[worry]

The Internet is real life.

She started "trolling" as an adult and it's lasted over a decade.

Issuing threats and inciting violence aren't facets of a merely rude exchange, they are criminal acts.

[acesn8s]

Amaryl, on 14 November 2014 - 10:51 AM, said:

Personally I think it is good that an asshole is outed, and pointed out. Mainly this is so that hopefully the asshole will come to see the error's of his/her ways and that he/she will repent. The problem with removing the shield of anonymity in my eyes is this: If i'm an asshole to people IRL, I'll eventually get my comeuppance. Which is totally fair and after that or a year or two I change, and become a nonasshole. From this point forth - every new contact will know me as the nonasshole and will be unburdened by my assholishness, it might come up in discussions how I was previously, but i'm not an asshole. On the internet however, a post made in 2006, that I read in 2014, is that same as a post I made in 2014. To the new people i'm trying to connect with, i'm an asshole, because that is a large part of my profile. I cannot change that, I cannot grow out of it. I cannot be me now, without the crap I did years ago still representing me as i am now. Yeah, In real life i'll still be an asshole to everyone I was an asshole to those bridges are burnt. But on the internet i'm pre-emptively burning bridges with people i haven't been in contact with. And I believe that's something worth considering.

Just to play devil's advocate.

Being treated for the rest of your life, based on the horrible ways you treated others in the past, is something worth considering before you start stalking and trolling people.

This isn't a case of being snarky or opinionated. This is/was a determined troll with an agenda.

[Amaryl]

I'm not against her being outed, I think its good -now- because this is the shit she's been doing now. Nor am I opposed to not buy her books just because she is/was a horrible dick to others, I don't buy orson scott card for a reason.

However, I do wonder what will happen 10-20 years down the line. When (hopefully) she has repented. Will she still be the fucking troll that almost drove some-one to suicide, or just another SF-writer, with a few bad notes on her record of the past.

Currently, I'm afraid the internet and how we consume the internet isn't equipped to deal with the latter, even after a sincere apology. Then again my opinion isn't directed at this troll in particular but more in general to everyone that posts stupid dickish things and is later sorry for it and changes.

[TheRetiredBridgeburner]

Yes it should! Maybe that makes me a bit harsh, but if she's been enough of an idiot to go around making threats and being abusive to her contemporaries, I'd say it's just desserts if her career suffers.

I think this sort of thing is helped by the supposed anonymity of the internet, – so that's exactly what should be stripped away in my view.

This post has been edited by TheRetiredBridgeburner: 17 November 2014 - 11:03 AM

[Tiste Simeon]

TheRetiredBridgeburner, on 17 November 2014 - 11:02 AM, said:

Yes it should! Maybe that makes me a bit harsh, but if she's been enough of an idiot to go around making threats and being abusive to her contemporaries, I'd say it's just desserts if her career suffers.

I think this sort of thing is helped by the supposed anonymity of the internet, – so that's exactly what should be stripped away in my view.

Exactly. Live by the sword/die by the sword etc. (or karma if that's your thing) She knew exactly what she was doing and now has to face the consequences. And they will most likely be far-reaching.

[worry]

If you've damaged individuals I suppose it's up to them to accept or reject your sincere apology. If you've damaged communities then you might find even a heartfelt apology is not enough, and that you owe more than contrition. Make reparations and recognize that your victims owe you nothing, let alone patronage.

[acesn8s]

Amaryl, on 17 November 2014 - 10:01 AM, said:

However, I do wonder what will happen 10-20 years down the line. When (hopefully) she has repented. Will she still be the fucking troll that almost drove some-one to suicide, or just another SF-writer, with a few bad notes on her record of the past.

Currently, I'm afraid the internet and how we consume the internet isn't equipped to deal with the latter, even after a sincere apology. Then again my opinion isn't directed at this troll in particular but more in general to everyone that posts stupid dickish things and is later sorry for it and changes.

I do think in 10-20 years she'll still have the blemish from her trollish past. I imagine the level of moral outrage from the community won't be as high, but there will still be people mentioning her past in discussions.

[Maark Abbott]

The past will always come back to bite you in the ass, reformed or no - look at people who have broken the law, for instance. People who know about it will always remember that in the years to come, even if they're a reformed character. We'll only be able to wait and see what happens.

[champ]

She deserves everything she gets... labelling her a troll is letting her off lightly...

[RACHEL]

Making an assholeish comment here and there does not warrant public shaming, or career loss. This case is different. This women spent a decade (or longer) of her life publicly shaming other people and using her influence to at least try to damage other peoples careers. I have seen celebrities get totally shit on for saying one stupid comment without thinking. I think that is totally unfair. In this case, though, I think that it is fair that her evil side has been made public and if her career suffers so be it. Based on what I have read about it, this woman has been too hateful for too long for it to be brushed off without some public embarrassment. She chose to put her hateful opinions on public sites because she felt safe in her anonymity. I don't believe this woman should be jailed or lynched I just think she deserves to have the world know what she did. If she is such a strong believer in all the hate she has written she won't even be shamed. If she does feel ashamed then hopefully she will learn a lesson and not be such an asshole in the future.

[QuickTidal]

What freaks me out are the sycophants who still support her and believe she's done nothing wrong worthy of commenting on.