On Dec 10, 2007 10:17 PM, jayjg jayjg99@gmail.com wrote:
On Dec 10, 2007 9:55 PM, Risker risker.wp@gmail.com wrote:
Perhaps one additional lesson might be added, too - harassment and cyberstalking are real and it is probably time that we as a community
look
at ways to provide some form of structured support and assistance in reporting this behaviour internallly and to appropriate authorities.
Risker
I have an idea; why not create an environment where people who have suffered from this cyberstalking or wish to help could discuss their issues in a safe and private way, and try to formulate coping strategies. Perhaps Wikia would be kind enough to host it, and someone who has suffered from this more than most could act as a moderator. We could call the list, oh, I don't know, something like "WpCyberstalking".
Actually, what is needed is some vision and willingness to recognise this is a community problem, not a problem affecting just a few people. What I mean is to establish a list of supportive administrators (at least a few of whom have checkuser) who are willing to give their real names to police to support victims' allegations, and for the Foundation's Privacy Policy to permit release of information specific to these types of allegations to law authorities in whatever country. Instead of online group therapy led by untrained individuals (which has been proven to be as dangerous as it is sometimes comforting), develop lists of resources within communities. Reach out to major law enforcement agencies and develop relationships with their cyberstalking units.
One of the harms of online groups like this does more to closet the victims and withdraw them from the support of the entire community. It really does need some professional guidance. And given that it has, to now, been invitation-only, victims have never known that there was someplace to turn to.
Wikipedia isn't an island, we are in the real world and should make use of real world systems to solve what is, at the end of the day, a real world problem.
Risker
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