I do not think that the on-line analogs of real-world stalking and harassment are the same as their real-life counterparts, because false identity and physical separation make it less likely that threats be converted to physical consequences. Nor will most normal people. Nor will law enforcement or legislators. It is when physical harm is a real possibility that the phenomenon is taken seriously by others. If on-line stalking and harassment never spilled over into the real world, it would be considered by most a non problem.
We spend more time on-line than most of our fellow citizens. In particular, we have more familiarity with the unpleasantness of harassing behavior on-line than most of our fellow citizens. These two facts have some important consequences, I think. We care more about on-line harassment. And we also are likely to experience real-world stalking and harassment growing out of on-line interaction, to be aware of someone who has suffered from it, and to be able to imagine ourselves suffering from it.
We are vastly more likely to perceive on-line stalking and harassment as problems, both because it is very unpleasant to be involved in it even without any likely possibility of physical harm and because we can see how physical harm could result. In dealing with those unlike ourselves, we need to keep aware of how differently they see the world. They are likely to see us as engaged in petty squabbles in an arena (the on-line world) that attracts crazies and hysterics.
There are two breaches of good on-line behavior that might be taken seriously by those who do not spend much time on-line. The first is explicit threats of physical harm. The second is a breach of the separation of the on-line and the real-world. It is likely that only the co-incidence of the two will be taken seriously by law enforcement. Our own norms and behavior will have to carry the load with regards to breaches of just one or the other. WMF can have "strong" cross-project measures against those who make threats, supporting those filing complaints with law enforcement and breaching the anonymity that might protect the perpetrators. We ourselves have to do what we can to protect our own real-world privacy if we venture into dangerous on-line territory.
Local law enforcement has jurisdictional and cost problems in dealing with on-line stalking and harassment. National police forces have more capability, but also face problems when the behavior crosses international borders.
Lastly, when engaged in some of the more ferocious ideological battles on-line, it is unwise to imagine that one can be immune from stalking and harassment. At the very least one needs thick skin. In addition one needs either unbreachable security or a non-provocative or even conciliatory manner.
My 2 cents.
On Wed, Jun 11, 2008 at 8:04 AM, Gerard Meijssen gerard.meijssen@gmail.com wrote:
Hoi, Absolutely !!
Denying that this is taking place endangers us, our continuity and our neutral point of view. There simply is no excuse for stalking. When things make a turn for the worst, the excuse "I did not know" is rather lame. It is for this reason that we have to address it sooner rather then to late. Thanks, Gerard
On Wed, Jun 11, 2008 at 1:34 PM, Anthony wikimail@inbox.org wrote:
On Tue, Jun 10, 2008 at 11:48 PM, Ray Saintonge saintonge@telus.net wrote:
Anthony wrote:
On Tue, Jun 10, 2008 at 10:08 PM, Anthony wrote:
On Tue, Jun 10, 2008 at 10:04 PM, Dennis During wrote:
Is stalking in the real world a crime in itself?
In most jurisdictions, yes. But as has been pointed out, enforcement can be very difficult.
And let me add that the Internet is part of the real world.
In a strict ultimate sense you are right of course,
Some behaviours would still cast doubt on that finding. :-)
I assume you're joking, but if someone is continuously harassing and/or threatening you, it doesn't matter whether it's by phone, by mail, by email, by instant message, by wiki talk page, by whatever. Stalking is stalking. Cyberstalking is stalking. Wikistalking is stalking. Anyone who persists in using one of the terms to mean less than that is harming society.
The Internet is part of the real world. Full stop.
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