Comments on: How to handle death threats related to the global warming issue

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 22:44:40 +0000

@Gabriella – the we’ll get you emails are a surprise, but I guess people want to make their beliefs clear or something.

I’ll give your site a whirl sometime soon

By: Gabriella

Gabriella — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 14:36:24 +0000

Wow, I find it surprising that people are that passionate about global warming! Are there a lot of people who send want-you-dead mail? That surprises me That guide is very interesting, thanks for sharing! I really enjoy your blog. Keep writing and check out my site if you can (vertverdegreen.org)

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 18:55:30 +0000

@Forrest – The emails I get the most of fall into that middle category – non-supported dumb emails, and they seem trollish to me, as if, as you noted they’re getting info from some wiki. Also, while people threaten at times, I’m not all that concerned. The brain comment unsettled me some, but mainly I think people get mad because they believe one thing and one thing only and lash out without any real intent. Frankly the mad people are cooler than the middle comments to me, because I’d rather see some points (even if I don’t agree) and anger than unsupported kooky nonsense that makes me cringe.

I’ve read about Diamond’s book, but no one I know has recommended it personally (how I tend to base my reading time lately). BUT now that someone has, I’ll see if I can find it at the library.

By: Forrest

Forrest — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 18:33:12 +0000

I’m curious how many replies fall into the different hate-mail types? I would expect a lot of the death threats to be trolls – internet people out for a laugh at someone else’s expense. If they have thoughtful points, that would bother me a little more ( ie it seems less likely to be a prank ) but it might just be copied from some Wikipedia article.

You had linked to a list of talking points about climate change. Have you read Collapse, by Jared Diamond? I think you would enjoy it.

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 14:29:32 +0000

Yeah I’m a huge threat I have no idea. People get passionate I guess about what they believe and what they don’t (or they’re just bored and need an issue maybe). But this is kind of an extreme – plus luckily I’ve had way fewer people say stuff like, “Die” than people who send uninformed emails. Like I said, I think the internet makes people brave and more willing to say crazy stuff. For example, I also write for a thrifty blog for a client, and once I wrote about how I don’t like coupons. TONS of people flipped out. No threats there, but so many people were super mean and telling me to get out. The same thing happens at a lot of blogs. I’m betting the folks at Grist get a ton more hate mail.

By: Elysia

Elysia — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 14:15:21 +0000

I’m having a hard time coming up with a reason someone would want you dead for posting about global warming. Is this somehow a threat to them?