I think I might be sick...

James, I'm not sure what the laws are in the US, but in Canada, expressing hate speech online can be reported to the police. The RCMP has a hate speech division for investigating and charging people for such things. Is this an option here?

Thank you all for your replies.

Ananda, I understand what you were saying, and those are the exact reasons why I didn't report him. I IMed him, not vice versa. I specifically asked him what his position on Jews is.

The reason that I IMed him is because I heard rumors that he is a neo-nazi, so, I figured i'd be nice and inform him of this. It feels very wrong to let rumors spread around without the person they're about knowing.

He, however, informed me that the rumors are true. That is when he contracted verbal diarrhea on the topics of the Holocaust and Jews.

On a final note, Xavier, that was uncalled for. What you are implying is completely false (as I have said many times before), and is extremely inapproriate in this thread.

If you've got a problem with me, Xavier, feel free to contact me in world.

..come on, I have a hard time believing that someone hears there's a neo-nazi lurking in SL, spreading around their theories and then takes it upon themselves to actually contact the individual in question to explain that there must be some kind of mistake about his conduct...

just out of the blue? Just cuz?

Please...no offense but you solicited a jerkoff and you got what he spews in return. Is this in any way surprising? You think people just accidentally get tagged a "neo-nazi"? Even with a "grim name" ?It seems more like you went looking for proof and then got it.. I mean, do your other SL compadres who happen to be Jewish randomly tag other SL participants as neo-nazis? Did you have some reason to believe that your friend was lying or otherwise misled...or were you just curious?

Technically it's abuse, according to the user agreement, but I don't think a reasonable person could have expected anything else, and I certainly don't think you have a valid complaint.

Part of the problem with shutting down speech you don't like is that it never REALLY goes away, but everyone else is content that "something was done about it"..so it must be taken care of , right?

...well it isn't, it just gets more discrete, and fewer people have the chance to listen to it, stand up and tell people like your little nazi buddy that he's full of it, and laughable to boot.

I IMed him because I saw that he is a brand new user, and I had a feeling that he was 'tagged' as a neo-Nazi simply because of his name. I also wondered if maybe someone got his name confused with someone else. I found it hard to believe that someone brand new would already be well-known as a neo-nazi. I figured it was a simple case of mistaken identity, and I felt that I should at least let him know.

As a Mentor, it's part of my 'duty' (at least, I think it is...) to help new users any way possible, even if that includes letting them know about rumors that are spreading about them.

Actually I *was there* when the rumor was spread by someone who showed up and said they were just at an event where a neo-nazi guy was spouting off stuff about Jews and the Holocaust.

And, Yes, James felt it would be good deed to check with this guy to make sure that a nasty rumor about him wasn't being started unfairly because he was a newbie.

I unlike you, mind my own business in world. You however brought this up for public debate. You went looking for trouble and found it.

The above poster finds your childlike antics a joke as well, however they decided to get another account to remain anonymous.

The hate monger David Cole happens to be a jew who preaches the holocost never happened. The entire story stinks and I really think your full of it on more than one account.

Xavier

I dunno, James...I'm too new to lend commentary on what your "duties" should be, and that's subjective in any case . Sure, there must be some standard set of guidelines, but beyond that you take whatever course you will. Presumably you have other participant's best interests in mind...

...but generally, when you go digging in a pile of crap, you'll come up with...welll..crap. People are pretty transparent when you get down to the nitty gritty.

assume the rumors WEREN'T true..what was he supposed to do upon being notified? Shout from the rooftops "HEY IM NOT THE NAZI!!! ITS THIS OTHER GUY NAMED xxxxxx...."?

This guy turns out to be not so much a nazi, or a holocaust revisionist..or anything other than a griefer. You see them in online communities all over. Were I Jewish I would, admittedly, probably feel more strongly about the content of his speech...but in the end he's just another silly yahoo who isn't capable of ruining my online experience because I wouldn't let him...

..in fact, if I were a few years younger and a whole lot less mature I'd probably seek him out and tease him mercilessly , just for giggles. You know..maybe make a nazi uniform to wear with an armband with the swastika drawn backwards and then I'd follow him around saying "I haf a rrrrrrrrealy important massage from DER FUHRER for you! He says zat you must now vare lederhosen und zing chrrrrrritmas carols at the top of your lungs SEIG HEIL!!" ..and then give the one armed salute...

actually, I'm not sure I'm mature enough to avoid doing that...but the threat of a ban for doing so...well...

that helps...

I'd have plugged the SOB with my Luger

but then I've developed bad habits and brought them here from other games LOL

Hate is a strong word but in this case it fits, I hate neo-nazis, bigots and history revisionists, they are an infection to the human race, they'll get no Care Bear hug from me. They insult every death in WW2 spent to save Europe from their madness.

Kaiser

As a note, you have just violated the ROC. You have expressed hatred toward real world individules or communities. That is hate speach just as much as what that guy has said.
Just because your hatred may be more commonly accepted it doesn't make it any more acceptable.

In the US, we are guaranteed the freedom of speech, regardless of opinion. IMO, restricting that freedom is FAR more dangerous than the bigots themselves.

(This has nothing to do with the rules in SL though - the Lindens have made their position clear on the matter and I support their rules within game).

-AP

Let Me Tell You People Something. A persons views are their views. and the things that were said was said in a philosophy meeting. i didnt know that the entire world was going to know what i said. i wont take back anything i said. and i do beleive everything i said was true if it wasnt i wouldnt of said it. however it must be said these things.
1) i am peacefull
2) the beleifs i have are my own.
3) i have the right to say what i want expecially in the setting i was in.
4) i am not trash you are the brainwashed masses not me.
5) continue to be sheep and be lead to slaugter
6) Ignorance is bliss

None of you know Death like I do. YES< he holds dome hateful views, I wont say he doesnt. I was shocked to learn of his views myself, and my first reaction was to hate him as well, (which some of you are doing as well), however after getting to know him... I learned to like him, and can see past his views. He spends more time with me then anyone else inworld, and I can tell you he doesnt go around telling every person he meets his views. If you go to him and ask he will tell you, but he does freely speak upon it for the heck of it. If you asked him for his view, then you got what you asked for. He doesn't hurt anyone but himself for believeing what he does, he doesnt go around telling everyone and preaching. Im sorry he offended you but thats your fault for asking. I will say he is responsible for his actions, but what makes me so hot about this is he is one of the kindest, most gentle ppl you will ever meet, he funny, sweet, helpful and a very well liked person. His views do not affect how he plays the game, builds or intercts with ppl, unless they make it an issue. I am in NO WAY condoning his actions or speech on the matter, but I consider myself a big enough person to agree to disagree with his views, and STILL be his friend. We dont talk about the parts that make us uncomfortable, and we both know this is one of those areas. You should get to know hium before you judge him a jackass or anything. He's smart, funny, and well-balanced, unlike a fair lot of other people. Dont judge him on others opinions alone. *Death's Baby Girl*

I find that people who hate Jews invariably don't know any; same as people who hate any group that is defferent from themselves. This individual is probably just snake-handling white trash from some hole in Tennesee, though, so why let him get to you? Maybe the best thing to do is for everyone who is even a bit Jewish or has even eaten a bagel once or twice to get this person's name from James, so we can overcome his hate with perfect love. Or something.

I have had an elderly lady tell me once that Hitler was a very good dancer and kind to children and dogs, as well, so everyone has their defenders.

Yes, and no cheeseburgers with bacon on them for you!
Maybe if the world were run by Jewish women... I could deal with that.

The world SHOULD be run by women. Men should not be allowed to participate in government. Less wars that way.

Anyone who thinks this has obviously never been in an environment where many women are competing for the same amount of resources/status/wealth/etc... We don't have the monopoly on agression by a long shot.

Reitsuki, who attended a private school that was made up of 3/4ths women

Reitsuki Shhhhh!!

You'll give all our secrets away!!

This post is in no way an attempt on my part to be pro-/anti-Nazi or pro-/anti-Semetic. Watching The Odessa File last weekend gave me my fill of Nazi Conspiracy for a while. That said...

If this guy isn't greifing people, using SL to plot hate crimes, or anything outwardly slanderous or violent, then his expousing retoric is no better or worse than people setting up a church. In fact...

I would think that, so long as it wasn't used for anything maliscious, the Lindens wouldn't object (and I could very well be wrong) to some group of "neo-nazis" setting up a club somewhere in-world. So long as they weren't actively bothering people, having a club with a swastika on the front wouldn't be any worse, legally or ideologically, than a church with a cross on it.

Again, I'm not stating an opinion one way or the other about a person's views, I'm offering a kind of thought experiment, or thinking aloud. People, from looking at the pages of threads, are quite vocal about not wanting churches. People, some anyway, don't seem to like the idea of a Nazi presense in SL. It makes me curious just what kind of, shall we say, ethic the SL masses get behind.

Given the number of casinos, strip clubs, gun shops, and car dealerships littering the landscape, I'd guess most SL citizens hold faith in the almighty dollar.

This isn't really meant to complain, I just think it's interesting that two times when a person has expoused their belief in a doctrine -- one by building a church, another by speaking about Nazi-ism -- people in SL have bristled and complained quite vocally. It's interesting that, as an "enlightened of a group of people as we think we are," people's beliefs cause such ill-feelings.

It is disturbing to many here when someone proactively puts down a broad range of beliefs and views simply because they differ from his or her own. It isn't bad to have differing philosophies, but when someone spouts off about how all the homos, Jews, and pagans are going to hell/deluded/ought to be kicked out of a political entity/etc., then yes, some people are going to "bristle."

That said, if we don't go prying into cracks and turning over rocks, maybe we won't be faced with the bigotry in the first place. Anyone who is curious enough to pry should be broad-minded enough to understand that the world has a heck of a lot of variety in it and not cry out in dismay. There are close-minded, self-righteous, herd-instinct all over our first life and it's inevitable that some of them will find their way into our second.

I agree that churches in SL should remain inviolate, and maybe, just maybe, it's a good idea for the neo-Nazis and white supremacists to have their own "church" in SL. If it means that they all keep their views in a little hideaway somewhere, I'll help build the place. And since hygiene is always important, I'll even take special care to include an extra-large shower room.

I think that is my favorite signature ever.

Tell that to Queen Victoria, Golda Meier and Margaret Thatcher. Women tend to make better leaders because they plan ahead a lot better than men do.

I said LESS, not none.

When I think of all the women who have fought over me, poor devils, I am not totally convinced of their essentially pacific natures.

I HATE YOU ALL. YOU ALL SUCK. BURN IN HELL. I HATE YOU. WHY DONT YOU JUST GO EAT YOURSELF. BITE ME. YOU GUYS ARE ALL BIG ASS HOLES. AND YOUR LIBRALS. AND YOU BELIEVE IN EVOLUTION. AND YOU DONT OWN A GUN. YOU GUYS ALL SUCK I HATE YOU GO TO HELL JESUS HATES YOU GOD HATES YOU NO ONE LOVES YOU.

*pout*