Thursday, April 9, 2015

Walker Supporters Now Have Less Protection To Harass You

That's a pretty classy tweet huh? Well, there's good news about people like this.  The governor yesterday signed into law a new anti-stalking and harassment bill that makes it easier to go after online harassers, the most important part of the law being the ability to legally go after harassment done by people in other states, whereas the current law only extends statewide. The law isn't perfect, and there is a ton of room for improvement, but it's a start in the right direction.

The scary thing is that this harassment for many starts on the computer, and then it's taken to the extreme of people actually showing up at people's homes, leaving threatening notes and letters on doorsteps, which happened to a friend of mine. Walker's got a group of serial harassers known as "Knot My Wisconsin," who are only notable for being online losers, stooges, and the group who actively sought to burn recall petitions in 2011. They've been incredibly active online for the past four years, stalking progressives online and turning that online harassment into real-life harassment. I'm very curious how they feel right now knowing their precious governor is trying to quash the only thing they do with their lives.

I think I can safely speak for tons of other people when I say we've been on the receiving end of dozens of endless barrages of threats, comments and attempts at intimidation. While it does initially make you angry, or upset, it's easy to remind yourself that this is a grown adult acting like a bratty child on the playground. But for many people, the threats create fear that lasts. I'm glad that we now have newer protections in place, especially for female progressives. Have you even tried being a girl on the internet who has an opinion? Oh, it's not pretty. If you do not say an opinion that praises our high and mighty governor, the onslaught of threats of sexual violence, comments on physical appearance and intellect WILL NOT STOP. I will get notifications on my phone for hours after I've stated an opinion on the Governor's facebook wall, or wrote a negative tweet about him.

I mention furthering this bill so as to tackle physical threats, because as many may remember during the recall, gather signatures could literally become a life or death situation at the flip of a switch. You would stand there and hope no one wanted to pick a fight that day. I know that organizing signature gatherers in Ozaukee county became quite a tasks after many people reported having terrorizing situations involving Walker supporters. Perhaps Walker is looking to clean up his online reputation now that he might (totally is going to, don't even deny it anymore) run for president.

I've included a few more examples of Walker supporter harassment just so you, the reader, can see the level of immaturity and disconnect from reality these people live everyday. It's almost sad.



Violent! Always classy.
Of course I'm a whore! I have an opinion different than you!

I'm very happy Wisconsin has this bill as a step forward in the right direction. Now we need to take it all the way to the finish line to include physical threats and intimidation and political harassment. Oh, how Walker's army must be crying on their keyboards right now...





17 comments:

  1. If you think they passed this law to protect those that are against the divisive policies and rule of Walker and his repug cronies, you are sadly mistaken. You are also mistaken if you think this law will protect you for taking a stand against divide-and-conquer republican politics.

    I just hope no one comes after me for this post!

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    Replies
    1. I try not to be entirely pessimistic.

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    2. Very dismissive and perhaps insulting -- its not about being "entirely pessimistic" its about being careful what you wish for. Next time you post something here that you don't agree with that Walker does, I have to call you out for being "entirely pessimistic".

      This law is not going to be used to protect you or anyone else from being flamed and you will find that no one cares if you think some poster has violated this law. Post something snarky about Scott Walker, repugs, their online minions, or even obvious trolls, YOU WILL GET IT WITH THE FULL FORCE OF THE LAW (and I only hope they don't come after me now for telling the truth about this).

      Since you think pointing out factual behavior patterns and abuses we have seen direct at those exercising their constitutional rights to free speech is "entirely pessimistic", remember the Walker recall signature database is still online and being abused, don't ask for help when this law is misrepresented to acuse you a crime.

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  2. We're coming to get you Meg! Bwahahahahaaaa!!!

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  3. let them come,

    nothing but losers anyway.

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  4. Sorry, Meg, do you and your deranged counterparts do anything OTHER than spew hate and lies on this blog?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well you're here reading our apparent "hate and lies" so what does that say about you?

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    2. Anonymous April 9, 2015 at 9:13 PM
      Sorry Anonymous, do you and your deranged parts do anything OTHER than spew hate and lies on this blog? Anony- who's spewing?

      Delete
  5. Meg, I do fondly remember some dusk-to-dawn hours spent with friends at a young lady's apartment, to let her sleep in peace after she'd been threatened. Though we had some, ah, sporting equipment about, we passed the time quietly, quietly telling stories and singing songs in the gentlest possible way, to not disturb our hostess's slumber. No incidents occurred, then or later, the example of solidarity proved a pleasant occasion of social bonding, and that is all that the threats accomplished. The poor incompetent would-be intimidators had achieved the opposite of their goals, strengthening and encouraging their opposition by making them find each other and their own strengths.

    May that happen again, and again, and again. Bullies are stupid.

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    Replies
    1. Awesome story! and yes they are. They're nothing but petulant children.

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  6. Interesting how the Knotsies continue to harass Meg even here where she writes about their bullying. This GOP Goon Squad are the real Thugs of Wisconsin.

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  7. Waste of my valuable time having to read unproductive banter from lonely men with identity and anger issues. This is getting really, really old. Just tear their garbage down and move on.

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    Replies
    1. I just block em. No sense raising blood pressure over losers who aren't worth the trouble. It's not like they have the guts to listen anyway.

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    2. Yeah, but if we don't discuss losers like Snott Wanker and Jowls Klayfish and Matt Adamnsh!t and Mike Hugesch at all, this site loses its value as a public information resource....

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    3. I'm referring to trolls on Twitter and Facebook. The block button works very well.

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    4. Jake, you referred to "losers who aren't worth the trouble". That opened the topic up to the above-named, you must agree....

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