[WikiEN-l] School shooting threats

[Nathan]

(cc'd to Foundation-l because of para 3)

School shootings are extraordinarily high profile events, nearly always
followed by investigations of warnings and foreshadowing events -  where
blame is cast in a wide net on anyone who failed to notice what, in
hindsight, was a "clear sign." Often these "clear signs" are only clear at
all in hindsight, because as human beings we interpret what we see based on
what we have seen in the past and few of us have encountered threats from
children that turned out to be very serious.

Wikipedia is in a unique position to suffer from the recriminations
associated with school shootings, and our role is only going to become more
widespread and high profile as time goes on. Threats made on Wikipedia have
the characteristics of being written, indelible, and traceable to a specific
computer (given the right resources). Additionally, threats on Wikipedia are
*seen* - this is key, because few threats of violence on Wikipedia get past
recent change patrollers and watchlists of attentive editors. So, when a
school shooting threat is posting on Wikipedia it is time stamped,
indelible, traceable and seen more or less immediately.

The question, then, is what if any moral imperative does this impose on us?
And if some of us feel compelled to report such instances to the police, and
others do not, what if any should the extent of policy be on this issue?
Personally I can't agree to any Wikipedia policy that mandates or punishes
behavior off-wiki. On the other hand, I do think a policy that encourages
all editors to report specific school threats to AN and (when willing and
possible) to the police is workable and a good idea. Frankly, I'm surprised
and I'm sure many others would be as well to learn that there isn't already
such a Wikipedia policy. At a minimum, we should have a policy of forwarding
all such threats to the Wikimedia Foundation for "official" action if
necessary.

This issue is distinct from the issue of threats of self-harm, suicide or
harm to public figures. While vague threats to celebrities and "I'ma kill
Joe, he's a dickwad" are often reverted and ignored as simple and unserious
vandalism, school threats have a unique nature in public sentiment and
require a unique position in policy. I'm writing this to the two lists
because its an issue that deserves a higher profile discussion than on a
proposed policy page (already nominated for deletion) with a couple editors
who think the policy is trying to force people in calling the cops when they
don't want to.

Nathan