Who knows, my God, but that the universe is not one vast sea of compassion actually, the veritable holy honey, beneath all this show of personality and cruelty?”
– Jack Kerouac
Updated (December 4)
To all those it concerns: Let me repeat the conclusion of my previous update, once more, in case it didn’t get through. Try the right way. Try it. This isn’t moral advice. It is practical advice. When you continually feed a vortex of negative energy around someone who harbors a justified contempt for your behavior, but no malice toward any individual, that energy will destroy all of you, not me.
Updated (December 3):
This blog is officially still in limbo. A friend is supposed to be helping me set up the new format it will use. That has got delayed. I am no longer interacting with comments, I’m afraid. I have an assistant who posts anything I find interesting in my morning reading, but that is only a sideline of her main duty which is to help me with my business. She doesn’t have the time to comment. Any political comments of mine are made at The Daily Bell, but I have started to reduce my comments there, as well. I don’t think it’s wise to interact with people whose identity I don’t know. Some incidents made me wary that IP addresses had been harvested by someone.. unknown to the rest of the kind editors. I also do not believe in the existence of every conspiracy posited there. The factual history of Zionism, as the latest incarnation of European imperialism, post-Renaissance, is all I am prepared to discuss or competently evaluate.
I have commented recently at Veterans Today, where the authors are clearly described, but some of the material there also strikes me as unduly slanted. And I don’t know how/from whom the site receives its funding. [December 7: I have clarified from the editors at VT that the site is NOT funded, but survives on writers’ contributions and Google ads. It also runs an employment agency for vets. Kudos to VT for the courage and integrity to avoid funding that would compromise its clear and unequivocal voice].
Actually, I’ve stopping sending articles to the main alternative sites on the left and right, because of such questions and because, in my experience they are all gate-keeping at some level. As soon as a site grows, it’s drawn into one camp or other, which means it’s essentially retailing a certain amount of spin, if not intentionally, in effect. Ideology does that. No criticism is meant by this of any individual site or activist or writer. That is just an accurate observation about the nature of all organizations.
My great good fortune in life has been that I’ve been able to develop my thoughts largely free of organizations, on my own terms, except for the boundaries of good taste and the fear of provoking powerful people. Otherwise, I have no intellectual or professional allegiance to compromise my reasoning. I see no reason to undo that good fortune by posting/writing anywhere. I’d rather keep quiet. There are enough opinions out there, as it is…
[Note: I have altered this post, December 5, in the interests of not provoking any more cyber-attacks. I am not going to explain anymore, or the deletion will lose its point. I hope the alteration will show interested parties that my intentions are not at all personal or malicious.
Note (Added Nov. 3): I originally had another post following this one, with some email correspondence. I’ve deleted it because I don’t like it showing up at the top of a google search of my name. I’ve posted the emails instead further down on the blog, in the place of an article (deleted), with an explanation of the change. I’ll eventually move that post to one of my permanent pages (Lila at the DR or Media Control).
ORIGINAL POST
Some of you might have heard that Burning Platform (denial of service), Naked Capitalism (denial of service), Lew Rockwell (credit card fraud, copyright violations). and Zerohedge (denial of service) have all been attacked quite recently. These are big blogs, so it’s to be expected. There are people out there who’d like everything to be swept under the rug.
But what could be behind the attacks on a small blog like mine? That’s what bothers me. Who would think it worthwhile?
Yet, the attacks have gone on now for some three years. Obscene comments, stalking, flaming, web-libel, subtle threats, wiki deletions.
Fortunately, you know what they say about fish that can’t keep their mouths shut? They get caught. And over the three years, I’ve been able to catch a few fishy folk who lurked around this blog.
Fish one – the disgruntled Mr. T.R., whose history I’ve recounted at the tab Lila at The Daily Reckoning.
Fish Two – attacks on the book and on my articles and wiki page. I finally figured those were from cyber-vigilantes and assorted liberal blog mafias who disliked my blogging in support of 9-11, on extremist Zionism, and on the banking elites.
Fish Three – emails [added: not published on this blog] seemingly related to my attribution problems with my former employer.
[Note 1 added: There were also emails and stalking set off by a post contributed to this blog by Douglas Valentine, on the CIA.
Note 2: I’ve deleted a section here that goes into this incident in more detail. I’m afraid of setting off the stalker, who, I should mention, is seems to be an ex-CIA operative. I’ve also deleted the links placed on my blog by a commenter, since that was what provoked him. The case cited in the comment link has since been resolved in the stalker’s operative’s favor….or so, it would seem, but, meanwhile, what court’s going to give me back my reputation, peace of mind, career, and privacy, all grossly violated by this man’s actions?
And for what? For posting someone else’s piece on the CIA, a piece that was then reprinted widely on the net
That brings me to the last point I want to make – which is that female bloggers attract a very high number of threatening and sexually intimidating comments.
This ABC report from 2007 cites cases:
“Kathy Sierra, a software developer, gained a large following on her design blog. She never dreamed her benign postings would attract an online attacker.
“I started getting comments on my own blog that were really threatening like, ‘I’m going to slit your throat,'” Sierra said.
Then the threats became more personal. Her attacker posted a photo of Sierra in a muzzle as if she was being smothered, along with the words, “I dream of Kathy Sierra.”
“At the time, I thought, ‘This is something serious. This is not some kids. This is someone going to great lengths to frighten me,'” she said.
She shut down her blog, and in her final posting wrote, “I am afraid to leave my yard. I will never feel the same. I will never be the same.”
As more women enter the blogosphere, with sites running the gamut from professional advice to cooking recipes, they are increasingly being singled out as targets of threats and sexual harassment.
“Cyberharassing or stalking of a female blogger in particular will often be sexual harassment,” said Internet and privacy lawyer Parry Aftab. “They will often take her head and put it on someone else’s naked body. There may be threats to her children.”
Aftab runs Wired Safety.org, an organization that has handled thousands of cyberstalking cases. She advises women who are targets of online harassment that they not respond to threatening posts.
“The easiest thing to do is turn around and attack your attacker, but that is exactly what they want,” she said. “They will come at you more and more.”
True enough. It’s what I’ve learned.
Still, I’ve tried to put these unpleasant things behind me. I’ve tried to keep the conversation here courteous and free from personal attacks. Any criticism has always been directed at people for their public positions or professional performance. And I’ve only done that to support serious arguments, or in self-defense, to salvage my reputation from slander.
But it doesn’t seem to have helped.
Having failed to find anything wrong with my credentials or professional actions, my ‘enemies’ (I wish I could reassure them somehow!) hacked my personal email addresses in 2008. My blog was also hacked. Vague threats directed at me or my family showed up in the comments section whenever I blogged about certain subjects, even though I was obliged to comment on them by the nature and mandate of this blog.
In short, even though what I wrote wasn’t from malice, I was attacked by malicious people…..and, at the same time, by ignorant people who claimed I was “covering up.” I’ve described all this in posts on this blog.
But still, it’s not enough for someone. Strange things keep happening.
Today, again, I got a comment with a vague threat. Much too vague to go to the police. Not too vague to leave me in the dark. It is, I think, the final straw. I can’t waste so much energy and time, and I can’t risk any hurt or danger to my family. I’ve decided to call it quits……for real, this time.
My blog will be taken over by a libertarian friend (s). There’ll be other people running it. It was time for me to leave this country anyway.
Let’s see how that goes. It could take a few days….or a few weeks. Until then – goodbye, good luck, and thanks very much for reading.
Lila,
I hated to get to the end of your post today as I could see what was coming. What a sad, sad day. As far as writing and imparting information you are a singular voice.
Hi Gene –
Thanks very much. You are so kind.
I think the blog will continue, just have to get some spadework done to pass it on to some people who are interested in running it.
I won’t be writing much, if anything.
It’s strange, my whole life, I’ve wanted to do nothing but write.
This is the first time I’ve actually not wanted to write, and don’t care if I never do.
I think the past three years were simply too exhausting.
It is one thing to find the banking elites or political culture is fraudulent…it’s one thing to find there are some frauds in the media.
But to find that the entire media culture is self-serving (and this includes the blogosphere too) and devoid of professional standards or ethics (uniformly, on both sides of the aisle).
…that’s another thing.
Well, I do wish all my readers the best for themselves and their families.
Hi Lila,
I don`t know you and some matters you write about enough to really understand what you are talking about and who is threatening you, but I find it saddening.
I`ll miss my daily visit to your blog.
Cheerio from Germany
Fabio
Take care, Lila.
All the best,
DCN
revenge@gmail.com
| 93.108.199.203
Same old song. You’ll be back soon, as always.Yours threats are pathetic. And many are watching you.Those who matter. Are you a Masonic Owl? Well, fly Air France over the Atlantic and be careful you don’t fall.
Thanks DCN, Fabio
Hopefully, the new blog owners will get it going soon.
Lila,
I always looked forward to your daily blog. I will miss your comments. Free speech ain’t free anymore in America. There is always a price to pay either to the government or ignoramuses. I wish you well in your future endeavors.
Thanks Roger.
Well, this one seems to have been from the government AND an ignoramus…but maybe, I repeat myself….
Take care, my friend.
revenge@gmail.com
| 93.108.199.203
The new blog owners are the old blog owners and the NASA knows traitors from afar.
Bon voyage !
NASA should stop worrying about “traitors from afar” and start arresting some folks in DC and they’ll be earning their pay.
Subject: Really?
From: “K. S”
Date: Sun, October 10, 2010 5:22 pm
Lila,
I¹ve been out of the loop for a while and haven¹t written or commented on
much as the Summer tends to be eaten up racing my bike around the North
East.
This is awful. When I first came across your blog through the pieces posted
at LRC, I read a few entries that mentioned the cyber-stalking and threats.
I hoped that all had passed and was just the result of a few crackpots. It
goes without saying that I am truly saddened to read that you will be giving
up the blogging. I do hope that you continue to write. Mobs… is simply one
of the most enjoyable reads and I continue to insist that everyone I know
buy it (too valuable to loan out!) and read it. Yours is a singular voice
and it needs to be heard.
Wow, Joe Sobran dies then this. Kinda shitty Fall so far. Hopefully you will
be able to keep the rest of us updated on any news through the blog and the
new person(s) that will be running it. Your posts from Uruguay were great
for someone still stuck in NYC.
I¹m sure that you are sifting through a bunch of letters like this so I
won¹t blab on. I wish you the best and hope that through some mechanism we
can stay in touch. All the info is below.
As an exercise for my brain I started writing a couple horrible blogs.
Neither delve into politics or anything that matters but I figure them as a
warm up for when I attempt something of that nature. I need to be more
timely in the posting but the writing has been enjoyable.
I know it¹s not much but thanks for all the hard work. I am lucky to have
come across your work.
Peace,
K. S.
The People¹s Republik of New York (Brooklyn, baby!)
Subject: RE: Signin to your website/blog
From: “W F”
I am very truly saddened to learn of your departure. I first found you in the book
with Bill Bonner, then in Lew Rockwell and then finally your blog. I checked the
blog almost every day. I always thought that you got hold of content before most
others did. I do wish you well.
It is especially disheartening to know that the only way you could feel safe is to
leave the country. But, I am not sure you are alone in that. For a while I was
seriously thinking of getting out of here too. I spent some work time in Asia.
Enjoyed Singapore very much. I might reconsider it again some time. But right now
I simply spend 6 months in Puerto Rico to stay warm then come back north for 6 for
summer. I retired in early 2008.
Sorry to ramble on you. I do wish you all the best.
Warmest regards…
KS, WF,
Thanks for the kind words.
Much appreciate it. Hopefully, there’ll be contributors who’ll be able to keep it going.
It may take a while though.
Yes, Joe Sobran was an insightful and talented man.
And true to himself and his own voice. That’s important.
I wish I’d been able to meet him. I’d like to have changed his mind about a couple of things.
I don’t know how long the net will continue to be free.
It’s quite worrisome.
Hi Lila. Always enjoyed reading your stuff even if I don’t comment on it much. Keep in touch, if you care to. Best wishes.
Thanks!
How’s The Burning Platform doing?
I will miss your comments and clear thinking. Don
Thanks for the kind words.
I have able replacements.
From: “Brian A”
Date: Mon, October 25, 2010 9:24 pm
Hi, I have very much enjoyed your articles on lewrockwell.com and occasionally read
your blog, but noticed that it seems to be private now. Are you continuing to
blog? If so, I would love to be able to register.
Thanks for all you do for freedom.
Brian A
Subject: Gracias
From: B.
I don’t know about your other readers, but I am definitely going through “Rajiva
withdrawal”. I understand and agree with your decision 110%, but I had not
considered the effect on your readers. Fortunately I saved many of your best
articles. I know you spent a lot of unpaid time and effort on your blog and I want
to thank you. I am sorry for the negative reactions you encountered.
I have been reading about India and find it intriguing. I have watched some
bollywood movies which I enjoy for the people, the music, the landscape and the
sense of life.
In one I heard a great line describing Shriya Saran’s character that
reminded me of you: “She is a dreamer with modern ideas. When she walks into a
room, people smile. When she talks, people listen. She is wise and she is kind”.
B.
B, –
Thank you for that.
I wish I were as good a person as you make me out to be.
In any case, the best part of me is in my writing.
And that seems to be something I can’t afford to do any more.
Brian –
I had to make the blog private, but now I need it to be public for a few days while I work on a few things. I’ll let you know when it transfers.
Thanks for reading and taking the time to stop by and wish me.
I really appreciate it.
Thank you for all you have done to provide information and insight. Hopefully you will still comment at the DB. No matter what you decide and do I wish you all the best.
-Quasi
Hi –
Thanks for such kind words and wishes.
Yes, DB is a wonderful forum.
Quite unusual and eclectic.
And they bring some welcome gentility and courtesy to the blogosphere.
Lila
truly sorry to hear of the change. would like to know how to register/subscribe to the blog so I may continue to partake of wisdom.
Hi –
thanks very much.
I am working things out with the new people..
I am sure a subscription form or feed will be available.
The format will change a bit to make it less personal.
Can’t you just mirror the blog portion of the site through other platforms that are less susceptible to attack?
Posterous for example
http://posterous.com/help/autopost
Strength in numbers. Hide amongst the cloud.
Best
“But what could be behind the attacks on a small blog like mine? That’s what bothers me. Who would think it worthwhile?”
Because you possess what all great people in history have: an independent and intelligent mind and the guts to speak out, yet the politeness and decency that are marking people who care.
It’s a pity. What I find appalling is that the attacks are below the belt, and trying to systematically denigrate you/your reputation.
Anyone who reads this and wants to endorse Lila: help her by posting a good comment on her books on Amazon! http://www.amazon.com/Mobs-Messiahs-Markets-Surviving-Spectacle/product-reviews/0470474807
Someone apparently hacked my private email and accessed personal and family-related information…and they are going to some trouble to let me know that.
Which means they intend to do me other kinds of harm besides blog take-downs.
Time to go, I’m afraid.
Leonardo,
you are a gem. And you too Adam.
Lila
I will make a point of bringing you up in prayer during my daily devotions. As a Christian I know that the Lord loves truth and liberty and detests corruption – you have worked hard to write forcefully in favor of the former and spoken out loudly against the latter. It will be my prayer that God’s hand rests upon you and that He gives you protection. I dont know what your faith is but if you ever get a chance read Psalm 91 – it may be a real comfort to you while you go through this “dark night of the soul”
Godspeed!
MC
Mike –
Thank you very much. I much appreciate it, and I am sure my parents do so even more, as they are devout….and were trained by missionaries themselves (they are doctors).
And while I don’t qualify as the latter, I am “faithful in my fashion” and have always had a soft spot in my heart for America’s many unsung ordinary Christians, whose prayer, medical work and charity in the third world are appreciated by people of all faiths there, even if they aren’t always here in the US.
So your prayers are much needed and much appreciated.
Thank you again.
Lila
Lila,
I am genuinely sorry to find, shortly after discovering your blog, that you are moved to end it. I have admired your work for some time.
We had a couple of exchanges on DB that may have led you to think of me as an adversary, but I always thought that this was at least in part a function of the medium itself. There is a limit to what can be imparted in “post” form, especially by those who do not really know each other.
I second the sentiments of those who will pray for you. Mutual respect for truth is a good basis for good things, even if it means at times a clash.
Bon voyage–
Hi Spectator –
I’m sure it was my fault.
Posting on the net (and on email) often gives rise to misunderstandings because the facial expressions of real life are missing and you can’t tell if a person is kidding, for real, playing around, or upset..
Plus, I write a lot, and don’t spend any time revising or checking the tone, and when you dash things off in a hurry and are by nature fond of arguing things, this comes off as nitpicking or fault finding, when it’s more like cud-chewing.
So apologies.
And thanks for the good wishes.
You see what a dangerous business being on the net is. You expose yourself to anyone with an axe to grind.
Stuff on a person (financial records, medical records, personal letters or records) that you’d need to break into a house to get is now available for the cost of some sneaky 29 buck spy software…
You can work havoc with just a bit of that and a few sympathetic voices in some bureaucratic back office in the government.
Turns out to be my mum’s favorite psalm:
1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.
8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.
9 Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;
10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.
13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.
14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.
15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.
16 With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.”
____________
Well, mum will be pleased to read that…and my dad too.
As for me, I seem to have a guardian angel (an overworked fellow, although unaccountably AWOL once or twice). At the very worst moment, something turns up, someone comes through, a voice whispers caution in my ear.
I don’t know about those lions and adders though. Ouch…
Lila,
I’m saddened to find that it has come to all this nasty stuff befalling you and will be missing your regular outpourings of wisdom on this blog.
May you land on your feet somewhere you can still breathe freely and live well.
I pray for the day freedom shines its light all over the world and drives out all the dark scum of tyranny. I’m sure that day will come a bit sooner because of all that you’ve done and for that I thank you.
Nicole –
You are a doll…
And I’m honored to have you as a reader…
Perhaps you’ll consider contributing to the new blog..
Psalms@gmail.com
93.108.142.219
COMMENT DELETED
Lila,
You are a great investigative and analytical journalist. One understands your decision completely, in view of the reported intimidation. You are an individual who is attempting simply to do their job and they are oppressive emanations of the corporatised, militarised state. Don’t let them grind you down, though. The world needs people who tell truth to power – and who show truth to the people. Very best wishes for the future.
Hi Suhayl,
Thanks so much for those kinds words. Coming from you they mean even more..
I know you “have been there, done that.”
Lila
Hi,
I’m a fairly new reader, but the last six months or so I’ve very much enjoyed reading. Hope I can get on a subscribe list somehow. I noticed this blog was down for a while too, and now it’s up again, temporarily, I guess?
Thanks for any info on how to stay informed.
But take care of yourself first.
Hi Jonny –
Thanks for reading and commenting so graciously.
I hope to have the new blog up, and have some friends who want to run it, and they will have a subscription out to anyone who wants it.
It’ll be a lot better than my amateur effort, I hope.
I’m afraid I don’t have the time and energy to take on the sorts of attacks I’ve had, so I’m going to call it quits.
I’ll still comment at the Bell for a while more.
I’ll miss you, Lila. You not only increased my knowledge of the world, but you always upheld the highest standards of logic and ethics. Your great love for your fellow human beings always came through. God bless and prosper your future endeavors.
Hi Kurt –
Oh, aren’t you nice…
and completely over generous.
Anyway, you earned yourself brownie points in heaven for this kiss on the leper’s brow…
I guess under it all, I do have a soft spot for bungling bipeds…
Thank you again. Will be sure to keep you on the blog mailing list for the future.
Dear Lila, Iwrite to you on account of your kind support to me about my recent exchange with Daily Bell. I am glad to see you think my comments there “resonate”, I take it that means with your own thoughts. I am however at a loss as I had not visited your blog before and I find that your are”bowing out”…??? does that mean you are closing this site? I hope not for I would like to starta correspondence with you about libertarian ideas and such. I am depressed but not suicidal. That was a slip of the tongue, and the DB commentators belittled my serious reasoning by kindly recommending that I go to a bar and stuff like that. I thought it was a not so clever way to avoid answering my serious arguments about their naive ideas about god free market. Please let me know what’s up here. You are surely not closing, are you? I hope we can we talk some more about the fraud in fractional reserve banking and the terrible mistake probability theory, among other things of course. Regards. Luis represents. Could I ask you to use my email directly for a first answer? I know I am taking up your time. It’s probably vane on my side. Forgive me.
Sorry the last few lines got garbled. Here they are corrected:
I hope we can we talk some more about the fraud in fractional reserve banking and the terrible mistake probability theory represents, among other things of course. Could I ask you to use my email directly for a first answer? I know I am taking up your time. It’s probably vane on my side. Forgive me. Best regards, Luis.
Just passing by, i couldn’t help but notice:
“That was a slip of the tongue, and the DB commentators belittled my serious reasoning by kindly recommending that I go to a bar and stuff like that.”
I read that thread.
I don’t think that was the case, exactly.
Their suggestions were prime, imho.
Much libertarian and free market ideas were in their suggestions, especially the, “stuff” part.
“Perhaps you’ll consider contributing to the new blog..”
I would be very honored to contribute to the blog occasionally… just let me know how I’d go about submitting a post and I’ll do so when inspiration strikes.
Tic, tic, tic…….
On Thursday (11/18), the Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously approved a bill that would give the Attorney General the right to shut down websites with a court order if copyright infringement is deemed “central to the activity” of the site — regardless if the website has actually committed a crime. The Combating Online Infringement and Counterfeits Act (COICA) is among the most draconian laws ever considered to combat digital piracy, and contains what some have called the “nuclear option,” which would essentially allow the Attorney General to turn suspected websites “off.”
http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2010/11/coica-web-censorship-bill/
This is beginning to remind me of the way some people are saying all the airline bombing attempts have all been manufactured by the F.B.I. for the purpose of enhancing and expanding the powers of the state.
Are the Wikileaks simply another form of more of the same?
It seems that way after reading Gitano’s comment on the other post. Also, it’s funny/sad that websites are now thought of as committing crimes, another product of the distorted thinking that comes out of the War on Some Drugs where houses commit crimes, requiring them to be seized?:
Gitano said…
47
Tic, tic, tic…….
On Thursday (11/18), the Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously approved a bill that would give the Attorney General the right to shut down websites with a court order if copyright infringement is deemed “central to the activity” of the site — regardless if the website has actually committed a crime. The Combating Online Infringement and Counterfeits Act (COICA) is among the most draconian laws ever considered to combat digital piracy, and contains what some have called the “nuclear option,” which would essentially allow the Attorney General to turn suspected websites “off.”
http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2010/11/coica-web-censorship-bill/
Whoops, meant to post that here:
http://mindbodypolitic.org/2010/08/02/which-bastards-more-discrepancies-in-wikileaks-revelations/#comment-84895
A popular way to carry concealed guns is to put them in whatever you are carrying. Reasons for states adopting concealed carry laws and “shall issue” laws over “may issue” laws will help to explain the phenomena of the American public pushing for their right to conceal carry and the associated drop in gun related violent crimes. Ergonomics and controls: The pistol fights tightly into the hand.