OSCON keynote: Standing out in the crowd
OSCON keynote: Standing out in the crowd
Posted Jul 29, 2009 23:58 UTC (Wed) by xoddam (subscriber, #2322)In reply to: OSCON keynote: Standing out in the crowd by dannyobrien
Parent article: OSCON keynote: Standing out in the crowd
> When I *once* adopted a female-sounding pseudonym in such a space (by
> accident -- my usual username was taken), I received a threat of violence.
> accident -- my usual username was taken), I received a threat of violence.
Sobering. Distressingly sobering. It only takes a single arsehole -- in a private communication -- to make a public, supposedly all-welcoming, space into an extremely hostile, threatening arena. One must feel as though thrown to the lions.
> The woman involved won't speak up because to do so will subject her
> to this kind of barrage of abuse and suspicion online, and she
> received no back up when she mentioned it to her male colleagues
> at the time.
With colleagues like that, who needs stalkers? I'm very disappointed.
It's a pity this anecdote is anonymous. I am very glad that others are not.