He's absolutely right. This is tech journalism. Nobody should *have* to tolerate threats to their personal safety in such a field. It's ridiculous that it has come to this.
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I think it's absolutely horrible.

I can't imagine this is a trend, My guess is that people are people, and can't control their emotions when they envy someone else's position.
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I think he is right to take a break, if its something he is not sure he can deal with. BUT, I don't care who you are, when you receive a certain level of notoriety and have a certain type of persona, you are ALWAYS going to attract crazies. I think the risks can be minimized, but you will always have a risk of being targeted by someone, whether they have a good reason or not. That's just life in the spotlight.
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There are two sides to this issue.

1. When you are in the spotlight like Arrington is, you should expect that things like this will happen from time to time.
2. I think it's pathetic that people would do things like this.

I wish Mike the best in whatever he decides to do.
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It is disturbing to say the least. But we as a community are united and I believe we can battle the cynics! As for Mike, he has every right to take a firm stand on his beliefs.
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It's a shame it's necessary... I don't know the guy, but he is just doing his job... pretty respectful I've to say... and it's terrible that he can't feel safe anymore.

I hope he will be fine.... and finds back his spirit...
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He's doing the right thing. There are a lot of idiots, psychopaths and just plain a-holes in this industry. Too many people get away with this type of reaction with no accountability. But, since when is uttering death threats not actionable by the police? Waiting until someone does something dangerous seems ridiculous.
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It's a shame, but the blogosphere had nothing to do with it.  That is to say, there is nothing that happens there that doesn't happen anywhere else. Bottom line is there are crazy people in this world and if you do anything to them that they feel is bad or wrong, unfortunate things may happen.
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I believe this is Michael Arrington's choice to retire from blogging for a month, yet being spit on and receiving threats are some things that are beyond his personal control.  It's too bad that this had to happen.  If he was really spit on, then that is just plain gross to think about, but if people just knock him down in message boards or whatever, that's certainly not the same as a real life left hook he's getting.  Of course it can be morally defeating, yet it's not hurting him physically

I think people need to separate real life from Internet threats. There certainly is a difference. Remember, anyone can be anyone on the Internet. I can make up a new account on here and call myself "The Real Jason Calacanis" or "The Fake One" etc. and really what it boils down to, that's my name on the Internet, and in real life I am someone completely different. I think it's more likely for a real life person being spit on through the Internet is more likely than anything else, because of this degree of anonymity.

If someone says something over the Internet, it's not as powerful as if someone says it to them in real life, or does something in real life. That's why the Internet is considered virtual, and real life is real. There are people who never met in real life, and they are fans and friends on Mahalo Answers. Do they mean as much to you, as a fan or friend you met in real life? Who would you be more willing to get revenge on, the person you met in real life, or the one you never stepped in a room with? You see, threats over the Internet aren't as strong as one in real life, simply because they don't materialize. Only in real life can something can materialize to be something of more meaning to get someone to take action.

Don't get me wrong here, there are ways to get someone to stop doing things on the Internet, yet threatening someone online isn't the same as if you get in a two foot radius of them, look into their eyes, and scream at them. Not until these people cause a problem for him in real life, is it as much as a problem.
Source(s):
My Thoughts.

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I think as people continue to participate in social networks and in writing blogs the line between online life and real life grows thinner and thinner. Social tools empower individuals so much in the ether, that I think they get carried away and seek the same instant results in public.

 I also think that people are shocked to hear "no" from another individual. We are entitled only to that which we work hard for and earn. Effort does not equal entitlement. This is the time to buckle down and innovate, not blame each other for our own problems.

I feel bad for Mike and hope the trolls can learn to focus their energy in a more productive manner.

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i feel bad for the guy. he's doing the right thing.
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No one deserves to be spit on. Death threats are just good publicity.

Retiring from blogging???? I always look forward to Mike's posts.
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I really don't get it. Maybe I'm just too artsy craftsy in mindset, or maybe I haven't been around the new style startup "entrepreneurs" in quotes, because well, if you're spitting on people for bad reviews, etc. and you're not a chef from the movie Rattatooie, you should learn more about business. 

Are these people who he did or didn't write about and have such a thin skin and crap buisness plan that they were writing for a glowing writeup and all their problems would be solved, Google would buy them for eleventy batrillion samoleons and they could retire to Boca with a glass of asti spumanti in their hands?

I simply do not get it.

This is like threatening Harry Knowles, or Devin Faraci, or Roger Ebert because he panned a movie.

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I think the whole situation is absolutely horrid. There was no need for him to be spat at, even if he had done something wrong.

I think that some startups and people think that they deserve the right to be "TechCrunch'ed", which they do not. TechCrunch have the right to choose what they write about and if they don't write about your startup, get on with it, being written about on TechCrunch (or another high profile blog) isn't a requirement to be successful and there is no need to react in a bad way when you can't get what you want.
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I think he should stand tall and not shy away from these small minded loonies who think they deserve fame for starting a small business. Yes these startups are on the web but earning money and providing service should be the goal not getting written about in blogs and becoming a semi celeb. I don't think aggression is crossing over but jelousy may be and that can take the form of violent acts. Inform the police and have the wackos under a watchful eye. If Mr Arrington backs down now he is inviting more threats not only to himself but to other tech celebs as they know their actions get them noticed. Call the cops and keep calling them. Don't report the incidents in the media, new or old, as it gives fuel to loonies everywhere.
Stay safe and keep up the great work...both of you.
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As someone who's been flaming people hairless online for two decades, I can understand how he's pissed of some people. I think it's a shame that people can't be civilized about disagreement, and fear that this sort of thing will only lead to more anonymity and more aggro generally online.

That said, he's been pretty savage to DEMO, and with their next event coming up 3/1, maybe it will be a good thing all around if he isn't slagging Chris Shipley and the NWW crew mercilessly.

--Ax
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It's a shame that someone who has worked so hard and given so much positive exposure to the web should have to deal with this. The internet is lucky to have Arrington, and we'll be lucky if he comes back...a talented guy like him could be doing a lot of things with his time besides fielding death threats and getting spat upon.
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I think it sucks, but unfortunately that's the nature of prominence and/or celebrity. I think bloggers were somewhat shielded from this because most are fairly anonymous in person. But as they become better known as public figures, they are more exposed to the kind of crap that sports figures, actors, and other celebrities get hit with.

The problem is that in a large population, there are always a number of a****les. But the actions of these people, because of their violent and confrontational nature, overshadow the actions of the much larger group of good, reasonable people.

The other problem is that actions taken against these people generally affect everyone else, too. In this case, Michael Arrington's withdrawal effectively punishes everyone else more than it punishes the small contingent of bad people. Though I understand why he would make that choice, it does underscore the problem.
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I think Arrington is on his way to be a rock star and I think he's going to do amazing things. The CrunchPad is a perfect example of this. Who else could have pulled off something like that in such a short period of time? Only a few names come to mind and one is Steve Jobs. To put Arrington and Jobs in the same category is a true compliment. I think the CrunchPad has the potential to make Arrington a billionaire.

On the other hand, people like Jobs (and Arrington) bring out a love/hate emotion out of people. People either love them or hate them. I personally love Arrington (even though he's been an ass to me and my company).

Arrington, you have a long road ahead of you! Don't quit on us. Take a well-deserved break and I look forward to having you back (with attitude and all).

http://twitter.com/hamids
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I don't know Arrington personally, and without question I believe this sort of thing is wrong and uncalled for.  However, with that said I have often heard on many of podcasts and write-ups that there aren't too many people in the 'journalist-tech- community' that seem to have nice things to say about Arrington.
So with only the little bit of knowledge I have from what has happend and with what I have heard and seen others say about him I have to wonder and question whether Arrington brings this stuff on himself.  Publicity stunt maybe?
If he is being truthful about why he is taking time off and really going to take some time for some personal reflection and introspection then great because maybe he needs to figure out why he brings this sort of response out of people.
The ethic of reciprocity is not something to be taken likely and it might do him a lot of good to reevaluate who he is and his actions and behaviour towards others
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I thought that the hate and aggressiveness were legacy behaviors because people could hide behind transient personas in the old web world. The new world social web means people are more traceable and accountable. There will always be nutcases in every forum and social setting, virtual or real-world, but the majority of us rely on our reputation and want to remain good citizens. I would not feel personally threatened if someone railed on me in an online setting, and I would file assault charges if someone spit on me...after I had my posse waterboard the freak!
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I think it is absolutely ridiculous that this type of thing happens.  What is sad, is that this happens more often that we'd like to think.

I wish Mike the best.
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Jason, I'm glad you're on Mike's side. All of us need to channel that hate towards the positive. We know that you, Dave Winer, and Mike Arrington have made it by witnessing the negative people who dislike you. It makes me want to be behind you guys even more. I'm there for you guys!

Marissa
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By definition he is doing the right thing: Whatever he wants to do is the right thing. I have little or no context in which to judge his decision and it really is none of my business.

Based soley on the information in his article, I would hope that he does what he is saying he will do: spend the time reflecting and gaining perspective before deciding what to do next. It would seem like a shame to have a reaction to one awful experience have too much sway in your future.

It could just be another straw, or it could be THE straw. It might take some time to figure out which it is.
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I think it is terrible. It's not just Mike's and Kathy's problem. I see it everyday in comments on blogs and social media sites. Apparently, people feel they can say things online they would never say to someone's face in person. We absolutely cannot let the blogosphere turn into a place where people can fling s___ at each other because it feels anonymous. Anyone who has acted in any way except civilly on Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, blog comments, or anywhere has to stop it now, or you'll ruin the blogosphere for all of us.
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I find what happened to Mike to me terrifying an yet another example of the collapsing mores and boundaries that our society is enduring. Spitting on someone is rarely, if ever acceptable (I might spit on Madoff, for example) but certainly not in this case. Arrington is a professional, doing his job. In no way does he deserve to be harassed or assaulted or threatened. I think it's a shame that he has to take time off to reflect on his priorities, but considering the situation, it's probably the right call.

A professional should be able to do their job without fear of threats or assault. That said, it's the death threat that REALLY concerns me. Being spit upon my be upsetting (and in some countries it's assault) but that alone is not enough to really have to re-think your life. It sounds like it was the straw that broke the camel's back.

-Mark
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Sadly, verbal abuses and personal attacks have increased with the rise of Web 2.0 and user generated content where everybody is able to express their opinion. I am really appalled by what people say or do to hurt people who express their opinion, I myself got attacked for expressing my opinion.
Mike's situation is even worse because people want to use him for their success and if he doesn't work like they want him to he gets threatened. I fully understand him stepping back and rethinking his future in the business. The safety of him and his family go first!
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Obviously spitting at people and making death threats are reprehensible, and hopefully punishable by law.

But it seems that the reasons why he's taking a break go wider and deeper than that. As he says:

"I write about technology startups and news. In any sane world that shouldn’t make me someone who has to deal with death threats and being spat on. It shouldn’t require me to absorb more verbal abuse than a human being can realistically deal with.... I’ve decided the right thing to do is take some time off and get a better perspective on what I’m spending my life doing."

As you suggest this seems to be more about the hate and aggressiveness of the blogosphere that just these specific incidents.

I don't know if there is a trend of those things spilling into the offline world, or how one could even begin to determine that. There may be, as social media increasingly blur the line between people that we feel we know personally and people in the public sphere that we only read about. So maybe as these connections get to seem more personal, people have stonger reactions. It's not just some media pundit we disagree with, it's a personal betrayal by someone that felt like a friend.

Frankly, the underlying problem is what you called the hate and aggressiveness of the blogosphere.

And to be honest, there are a lot of people in that arena that seem to have used being contentious and "snarky" as a marketing method. The aggressiveness has not come about entirely by accident.

Personally I would like to see a lot more civility in all areas of our lives. In politics, in the blogosphere, in personal relations. That is one thing that I love about Mahalo so far, the friendliness and civility.

So while Mike is off reflecting, I hope he reflects on that. As a major figure in the blogosphere, he is as well placed as anyone to start changing the tone our discourse for the better.
Source(s):
http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/01/28/some-things-need-to-change/
http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/thebigblog/archives/160593.asp

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The anonymity of the Internet has decreased the level of politeness in online discourse. You only have to hang out in the Stickam chastroom during TWIT to see what I mean. I'm sure that for some people this has decreased the level of rude behavior in their real life.

I expect the spitter is someone who felt slighted by Mike Arrington. Anyone who thinks it's OK to spit in someone elses face shouldn't be running a company. You know what they say about there being a fine line between genius and insanity, this person has certainly crossed it and really needs to to evaluate their priorities. Assault is not an appropriate response in any circumstances.
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Mike Arrington - ex-lawyer who admits he may advise or invest in companies that are covered on his site - does he have ethics?
Source(s):
http://blog.wired.com/business/2008/05/some-advice-to.html

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It is a sad reflection on society. But really a handful of idiots can really ruin things for everyone else.

In general, I like to see people stick up to such behavior. But that is a personal decision and becomes sensitive when others (family) are involved.

Maybe a good way to deal with this is to bring it fully into the public. Who are these people that spit and threaten? Perhaps, revealing their identities and the accompanying shame, would help prevent such idiotic behavior. At least it would reveal who the idiots are.
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I wanted to point out that just 2 days ago, he was voted as the #1 hated person on the Internet on a CNET post. Weird timing.

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17939_109-10150167-2.html?tag=mncol
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I read Mike Arrington's post earlier with dismay. I hope he spends his month off well. Frankly, my recommendation is intensive firearms training for him and appropriate family members this month. The bad people aren't going away and with his stated cost of a security detail it seems some self-defense measures will be required. This could be a great time for the family to take up hunting even.

This seepage from blogosphere to reality is somewhat inevitable. It is schizophrenic to be evil online and good in-person. This is just an example of cultural rot rather than a distinct phenomenon.

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When people are taught that effort rather than results are what count, the world gets turned upside down.

Effort means nothing without results. Effort is a subjunctive thing. How often have people said they were really working hard, but their idea of working hard was entirely different than yours? The give everyone a trophy and there are no losers is seen everywhere now. All the kids are given awards, even those who lost. Companies are being bailed out, even if they have a losing business plan. No one is allowed to lose anymore. The experience of losing isn't fun, but it is an important one.

Unfortunately Mike Arrington became the brunt of someone's anger. Someone never learned that losing or being told no or experiencing disappointment is a part of life.  It is unfortunate, but certainly not surprising.

I hope he is able to decide on a path that is both healthy and happy for he and his family and the many folks out here who enjoy his efforts.
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