On Thu, Jul 3, 2014 at 11:23 AM, Valerie Aurora <valerie(a)adainitiative.org>
wrote:
I agree, policies against harassment can be co-opted
to further harass
marginalized people and there is a long history of this in other areas
(see SLAPP and anti-SLAPP in U.S. law for example).
.
.. [snip] ...
A major problem with our dispute-resolution processes is that the person
being harassed has to endure more harassment to draw attention to the
problem. All experts in harassment will tell you that this is the wrong
thing to do. Almost always, the best thing for a victim of harassment is to
do nothing further to attract the person's attention. But that leaves the
problem editor free to choose the next victim.
I have long thought the Foundation ought to employ a team of specialists
who can take up those cases when they see them, so that the pursuit of
sanctions is not laid at the victim's door. This is perhaps similar to
Sumana's suggestion that communities need dedicated helpers who will do the
emotional labour in conflict situations.
Sarah