to should make a post on this topic, then let it, as RS said, "be at the top of (your) blog for an entire week." If anyone does wish to do this I suggest a tag: silenceforkathy.

[shel israel]

I respect this idea, but I'm not going to support it. I do not want to be silenced by the bad guys. I didn't stop flying after 9/11 and I'm not going to stop blogging now.

[Curt]

I hear you. That's what I thought at first, but Scobe's point that it remains up top and most prominent sold me.

[A.M.Sall]

This is simply horrible!