Bloggers -- It's Time To Gather Around One Of Our Own: Kathy Sierra

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If you don’t know yet what has happened to Kathy Sierra, read here.  For those new to the subject, Kathy is the author of the blog Creating Passionate Users. 

Kathy has been subject to death threats from fellow bloggers — including blogs authored or owned by some prominent names in blogging.  It’s shocking, disgusting and deplorable.

Other leading bloggers, like Doc Searls, are trying to get to the bottom of this mess.  Kathy, and many other bloggers, is upset and rightly so.  This type of conduct is outrageous and completely unacceptable. 

My understanding is that the people who engaged in it were trying to be artistic, pointed and insulting in their satire.  They failed miserably.

Instead they were demeaning, depraved, disgusting and perhaps even illegal.  Each one of them engaged in this conduct should come clean and make an immediate apology. 

Kathy — and every other blogger out there trying to provide a service, make a name, help others, share a part of themselves, or make a living — deserves to be treated with respect. 

As Hugh Macleod of Gaping Void notes, “identity matters.”  People who comment anonymously sometimes feel that they don’t have to be personally accountable for what they write.  They are wrong. 

Robert Scoble posted a comment on Hugh’s blog demanding a public apology from “ALL involved.”  He’s correct.  He’s also posted about it on his blog and has stopped blogging until Monday in support of Kathy.  Bravo.

It’s clear that Christopher Locke, in his half-hearted “defense” of his part in this tragedy, has no clue as to the magnitude of what has happened.  Chris ended his explanation of the events in this way:

“I do not like Kathy Sierra. I like her even less after her post of Monday. If she is waiting for me to apologize for something I did or said, she is going to have a very long wait.”

This either points out how callous and detached he is, or it shows his complete lack of understanding of the entire situation.  I suspect the public tide will be overwhelmingly in Kathy’s favor and all of those responsible for this conduct will not escape the consequences.

This public threats of violence are reprehensible and we as bloggers need to gather around in support of Kathy Sierra. 

Kathy, I don’t know you personally, but I understand your feelings and your fears.  I am repulsed by what has happened to you and offer my support in any way possible.

Hang in there … this too will pass.