The racists have found me and are posting my real life identity (including my real name) around the internet. I guess it was only a matter of time. I am not that hard to find so, in a strange way, I’m quite surprised that it took them so long. I have asked as politely as possible for these individuals to remove that information even though I am pretty pessimistic about the outcome.
I have been approached by several journalists recently to cover this blog and the Roma series etc. I have grappled with the issue of how much I can/should reveal about my real life. I have family and friends and colleagues to think about and I have always been concerned about putting them at risk. I have led a fairly public life, having been involved in the arts for most of my adult life. I have experienced what it is like to have both fans and stalkers. The difference is that I have a child now and would never knowingly put him in harms way. I like to believe that even the most rabid of my detractors could understand that.
It would be a lie if I said I wasn’t scared and overwhelmingly sad about this recent turn of events. I am sure that that statement will give them a perverse thrill but perhaps they don’t understand and probably never will, what it is like to be threatened (by complete strangers) just because I write about the issues I care about. Mostly the hatred comes because I am perceived to be anti-Hellenic, but is magnified because I am a “mongrel” a “half breed” and an “ugly feminazi bitch” and any number of insulting and disgusting insults that they can think of.
I need to put this out to you because this is really hard to deal with. I cannot imagine treating someone in this way. I have NEVER posted anything personal about any of the DD haters who have piled the insults on me and would never do so.
So I am publicly appealing to human decency and asking ALL of you who have posted my personal information and your hatred of me around the internet, to please remove it. Hate mail is one thing. Putting me and my family in danger is something entirely different.
I would also really appreciate it if any of my friends here who have some spare time, to get in touch with me via chat or email.
Thank you.
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I can understand and empathize with your concern via a vis your family and friends. Please know that you have supporters from as far away as Canada.
Stay safe and keep your spirits up, DD.
You have done important work and those fuckers have no ground to stand on over this.
So they sure showed you eh? Not sure exactly what they showed you mind.
What is with the rush to expose all the gory details of peoples lives? What does it prove? AHA I know your name I win…um ya ok.
This is nothing more than the internet equivalent of a temper tantrum by people who have come to the battle of wits unarmed.
Hi, saw this at loxias’ and made me wonder:
a) if u didn’t do a good job, they wouldn’t be reacting
b) as if all those people descend from Plato and Aristotle.
c) it takes 1 stupid man to scare 100 logically-thinking people; don’t give up.
I’m so sorry you have this nonsense in your life. What’s you’re doing is right and important.
It’s horrible! I really hope nothing else happens because of it - what has happened so far is already violent, as someone already said upthread.
I loved your Roma diaries when you posted them over on the Eurotrib. Sorry to hear that some small minded jerks have tried to intimidate you.
So, so sorry. This is awful, plain and simple. I wish there was something I could do to help.
Oh DD, I’m so sorry to hear about this.
*hugs*
Please email me or hit me up on IM. I’ll be away of the day today, though.
I’m so sorry to hear about this. I’m a random femblogger that found your site and heard about this through Sylvia. I hope that this gets resolved soon and those assholes leave you alone.
It’s been a long time since I last cruised by, DD, but I read about the intimidation campaign and just wanted to add my voice in support.
The hypocrisy of Doogie’s “oh but nothing will happen to you wink wink” handwashing disgusts me.
DD, I learned of your situation from Lindsay’s blog. This disturbing internet harassment must stop. Please accept these words of friendship, and keep in mind that there is also a community of bloggers who support you. Hang in there.
I just spent several weeks in Greece during which I was horrified and disgusted by the casual racism on display there against the Roma, Albanians, and other immigrants. Please do not let the cowards who would like to silence you win. Greece needs people like you if it has any hope of moving into the future instead of being endlessly and fruitlessly consumed with the traumas of its past. Your courage and dedication in exposing the dirty reality of the discrimination and hatred that many immigrants face are in line with the best and brightest traditions of Greece. As a Greek citizen, I salute you and support you - you are NOT alone.
DD, my blog would be extremely grateful - if you have the energy and inclination after everything you are going through - for any comments you would care to share regarding women’s voices in the blogosphere and the harassment of women bloggers. My blog is sponsoring a Take Back the Blog! virtual march or “blogswarm” on April 28th. It would be an honor for us to receive the benefit of your experiences and insights, to the extent you are inclined and comfortable sharing those experiences.
Many thanks, Bruce Godfrey, Crablaw Maryland Weekly
What DD said, “No, this is symbolic and psychological violence.”
I hope all is well, and that you’re hanging in Devious Diva. I’m a little late due to not participating in bloglife lately, but if there is anything i can do, put me on your list of people to contact via email to help get the word out, fend off attackers, whatever.
That’s horrible, DD. You have a lot of supporters.
What you’re going through is horrible; I hope it is at least some consolation that the issue behind it all, the problems faced by the Roma in Greece, is now getting much wider coverage than it might otherwise have received.
I’m really sorry, DD. Don’t worry, you have the support of many.
xxx
I have only been to Greece once and didn’t particularly like it. I’m married to a Greek so I suspect i’ll have to go again sometime. My bad experience, I had a camera stolen from by backpack while getting on a bus in Athens. When I told my mother-in-law, she said “oh it was Albanians”. I hated that, we have a good Albanian/Greek friend here who never hesitates to check up on MIL when he goes and brings her stuff from us, but she can’t shake that racism, sad really…ciao
Keep blogging, don’t let the bastards get you down.
I clicked over from belledame’s blog.
I don’t know you and don’t know even if I agree with what you’ve said that raises these folks’ wrath, but us agreeing is really not important.
What is important is that I support your right to your opinion, and think that “outing” someone is, as others have said, cowardly.
However, I’ll offer this thought from my lesbian/professor/opinionated woman prospective: in a way, being public/open/out (while not your first choice, I know), can be a postive thing.
Intellectually, you have had some doors opened for you. I made the decision as a “baby teaching assistant” to not make a secret of my sexual orientation because I felt that if I treated it as something to be ashamed of, others could use it to shame me. Don’t be ashamed of what you believe! And now, perhaps, the opportunities will arise for you to share this story/beliefs with an even greater audience.
As for your safety, there is also a positive: you now have a kind of protection in people knowing who you are in real life, people who can look out for you and support you. If something happens to an anonymous person, no one really knows why or who to look at…in a way, the people who have “outted” you have put themselves have “outted” themselves as well should any IRL harrassment of you or your property occur.
I hope I don’t come across as “Mary Sunshine” here: I would never mean to dismiss what has happened to you. I just believe something good will come out of it.
I surfed in from Pandagon. Sorry to hear that these hateful cretins are trying to scare you into silence. Don’t let the bastards grind you down, DD.
Keeping you in my thoughts. I hope the stories that these spiteful types are trying to keep quiet get splashed over front pages all over the world.
Another blogger giving you a salute from Australia’s shores. Keep your head up!
Hugs, from a Quaker Agitator reader.
I come in here late, but hugs to you. And to the bold internet warriors who can’t stand the truth about their country (not to mention doing something to change it), bite my ass.
Keep up the good work. Don’t know that my support is worth much; but you have it.
Don’t let the bastards get you down! Keep us informed if there’s anything we can do to help out.
I really feel for you. I really admire your no nonsense style and it hurts me that certain people react in this way. Allthough they may consider themselves patriots, they are diminishing Greece by their actions. Though you do not consider yourself Greek, what you are doing is providing a vital service not only for those getting the worst deal out of the current situation in the country but for Greece itself.
A Pandagon reader here to show solidarity. Like most people said, don’t let the jerks stop you.
I had spent a lot of time trying to figure out the causes of racism, bigotry, religious fanatism etc in greek public discourse.
I ended up with school, the media, and the general political unwillingness to do something about it.
Then I told myself that it’s too early for greece to reach the levels of political correctness and tolerance of other countries, since we haven’t been living in a multicultural society for long enough.
I also comforted myself thinking that the EU will slowly but steadily help change things.
I guess this was my way of dissmissing any responsibility I may have as a greek citizen.
It took listening to you, a “stranger”, for my excuses to suddenly sound pathetic.
Thank you for giving me a fresh perspective on greekness and otherness…
Your site is wonderful. I relate totally to you and your comments. I have now 3 sons. Two are Mexican, one of those is ‘Moreno’ in other words he is a little coffee coloured, the other is white. Now I have an Ethiopian son. Can you imagine the comments I get when we go somewhere with them?
Honestly I do not see colour. People sometimes do not understand that comment. But I see people, I see a soul a person. It matters not their physical attributes. It is their inner self that I see. I know, I hurt when they are insulted, the whispers, the comments, the out and out disparaging remarks, heartless, hurtful, bigoted. I absorb most, I try to protect my sons from these, but I cannot be everywhere with them. Most who read this blog have no real life experience of the hurt discrimination really inflicts. Not just the overt, brutalization of ones life, the violation of ones space and heart and soul. But the quiet, behind your back undermining that goes on, over and over again.
I am 51 and writing this to express my feelings brings tears to my eyes because I am helpless to protect my own children from this hatred.
Even as I write this my ADSL went down it feels like a sign another attach, but it is not, it is coincidence, but how do I, how can I begin to explain how ever that feels like an attack? That is how bad it gets!
I think it was Elaine earlier this week said ‘Rod is so proud of his new son.’ YES I AM. I love my son, I will never call him my ‘adopted’ son, he is just plain and simple MY SON. We are different in many ways him and I but he loves the same, feels the same and is vulnerable just the same. But above all he is just wonderful.
(As a side note - I currently live in Albania!)
Please visit our community about 12 year old Alex from Ethiopia. JOIN us today! http://www.mybloglog.com/buzz/community/AlexRod/
OR -
Visit Alex web site today and discover the true, heart warming story of faith and prayers. Read how this young Ethiopian street child is being rescued from a certain death on the streets of Addis Ababa. DISCOVER THE REAL LIFE STORY OF HOPE AND SUCCESS FOR ALEX Link to us today and follow the progress as Alex adjusts to the safe world in Europe where he will hopefully soon get a good education and health. http://alex-roadtofreedom.blogspot.com
Hey DD - I’m glad you blog and I am sorry that you have been outed. You are in my thoughts and I hope you are doing okay.
I was truly touched by your post.
I see no good by this internet attack. Is horrible way to get harm innocent people.
I only wish you and your family safety.
It truly sad to know someone has put your family at risk.
Take care,
all the best, Holly D
Came here via Mind the Gap, where I usually lurk. You have my support, for what it’s worth. Do whatever you have to do to feel safe!
@doogie a$$hat: You and your racist scoundrel fellows make me feel ashamed and embarrassed to be a greek. Shame on you. You make the name of greek sound like a curse. And if I had a brother like you, I would renounce him. Thankfully, you’re not.
deviousdiva: Take care and don’t let the bastards run you down!
You have my support, Diva.
So sorry for what you’re going thru.
COMMENT DELETED BY DEVIOUS DIVA
HANG IN THERE and I hope the pain and hurt from these wicked racists will pass.
In solidarity
Hahahaha
More melodramatic histrionics. The more things change the more they stay the same…apparently.
EDITED BY DEVIOUS DIVA
If you want a serious answer/response, please do not call us barbarians…
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