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Ask HN: Is doxing allowed?

by QuantumChaos on 10/8/14, 2:33 AM with 9 comments

In this thread: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=8418885 sama posts some personal information about an alleged troll. This information wasn't enough identify that person, but it suggests that sama is sending a signal that mods will use this tactic against people they consider trolls.

In the same thread, another user (not a mod) states that 'there is no "doxing" rule on HN'.

Will mods continue to reveal private information that only they know? Under what circumstances will they do this? Similarly, what rules will they impose on discussions. Will they ban users who dox other users?

For reference, the comment that instigated these actions was

>Can we have a publication named "The Forgotten Male Programmers Who Created Modern Tech" now?

which was a top level comment in the story The Forgotten Female Programmers Who Created Modern Tech (npr.org)

  • by zaroth on 10/8/14, 3:27 AM

    To which 'sama' replied; 'this is from a newly-created troll account from a dorm in the netherlands. please go back to 4chan.'

    I think the first question is, would you even call this doxing? It clearly touched a nerve or crossed a line, I assume we won't see any more of it.

    I'm content to wait and see, assuming there's no actual injury in this case. Doxing is serious. Perhaps even worse considering the context? I don't read into it that much.