[WikiEN-l] Is Slate an attack site?

[Bryan Derksen]

Steve Summit wrote:
> George Herbert wrote:
>> While I agree that the mishandling of stalking / abuse situations has
>> largely gotten us where we are today, I would have hoped to see people
>> make that point in a civil and respectful manner rather than crossing
>> the line into blaming the vicitms as you did above, Phil.
>>
>> This was not constructive, even if it was wrapped around an important point.
> 
> Actually, I think it *was* constructive.  It's a point I've wanted
> to make (perhaps not so harshly) for a long time, but I've been
> too chicken to make it at all.

Thanks, I've been thinking it too.

Empathy is a wonderful thing, one of the finest traits a person can
possess. But it sometimes has its downside and this is IMO one of them;
the elevation of victims and victimhood to a kind of sacred status.
People who have suffered abuses of various sorts deserve sympathy, but
as with all things it's possible to go overboard.

> I don't know Slim Virgin well enough to know whether she's a
> reasonable person or a drama queen, so I GFly assume that she's a
> reasonable person.  So I'm not talking about Slim Virgin here.  But.

There have been other recent cases with much more clear-cut drama, the
TOR issue with Armed Blowfish for example. Armed Blowfish eventually
wound up on moderation so I think it's safe to say that it went well
beyond reasonableness.

> So far I haven't said so, because I've been too paranoid about
> being labeled a victim-blamer or a rape apologist.

I actually _have_ been called a rape apologist in a previous thread on
this subject, or at least I was analogized to one, and then was accused
of attacking people when I complained about it. So I guess I'm a victim
too, yay.

(IIRC I did get an apology for at least some of that and I considered it
sufficient.

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