Paula PenfoldI’ve been a journalist for a loooong time. But the level of abuse in the past year is off the charts. Does it matter? Yes, I think it does.
My column today for the Sunday Star Times.
Josh O'Connor-Chen@paulapenfold Is it isolated to journalists, or is society worse across the board than it used to be?
@joshoconnorchen judging by the abuse directed at politicians, academics, etc, I think the latter.
Clianthus 🏴☠️ 
@paulapenfold I'm so sorry to hear of the harassment you and your colleagues have been subjected to. I can't believe people can be so hateful. Nobody should have to deal with this. ❤️
essjax@paulapenfold I'm utterly sickened and horrified by this, truly sorry that you receive this bile. I don't know what is wrong with these people, but I hope it's just a noisy, tiny few.
The overwhelming majority of us respect your work and thank you for lifting the rock and exposing these scuttling filth.
Jack Yan (甄爵恩)@paulapenfold Tautoko to you, Paula, and happy your sister got better. F*** those arseholes. The overwhelming majority of us support and respect you.
DaveOfTheNui@jackyan @paulapenfold
2nded this, I have a huge amount of respect for you and your colleagues, and am saddened by what society has devolved into finding acceptable.
2nded this, I have a huge amount of respect for you and your colleagues, and am saddened by what society has devolved into finding acceptable.
@WainuiTrailerTrash @jackyan thank you both 🙏🏼
Daniel Ayers ZL1DFAFirst - Fire and Fury was an absolute masterpiece, an incredibly important piece of #Journalism.
Second - I would like to see more (public) consequences for the worst abusers, the ones that threaten safety. People need to learn that is not acceptable. Some journos seem to brush these off (publicly at least) but I worry that if offenders are not prosecuted that behaviour will escalate over time. I'd like to see some of those pricks in Court answering for their actions!
Jo Fountain@daniel_ayers @paulapenfold agree. It is time to name and shame (and charge) more of these vile keyboard warriors. No one should be spoken to like this.
I'm very glad for your bravery in speaking up and that your sister is doing well
Nicholas Carman@paulapenfold hi Paula keep up the good work.
Jeff 
@paulapenfold Thank you Paula. And excellent need about your sis.
🇳🇿 
💉*9 Roger@paulapenfold I find it so distressing that we live among people who think this way. But it must be way harder for you getting direct attacks. So good you are calling it out.
Vivian (she/her/ia) 
@paulapenfold it's just ridiculous that anyone at all wishes death on anyone. I used to work for a human rights org, and you'd see previously very sensible supporters say "oh but what if..." when we campaigned against the death penalty. But this is next level. That Nuremberg stuff.
Thank you for the fire doco thing. It was good and hopefully opened some eyes
And recently, I revisited Stuff's "two cities" deep dive into poverty in Tāmaki Makaurau.
Kevin McCready@paulapenfold So sorry to hear this. Do you report them to the police? What happens?
@KevinMcCready thank you Kevin. I’ve reported some of the more extreme ones. Nothing happens.
@paulapenfold Thanks for response. Perhaps if you name and shame then their families and communities may give them a talking to? Also people tracking extremism can add them to watchlists. I'm pretty sure such lists have been useful to the authorities.
Verbman@paulapenfold lots of respect for your work, kia kaha - I’m still astounded at the damage social media has had on our communities and families.
Jduvalsmith@paulapenfold Paula thank you for what you are doing. Nobody deserves this abuse for doing their job. And best wishes to your sister.
Rochelle@paulapenfold I’m so glad to hear about your sister. That’s great news.
Thank you for all the work you’ve been doing over the past few years. I really appreciate it. I’m sorry about the current state of society. We need to find a way to make it better & safer, for everyone’s sake.
Bob LeFridge I'm glad your sister made it through. 💚
What have we become as a society when a small percentage are guided so far down the path of madness that they feel empowered to issue death threats to journalists & scientists.
Those behind much of the manipulation -- Tamaki, DeMent, the Wrights, VFF & their ilk -- need to account for their role in undermining our society's civility. Without them, the people issuing threats would still be the pointless nobodies they always were.
Sarah Pallett - MP for Ilam@paulapenfold I’m so sorry you’ve been on the receiving end of such awful behaviour, Paula. It’s shocking, and it’s not ok.
@paulapenfold is it ironic that you called it CIVIL discourse...of course you're a journalist and it was intentional and I just got it.
I marvel at the abuse people wield against each other on sometimes very inconsequential subjects. It's also ironic that those that complain about being lied to, often dont realise who it is that's actually lied to them.
Thanks for continuing to say what you have actually confirmed to be true, in spite if this hate
AlexsandraSmart@paulapenfold
I wonder what people like me can do to address the situation. The people that engage in this misdirected rage are already isolated from my society and insulated from reality. It's a hard problem.
I wonder what people like me can do to address the situation. The people that engage in this misdirected rage are already isolated from my society and insulated from reality. It's a hard problem.
Grant Jacobs BioinfoTools NZ@paulapenfold Not something you don’t already know (!), but similar chilling effects on scientists, science communicators, and science writers happening too. (Not entirely new on topics people feel "anti-" about, but more pervasive and brazen.)
The1GeeDubb@paulapenfold I'm appalled and ashamed....I'm sorry you've been subjected to this abuse.
Having been through 18 months of chemotherapy & radiotherapy for rectal cancer in 2019 I completely understand you being terrified for your sister by COVID, being immuno-compromised myself I have ended up in hospital having contracted COVID 3 times now (twice I was completly laid low).
These misinformed zealots simply don't understand or care.
Stay strong
Having been through 18 months of chemotherapy & radiotherapy for rectal cancer in 2019 I completely understand you being terrified for your sister by COVID, being immuno-compromised myself I have ended up in hospital having contracted COVID 3 times now (twice I was completly laid low).
These misinformed zealots simply don't understand or care.
Stay strong