11–18 of 18 posts
Just in case anyone misses it right down in the bottom, it looks like the author is an acquisitions editor with Packt and is looking for authors willing to take a Kathy Sierra approach. That might interest more people around here than the whole post does..
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What kind of threats?
Death threats. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/6499095.stm The whole situation was weird. Though she specifically was targeted, it seemed like the site the threats came out of was a group of generally angry, lame folks who lashed out in all directions constantly. I could barely understand it at the time (though I of course would have freaked out in her shoes, as the language was so specific and graphic.)
Earlier quoted context omitted.
What kind of threats?
Death threats. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/6499095.stm The whole situation was weird. Though she specifically was targeted, it seemed like the site the threats came out of was a group of generally angry, lame folks who lashed out in all directions constantly. I could barely understand it at the time (though I of course would have freaked out in her shoes, as the language was so specific and graphic.)
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Death threats. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/6499095.stm The whole situation was weird. Though she specifically was targeted, it seemed like the site the threats came out of was a group of generally angry, lame folks who lashed out in all directions constantly. I could barely understand it at the time (though I of course would have freaked out in her shoes, as the language was so specific and graphic.)
Doesn't this seem eerily similar to the way Steve Yegge suddenly stopped blogging/removed his public presence? And then _why (whytheluckystiff) also pulled down all his online presences. It makes me wonder if some group of kids is systematically threatening lots of top bloggers.
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I've actually been meaning to go back through her passionate users blog and reread some of the entries, there was so much great content put up there before she closed it off due to threats.
What kind of threats?
Her reaction attracted more trolling, kicked off distressful public discussions of the value of her work, adding fuel for further reaction.
Kathy did not close her Twitter account due to anything bad (unlike the unfortunate threats that coincided with her blog shutting down.) There are lots of ways to participate in communities and conversations, and she wanted to step away from that one for a bit. I can't point to a public URL as I got this from private conversation, but there was a public Tweet from one of her friends on this as well. In any case, her…
I've actually been meaning to go back through her passionate users blog and reread some of the entries, there was so much great content put up there before she closed it off due to threats.
Not only that, it's about create passionate users, where "users" is meant as a general term, whether it be users of software, readers of books, listeners of music, etc. I've applied the concepts to my entire life, where the people I interact with are users of me. Even though I know it has already ended, I secretly hope it never does. Even the oldest entries are still relevant today. Deciding to go back and read it all is turning out to be one of the best decisions I've made.
I am evidence that her method works, because I'm now one of Kathy Sierra's passionate users!
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I've actually been meaning to go back through her passionate users blog and reread some of the entries, there was so much great content put up there before she closed it off due to threats.
I've been doing this -- reading the Creating Passionate Users blog from the beginning as if it were a book. I'm up to March of 2005 so far, and it has dramatically transformed my outlook on creating software. Not only that, it's about create passionate users, where "users" is meant as a general term, whether it be users of software, readers of books, listeners of music, etc. I've applied the concepts to my entire lif…
The recent Mixergy interview with Simon Sinek actually ties into it well, at least it did to me: http://mixergy.com/start-with-why-simon-sinek/
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Thanks. I'm a big fan of her books, blog, and philosophy in general. I hope she doesn't lay low for too long, but she's given so much to the programming/online community that I guess she deserves a break if she wants one.
I don't think she thinks of it as a break, but actually something that enables her to do MORE work :D As somebody who devoured her twitter, I do feel an absence. But I do think she's working on similar stuff/themes at the moment, as she was pre-Twitter break.
I'd always been (stupidly) dismissive of Head First until I saw her speak at FOWA in 2008. Since then I've become incredibly impressed with her understanding of how people relate to computers.