Links:<\/p>\n
NBC News<\/a> Apparently there was going to be a Panel on Online Harassment at SXSW and was cancelled due to threats of violence (which to me would constitute as harassment of sorts as well). However, it said SXSW had received “numerous threats of on-site violence” related to the programs in the week since the March 2016 SXSW Interactive event panels were announced. It did not detail the nature of the threats.<\/p>\n Because of this action Buzzfeed and Vox\/The Verge has pulled out of the festival. Here\u2019s BuzzFeed\u2019s Statement:<\/p>\n Dear Hugh,<\/em> Digital harassment \u2014 of activists of all political stripes,<\/em> BuzzFeed has participated deeply in SXSW for years, and our staffers<\/em> Fortunately, the conference is five months away. We are confident that<\/em> We look forward to your reply.<\/em><\/p>\n Ze Frank<\/em> Dao Nguyen<\/em> Ben Smith<\/em> And Vox Media\u2019s<\/p>\n Harassment is an issue Vox Media takes extremely seriously. As a digital media company, our journalists often face online harassment and find themselves on the receiving end of threats. We support our staff when they encounter this kind of abuse while continuing to do the work that can result in it, and want to continue an open dialogue about how best to do so.<\/em> I approve of these measures actually. Harassment in this world has become insane lately due in part to the GamerGate. The fact that there are threats being posed because of trying to change the environment of harassment within the Gaming industry\/community is insane. So I applaud these two companies dropping out.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Links: NBC News The Verge Buzzfeed Apparently there was going to be a Panel on Online Harassment at SXSW and was cancelled due to threats of violence (which to me would constitute as harassment of sorts as well). The festival \u2014 known as SXSW \u2014 said it had hoped that hosting the two panels “SavePoint: … Continue reading
\nThe Verge<\/a>
\nBuzzfeed<\/a><\/p>\n
\nThe festival \u2014 known as SXSW \u2014 said it had hoped that hosting the two panels “SavePoint: A Discussion on the Gaming Community” and “Level Up: Overcoming Harassment in Games” would lead to a “valuable exchange of ideas.”<\/p>\n
\n We were disturbed to learn yesterday that you canceled two panels, including one on harassment in gaming, in response to the sort of harassment the panel sought to highlight.<\/em>
\n We hope you will reconsider that decision, and reinstate the panels.<\/em><\/p>\n
\n journalists, and women in those fields or participating in virtually<\/em>
\n any other form of digital speech \u2014 has emerged as an urgent challenge<\/em>
\n for the tech companies for whom your conference is an important forum.<\/em>
\n Those targets of harassment, who include our journalists, do important<\/em>
\n work in spite of these threats.<\/em><\/p>\n
\n are scheduled to speak on or moderate a half-dozen panels at SXSW<\/em>
\n 2016. We will feel compelled to withdraw them if the conference can\u2019t<\/em>
\n find a way to do what those other targets of harassment do every day \u2014<\/em>
\n to carry on important conversations in the face of harassment. We hope<\/em>
\n you can support the principle of free speech and engage a vital<\/em>
\n issue facing us and other constituents on the event.<\/em><\/p>\n
\n you can put in place appropriate security precautions between now and<\/em>
\n then, and our security staff would be happy to advise on those<\/em>
\n measures.<\/em><\/p>\n
\n President<\/em>
\n BuzzFeed Motion Pictures<\/em><\/p>\n
\n Publisher<\/em>
\n BuzzFeed<\/em><\/p>\n
\n Editor-in-Chief<\/em>
\n BuzzFeed<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\n By approving the panels in question, SXSW assumed responsibility for related controversies and security threats. By canceling the panels, they have cut off an opportunity to discuss a real and urgent problem in media and technology today. We have reached out to SXSW organizers and ask that they host a safe and open discussion of these issues, rather than avoid them. Vox Media will not be participating in this year’s festival unless its organizers take this issue seriously and take appropriate steps to correct. We will work to find an alternative forum for this conversation and invite others who feel the same to join us.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n