gerard.meijssen at gmail.com wrote:
There are in my opinion several issues at play. The most important one is that actual stalking, behaviour with real life threads is an observable phenomena and there are ample indications that the authorities fail to take these things seriously. When people are REALLY insistent they get the attention that is required. The notion to leave it all to the authorities leaves our fellow wikimedians that are threatened in this way isolated and threatened.
The police and the courts are the authorities to deal with real life threats. Yes, this means it's up to the police to take things seriously, and sometimes they don't. Unless you can think of some other tangible action Wikimedia could possibly take, all they can do is offer advice and support to victims of stalking, and co-operate with the authorities in investigation of stalking.
It's hugely important to understand that the Wikimedia foundation has no ability to take matters into it's own hands to deal with real life threats. They have no policing powers. At best, they could back people up when reporting things to the police or making a case for a restraining order. Wikimedia can neither force the police to take something seriously, or act as vigilantes and go after the stalkers themselves.
I think this discussion has detached off into the "The Wiki is it's own Country" fallacy. The Foundation is not a government, the wikis are not city states, the 'real world' laws and authorities are still in primacy. While Stalking and making threats of assault are indeed problems, it's far beyond the scope of Wikimedia to enforce laws and remedy's against it. These matters should and must be taken up with the government authorities of the police and courts. Setting up "Anti- Stalking Task Forces" and private mailing lists is not only useless, it's counter productive. Effort should be directed at helping people with support in contacting the police or getting a court order.
- John