Thanks Nathan. I do concur that harassment to the level myself, Carol and other very active outspoken women have experienced on/off wiki is not the standard experience for every woman who lines up to click edit.

It sucks that it happens. But I also always remind people - unless you are editing controversial subjects or pose a direct threat to the patriarchy you won't get messed with. Or at least not much.

Just keep your head down and write about knitting and women scientists. You will be "just fine..."

(With slight sarcasm :)

Sarah

On Sep 10, 2014 9:09 AM, "Nathan" <nawrich@gmail.com> wrote:



On Wed, Sep 10, 2014 at 11:58 AM, Sarah Stierch <sarah.stierch@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi. Some people can't speak up about what happened for legal reasons.

I do think there is a double standard. But I have before my involvement in wiki. Living in the US it's a way of life.

Some women who were impacted by those posts were harassed by people involved way prior to making their own minor and harmless in the end game errors which got them "in trouble." Women just did not take action or make it public. No one should have to post on a public website that they have been sexually harassed to get help. And "bad people on the internet are common" is the general response.

There are also male staff members who did things considered illegal in the US courts who still have their jobs (some don't work there anymore but it shocked many of us women they were allowed to stay so long given their behaviors). Amazing how that works.

But, some of us can't and are afraid to talk about it. Some of us just want closure but the trolls and internet won't give it to us. (And it's not just me...)

And no I am not elaborating on or offlist. So don't ask. I gave up fighting after I lost my job. So I commend those who still care.

I love the Twitter feed, by the way.

Sarah

On Sep 10, 2014 8:41 AM, "Nathan" <nawrich@gmail.com> wrote


Hi Sarah, I'm sorry if I was unclear. I was understanding Carol as saying that there were sexist comments in the ANI she linked (where Andreas' quoted comment was found). I read the entire AN/I thread and the editor review and found none.

Of course I realize that there are many, many instances of terrible sexual harassment on the Internet and throughout the history of Wikipedia. My point about muddying the waters is that these examples are enough to convince anyone open to being convinced that there is a problem. It is unnecessary to attach these real issues to examples that don't reflect sexism or gender-related harassment. 

That said, even though I don't see sexism or gender in the example, it is a good example of the spiteful, bitter, battlefield atmosphere that characterizes disputes on Wikipedia.  


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