So [apparently](http://listics.com/) a whole [load of yank bloggers](http://technorati.com/search/http%3A%2F%2Fallied.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F03%2Ffor-record.html?sub=jscosmos) who know each other have just had some sort of public row, and some [trolls]() got involved, and now they’re all [taking their ball and going home](http://www.vecosys.com/2007/03/27/robert-scoble-and-kathy-sierra-stop-blogging/). Or something. Apparently some of them are [scared]( http://headrush.typepad.com/creating_passionate_users/2007/03/as_i_type_this_.html) that the evil trolls from the internet are going to come and hang them. Or something.
Mostly what they seem to be doing is blogging about it, which I guess isn’t surprising. They seem to be feeling most self-righteous about it though, which I guess makes it more fun.
Just don’t feed the trolls.
I’ve been a fan of Kathy’s site for a while and I think the main thing seems to be that Kathy had started writing about how to deal with juvenile behaviour on your blog, and the trolls decided to give her a taste of their own medicine. It’s all very silly, but clearly it’s gone too far. I mean everyone’s reaction to Kathy’s post has been a bit self righteous but on the other hand Kathy herself seems to be terrified. And whether that happened by accident or on purpose it’s clearly not a good thing. I feel sorry for her, I really do.
I started off feeling sorry for her, but the more I read the more I thought she was just being stupid.
She’s just had a massive dose of reality. The internet is public. This includes the full quota of meanies, nutters and everything else. If you aren’t willing and able to deal with that, don’t start publishing stuff.
The sudden end to her naiveity might be a bit shocking, but I really think she’s massively overreacted. The evil Internet trolls are not going to try and hang her. She just needs to raise her eyebrows at the madness of the world and get on with her life.