"Prop 8 Maps" Outs Supporters of Proposition 8
Prop 8 Maps is a project that uses Google Maps and the public list of donors who contributed money to Proposition 8 in San Francisco to provide a map pinpointing the addresses of the donors throughout San Francisco.
Proposition 8 was a measure recently approved by the people of California defining marriage as an institution between one man and one woman, thus banning the practice of same sex marriage in California. The passage of Prop 8 has angered many gay activists and their allies and has led to ugly incidents, including angry demonstrations in front of Mormon Churches
The purpose of Prop 8 Maps appears to be to out people who contributed money to the passage of Prop 8 and to provide an easy way to locate them. Thus, people who supported Prop 8 with money can be subject to harassment, demonstrations, and perhaps worse. The theory is that they will think twice before doing it again.
Naturally the people behind Prop 8 Maps prefer to remain anonymous.
Those of us who give their opinion for a living are very used to anonymous people expressing their ire. The nature of the Internet allows people to express the most outrageous sentiments and to hide behind a pseudonym to protect themselves. Most of this sort of thing consists of angry emails and postings in comments sections and can be laughed off.
Prop 8 Maps is something else entirely. Feelings over the passage of Prop 8 have run so high in certain quarters, Prop 8 Maps actually place people who supported Prop 8 with money in physical danger. At the very least, people who gave money for the passage of Prop 8 can expect people camped in their front lawns yelling at them as they go to and fro on their business. They can also expect retaliation at their places of work/business. Death threats and perhaps actual attempts at mayhem can follow.
Writing as someone who is sympathetic to the idea of same sex marriage, one cannot express strongly enough how stupid and counter-productive this tactic is. It will backfire, especially if someone comes to harm as a result.
Besides, as Rod Dreher at the Dallas Morning News suggests, two can play that game:
Proposition 8 was a measure recently approved by the people of California defining marriage as an institution between one man and one woman, thus banning the practice of same sex marriage in California. The passage of Prop 8 has angered many gay activists and their allies and has led to ugly incidents, including angry demonstrations in front of Mormon Churches
The purpose of Prop 8 Maps appears to be to out people who contributed money to the passage of Prop 8 and to provide an easy way to locate them. Thus, people who supported Prop 8 with money can be subject to harassment, demonstrations, and perhaps worse. The theory is that they will think twice before doing it again.
Naturally the people behind Prop 8 Maps prefer to remain anonymous.
Those of us who give their opinion for a living are very used to anonymous people expressing their ire. The nature of the Internet allows people to express the most outrageous sentiments and to hide behind a pseudonym to protect themselves. Most of this sort of thing consists of angry emails and postings in comments sections and can be laughed off.
Prop 8 Maps is something else entirely. Feelings over the passage of Prop 8 have run so high in certain quarters, Prop 8 Maps actually place people who supported Prop 8 with money in physical danger. At the very least, people who gave money for the passage of Prop 8 can expect people camped in their front lawns yelling at them as they go to and fro on their business. They can also expect retaliation at their places of work/business. Death threats and perhaps actual attempts at mayhem can follow.
Writing as someone who is sympathetic to the idea of same sex marriage, one cannot express strongly enough how stupid and counter-productive this tactic is. It will backfire, especially if someone comes to harm as a result.
Besides, as Rod Dreher at the Dallas Morning News suggests, two can play that game:
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