Lindy West, others tell of graphic verbal abuse on Twitter

[shenmue]

Story here

The CEO of Twitter recently spoke of the rampant abuse spewed by trolls who litter the site. Writer Lindy West confirmed the nature of the issue: the harassment is so pervasive, it is causing many users to quit, out of Twitter's failure to respond, or even fear for their own safety.

[SheilaT]

1. Just another good reason

not to be so caught up in all the social media that "everyone" thinks we all need for minimal functioning.

[LeftyMom]

2. That's victim blaming.

Many of these women are being targeted because they're using Twitter as a tool to promote their writing, activism or business.

If they don't use social media they're less able (or entirely unable) to do their jobs.

[SheilaT]

3. No. It's recognizing that social

media does NOT need to be used as the end all and be all of a professional life.

I've been to writer's conferences where they have sessions about how you must absolutely be on twitter and facebook and three other social media things I've never even heard of. While I realize there are people who use those things, trust me, not everyone does. I find more books than I can possibly read without Twitter, just to name one. Oh, and I can name some successful writers who do not spend hours every day promoting their work on the social media.

And maybe, just maybe, some of these people can step away from the social media and their professional lives won't come to an end.

I hear far too much justification (and I'm not even referencing the abuse which is totally despicable and unacceptable) of being on social media and forgoing any sense of privacy or a personal life altogether. Really? There is a world outside the social media. Honest. Give it a try.

[LeftyMom]

4. You're lecturing the wrong person: I don't even have a twitter account.

But if these women find the medium useful for promoting their work, that's their decision to make and they know more about their circumstances than you or I. They should of course be safe and supported everywhere they go, and should not have to defend their use of their time as a result of other people's decision to waste their time harassing women on the internet.