The vicious abuse of programmer and technologist Kathy Sierra by a few psychos is deeply regrettable but sadly, par for the course.

Human life is a matrix of the good and the bad, the sublime and the appalling. In an open communications medium like the internet, each of these qualities will be represented. In fact, the bad and the appalling will be in evidence more than might be expected numerically as these people will be filtered out of most other channels by editorial barriers.

This is not new, of course. It has been present since the start of the online world and of blogging in particular. Freedom of speech can never eliminate the horrendous or it would not be freedom of speech.

The internet is the only really free broadcasting recourse for foul-mouthed abuse of the kind Kathy Sierra has endured for almost a month, which includes death threats.

What can be done about it?
Firstly, it shouldn’t be beyond modern police forces to track down the individuals concerned. I suspect they will be revealed as sad cases rather that dangerous urban terrorists.

Secondly, Kathy Sierra should get her life back on track. She is sure to have enormous support and sympathy at the conferences she addresses. Locking herself in her home will only give victory to the bad guys at the expense of her lifestyle and career.

There’s a big Techmeme discussion on this topic.