Online Bullying: A Public Discussion

[zephre]

I was in conversation with some folks about the recent spate of Merlin Fandom-related posts that went up behind many a friends-lock. This is not an attempt to do my own version of those posts, but since the posts were locked, so was any discussion of a very real issue in fandom and life

Comments

[rosemaryandrue]

*smiles* This was pretty much what I was thinking - this discussion needs to take place and it needs to be done publicly, even though it will inevitably attract trolls. Good for you for being brave enough to start it.

Sometimes, I think, we duck the argument because for so many of us, fandom is a safe space. We don't want to invite conflict into it. While we ignore bullying, though, whether it's through an anon meme, or nasty trolling, or facebook bullying, or whatever the latest version of it is, we're also ignoring the fact that fandom isn't a safe space for the victim. I don't know how you get that balance right - how to protect yourself and others at the same time, but I don't think staying quiet really fights it. It's safe and it's easy, and it does deny them some legitimacy, but they can always move on to someone new.

[zephre]

I don't think staying quiet is the answer, either - silence is so often taken as consent.
I wonder, in terms of the specific meme that is under discussion, if anybody has made an overture to the mods, or if that's even possible? (I don't know how these comms are managed.) It seems that excellent moderation is the only difference between the comms that feel safe and those that feel threatening.

I also don't know how to effectively reach out to a community that has so many branches. It's a conundrum that's uniquely difficult in comparison to managing bullying in Face-to-face fandom spaces like Cons.

[scribblemoose]

I asked her that back in the day and the answer was a resolute no. But perhaps the time is right now? It has to be worth a try.

[zephre]

Wow, thank you for taking action - it's certainly a beginning, and perhaps a way to open a dialogue?

[scribblemoose]

Thanks - let me know how you get on?

[scribblemoose]

Absolutely. I'm pleased that they are at least discussing it - that's a very positive step. Thanks for taking action, hon.

[inspiredlife]

♥ This conversation is exactly what I needed. Thanks for helping me focus a bit.

[zephre]

That's very hopeful news - if they are willing to discuss it, and need the same safe space, anon commenting is active here but screened. We could come up with a code word for them so that I know it's really the mods.
If not, I am really glad to see them re-examining the policies now.

Thanks!