Neil GaimanVerified account

I don't think defending yourself is bullying. Don't get me wrong, I understand your point, but what would be the alternative? How are people with large followings supposed to defend themselves?

Privately?

That only works when the attack is also private.

Considering that we are both replying to Neil reflecting on the idea that public response from a person with a large following inherently has an impact greater than “defense” (e.g. overzealous/abusive fans piling on), I think you’ve missed the point.

As I've said in my original tweet, I understand that point. I'm asking what would be the alternative?

If a public figure doesn’t want to cause collateral damage, privately responding or not responding at all are both alternatives. You say that a private response only “works” for a private attack, but that begs the question of what working even means. Shutting down criticism?

When you are attacked on a public forum, a lack of defense is usually perceived as an admission of guilt. What do you do when you are not guilty? "Working" means responding to, not shutting down criticism.

I ignore 99% of the “attacks” that come in. Muting or ignoring is easier. People shouting at you is not anything that needs responding to.

Why do we continue to ignore the fact that all Musk is calling for is an independent organization to review and validate *all* sources of media? Not one side or the other. All. Trump has done a lot of damage to the media's credibility, but *so has the media itself*.

I’m ignoring it because it isn’t relevant to my point, which is about accidental or unintended bullying.

I grant you, sustaining a disagreement promotes friction, but forcing someone silent because of a disagreement is just as reprehensible. @elonmusk was the minority here thats an unavoidable fact.

While Elon did nothing here that was bad, (calling out someone who was making accusations, nothing especially incendiary), the response from his "fans" is a huge problem all over Twitter. People on all sides do this, and I can agree that this is something that needs to stop.

The article itself is trash when you look at the facts and stop defending someone who was originally trying to write a smear piece against Musk for calling out bad jouralism. Want bullying? Look no further than Erin herself, taking to twitter for "any harassment from Musk"

Some randoms on twitter threatening and calling you names? It happens when you're a hypocritical journalist with an agenda and your "fact checking" ways are just bullshit.

It apparently also happens when you're a young woman scientist, and someone tells you that your area of study is "bs".

You're defending the wrong person here, Neil. What Erin did was bad form. She has harassed Elon and has attempted to create a smear piece on him in the most unethical way imaginable. I'm 100% behind protecting women from harassment but you're protecting the harraser in this case.

I am talking about @upulie here. I think I was defending the right person.