Warning:  This link has disturbing images and text: Creating Passionate Users

Kathy Sierra has been getting a series of threatening emails, blog posts and other things done and directed at her.  She very bravely posted them on her blog and she is so scared she cancelled her speaking and blogging.  Reading her post upset me so much it is hard to think about anything else.

I regularly encourage people to build a higher profile.  To blog, to write, etc.  I have seen a few people with good intentions get beat down on the Internet in blogs and message boards, even to the extent of effecting their children.  I have never seen it to the extent of Kathy, and it just makes me very sad.

I hope they find these people and give them the maximum penalty possible.  This not only damaged someone’s life, but created fear for countless other people that may have been thinking about becoming more public via blogging, writing and speaking.