FiftyTwo comments on Open Thread, December 16-31, 2012 - Less Wrong

4 Post author: OpenThreadGuy 16 December 2012 06:26AM

You are viewing a comment permalink. View the original post to see all comments and the full post content.

Comments (159)

You are viewing a single comment's thread. Show more comments above.

Comment author: gwern 26 December 2012 12:47:46AM 2 points [-]

How high do you estimate the risk is

I'd be comfortable with an estimate like <1/1,000.

and does it link to any particular topics?

Well, there's always something which caused them to do it. But the topic isn't always useful. In one area, I was entirely unsurprised; in another area, I was completely blindsided and still find it hard to believe; in a third, I was moderately surprised.

Comment author: FiftyTwo 28 December 2012 01:56:57PM 0 points [-]

I'd be comfortable with an estimate like <1/1,000.

On a scale of 'attempted privacy invasions/total posts on the internet'?

Can I ask what the unexpected ones were?

What did they intend to do with personal information? Just contact real life people and be rude about you? I'd guess if you have a good real life reputation already that would be ineffective.

Comment author: gwern 28 December 2012 04:44:00PM 2 points [-]

On a scale of 'attempted privacy invasions/total posts on the internet'?

No, that the death threat would result in any harms to me.

Can I ask what the unexpected ones were?

No.

What did they intend to do with personal information? Just contact real life people and be rude about you? I'd guess if you have a good real life reputation already that would be ineffective.

You'd be surprised. One Wikipedia admin, Kate IIRC, quit Wikipedia entirely because she thought her stalkers like Daniel Brandt could get her fired. Another, PhilWelch IIRC (who's a LWer now), had some unfortunate encounters with the police, courtesy of his stalkers, demonstrating that even if they can't get you fired they can do a distressing amount remotely.