"A woman's opinion is the miniskirt of the internet"

30 replies

HedleyLamarr · 05/11/2011 09:41

I was sent a link to an article in yesterdays Independent by Laurie Penny which made me quite stabby on her behalf. I honestly do not understand the mentality of men who set out to threaten and intimidate women who put forward an opinion they don't like. Surely it's against the law to do this? If not, then should it be?
Pleas note it isn't her I got angry about, but those attacking her via their keyboards.

OP posts:

SinicalSal · 05/11/2011 13:10

Internet is a strange place.
I don't think there is anything you can do from a legal perspective, until it crosses over into RL. I don't think there should be legal sanctions for being a dickhead on the internet - where would it end?
It should be left in the hands of web communities and ultimately site owners. to do what, exactly, I don't know.

This is in no way a defence of nasty inadequates who set out to upset people, of course. I just think introducing legal limits to what can be said online is a bit of a slippery slope.

NormaSparklerFlashBangAhhh · 05/11/2011 11:16

I had no idea that this is the experience of female journalists and bloggers.

How imensely and

Original poster

HedleyLamarr · 05/11/2011 11:04

Thanks for that link SinicalSal. Very interesting and quite disturbing. The threats to rape with the writers' addresses added on is particularly vile. If I disagree with a piece I say so, and give a reason. I see no reason to threaten, nor do I dish out abuse willy nilly.

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SinicalSal · 05/11/2011 09:53

New statesman here about women writers online abuse. Well worth reading for this section.

Got to go now, be back later

josephinebonaparte · 05/11/2011 09:48

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