are people going to feel comfortable speaking up on the board to say Ban Poster X who seems to be having life issues that might make Poster X more likely to bother me, if I speak up.

I think this is something each poster is going to have to decide for him or herself. It's tough. How anonymous do I feel, if somebody decides to get ugly with me personally? I'm a fatalist, so my opinion doesn't count for much. And I'm damned pigheaded, so bring it. I'll say what I please, as long as no stompy tells me I'm being inflammatory. Don't want to be less than helpful.

But I do think, if a poster feels vulnerable or threatened, using the admin link is one way to express an opinion that will be heard, and will be counted, whether or not it is visible to the board at large. I don't think the admins would have a problem saying "the concensus on the board," which includes the threads the problem child acted out in, the discussion thread, and any info recieved backchannel, including the admin link.

Am I wrong?

Cindy,

I'm not sure what people are afraid of. Getting a nasty email? Is this whole discussion taking place because someone is afraid that if they speak up, they will get a nasty email, or spammed with nasty emails?

Is it a fear of physical harm?

I'm trying to understand why folks wouldn't feel comfortable speaking up, trying to wrap my brain around it.

speaking for myself-- I would like to use that e-mail (sparingly) to alert admins that there may be a situation brewing, or that there is someone we have to work to assimilate. Then, in our nice buffista way, they could help calm things down. Also, if I could have proved that Anathema was Schmoker, i would have done the same thing the 'prover' did-- e-mail the admins to avoid a big on board witch hunt.

I just feel like (and perhaps I am reading into it) that people were really angry that the whole thing did not take place in public, therefore I thought (or rather) jumped to the conclusion-- that I couldn't see a situation where one could use the e-mail admins link excpet ifyou needed to change your password.

I can sort of see her point, Allyson. Threats are scary. Some people are more easily intimidated, some people feel more vulnerable, or feel they may have exposed their family or friends to possible harm. People react to threat, even electronic threats, differently.

As I said, buffalo hide and pigheaded, in my case. But not everybody is that way.

People react to threat, even electronic threats, differently.

So this is about accomodating people who may react to a threat that could possibly happen, at some time, in an uncomfortable manner?

I think I must have missed a big thing, somewhere.

Was someone at this board threatened by another person, or are we talking about "maybe someday"?

Was someone at this board threatened by another person, or are we talking about "maybe someday"?

Depends on how you define threat, I guess.

IIRC, however, there have been a couple cases where posters have been made uncomfortable by trolls who have found their addresses (email).

there have been a couple cases where posters have been made uncomfortable by trolls who have found their addresses (email).

But that's not something we can address -- only registered users can see other people's e-mail address. There is no recourse, no protection.

I really don't see what we can do.

So this is about accomodating people who may react to a threat that could possibly happen, at some time, in an uncomfortable manner?

No, I don't think this is about "accomodating" anybody. What I've understood it to be is how to go about reporting a problem poster, and then whether or not to have the capability for the entire membership to discuss the poster and the problem in a closed or restricted forum. So far I believe the discussion is leaning toward "no," I could be wrong. We've been rediscovering ways to report, more than the closed thread. There was some feeling a restricted thread would provide a better feeling of security for people who are more nervous about online threats.

I think I must have missed a big thing, somewhere.

Was someone at this board threatened by another person,

Yes.

or are we talking about "maybe someday"?

That too, and possibly diffusing the nervousness about the possibility. Problem?

I really don't see what we can do.

Oh, I totally agree.

Also, I don't think the proposal is a good idea, because it would lead to a false sense of security, which is more dangerous (in my view) than having it in the open. Just stating the clarification.

IIRC, however, there have been a couple cases where posters have been made uncomfortable by trolls who have found their addresses (email).

Welcome to the internet. Cold as that may be, sometimes I think we bend over a little too far to protect folks that should be able to protect themselves.

I don't see a difference between feeling blinding rage at your fellow netizen that causes you to step out for a bit and backchannel til your rage subsides, and feeling a momentary chill that some dickweed found your email addie and is calling you a douchebag so you step out for a little while and backchannel until your squickiness subsides.

I mean, the solution is, if you dont want crazy people infiltrating your brain from time to time, cancel the DSL or say c'est le vie.

If someone threatens physical harm, there are resources, and you could very well go to the technology thread and folks will explain ISP things to you so you can contact the service provider, or call the cops.

If you fear physical harm, the Buffistas can't help you, ya know? Well, maybe ita, but only if you happen to be living with her, and she's home, and the SciFi channel isn't on.