Turn the other WHAT??!

It's common in Fanficland for mods to look the other way while people are being harassed, as long as it is taking place elsewhere, and not on their particular sites. The idea that this might be WRONG has never occurred to them because one person's harassment is another's banter. Fair dues, I suppose. I tend to see things in black and white, but I don't think anyone is ever defended by encouraging a troll to bombard me with his image (Goatse. Don't ask).

Well I got into a rather heated discussion with someone about it (I was the one who got heated, she was utterly civilized), and to be fair she is a reasonable person, but honestly, I don't think she's able to see my side of the story because she's matey with the people who tried to drive me out of fandom. Anyway, she declares that it actually stops the abuse and puts an end to the argument to let them post on my e-spaces and to let them win prizes on my awards programs. Erm, no. 

I've actually tried all that, you see. When this crap first blew up, I offered the people concerned modship of The X Box, one of my two forums on fanfiction.net. They threw it back in my face, and matters got worse, so I banned them and I've kept them banned since. Therefore, since I know for a fact it doesn't work, I won't be taking that advice, though she means well, to be fair.

It's very common in drama situations to sit quietly and let them behave badly then trot back on a few weeks later acting like nothing happened. That is weird and freaky to me, and I'm having none of it. 

The idea that it's right to reward people who have tried to drive me out of fandom altogether with a nomination for the Golden Quill Awards is ridiculous to me, and I won't do it. As long as I live and breathe, they are not welcome on any of my websites and may not take part in any of my online activities. I think it's unfair to expect me to permit them to do so, quite frankly. I've received their apologies before: they have a "use by" date, don't you know. I think the record for the longest lasting abuser apology is three months. I have established that they are liars, and can justify my stance.

I don't believe it promotes respect on the internet when cyberbullies and abusers are welcomed and garlanded with praise by people who are fully cognizant of what they have done. I DO believe it promotes the kind of bad behaviour I've seen described as "Icky" by giving them NO incentive to stop. 

This is why politicians keep on trying to bring laws in to put a stop to this kind of thing: they can't trust us to do it, can they? Hell, no. I'm as much in favour of freedom of speech as the next person, but that doesn't give anyone a licence to abuse.

Just sayin'.