Are they personal attacks? Absolutely. Are they a bad idea? No doubt. Are they illegal in some jurisdictions? Possibly. But they definitely aren't a hate cri

Are they personal attacks? Absolutely. Are they a bad idea? No doubt. Are they illegal in some jurisdictions? Possibly. But they definitely aren't a hate crime - they are simply an internet mob action on their victim du jour. None of the attacks on Adria Richards were done because she was a woman. They were done because of the choice she made in needlessly tweeting and publicly shaming the jokers sitting near her, and triggering a social media firestorm. A man in the same situation would have been attacked just as vehemently - indeed, many men have been the victims of internet mob action.