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VILE ONLINE (2#) -

# SEARCH FOR BLOGGER'S HIT MAN: Jemima Kiss tells us that blogger Kathy Sierra, a consultant on design and programming, had to cancel her appearance at a conference in San Diego yesterday after receiving death threats on her blog. The police are investigating.

# CHURLISH IN DC: Meanwhile, Howie Kurtz tells us that "The Washington Post's Web site has been grappling with a surge in offensive and incendiary comments."

Then Howie suggests that: "What is spreading this Web pollution is the widespread practice of allowing posters to spew their venom anonymously."

If posting anonymously were prevented, a large percentage of women who are being stalked by ex-husbands, former boyfriends, and crazy relatives (not to mention complete strangers who are freakazoids), would not be able to participate in the public discourse. This would result in a significant reduction of female commenters.

:: Howard Kurtz: Media Notes ::
-- WashPost, RegReq'd --

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