What constitutes hate speech?

sigh

I get it. I finally get it. You-all do this for fun, don't you? The American sense of fun, the British sense of fun, the continental sense of fun, even the "Chenglish" sense of fun, it's all the same, right?

Sing it, We are the world....

Grrrr..to get back to the original intent of this thread hate speech is NOT flinging insults at someone because you think they are ugly, stupid or don't meet up to your high standards of behavior. Hate speech is when somone directs negative comments at someone based on their race, country of origin or sexual orientation. Enough said. I hate the way this thread has turned into an attack on individuals because someone has a bone to pick with someone else.

I only half get irony, as I'm a dual citizen... half British, half American. I really detest it when Brits get on their high horse and yankee bash and then in the same breath talk about "how cocky those bloody yankees are". (Only a small percentage of Brits do this, but they piss me off).

I really hate it when Americans think they know everything too, especially those who have never left Mississippi, and call all Brits a bunch of stuck up has-beens. (Again, small, but far too vocal percentage. America has this big problem with patriotism going too far and becoming Hatriotism. as Chris Rock called it.)

I had to remind a Jewish friend a few weeks ago about the Holocaust after she said she thought we should nuke the entire Middle East and kill all of them. This disgusted me.

GET OVER IT! People are people. Embrace our lovely differences and stop thinking you're superior. (Again: I'm not saying EVERYONE, just those who evangelize that their country's residents are the most intelligent) Those who take their religion or nationalism and turn it into a smug superiority always have things end badly.

The differences of the people on this big rock we all live on is what makes life interesting!

-Flip

So far the best definition of "Hate Speech" I've found is here:

http://www.unc.edu/courses/pre2000fall/law357c/cyberprojects/spring99/project_hate/home2.htm

Pretty clear and concise...and I like this page because it also clearly states what hate speech *isn't*.

Oh come on, Panda, Merwan, Cristiano, do you really think I'm sitting here insulting americans? Did the irony-indicating smiley go over your heads? FWIW, I like you yanks and have american friends, so hop off the high-horses please.

I'm sorry if the post went over your heads, remind me next time to put a large JOKE ALERT around anything that in any way might hurt your poor feelings when it isn't intended.

This all does kinda prove my original point tho. Folks chose to take offense at the slightest thing and make a mountain out of a molehill, all to further their particular goals.

See, the problem is that people need to learn how to use "irony". Irony is not bought with a cheap "irony-indicating smiley".

Pirate, at the bottom of your original post you said:

"Frankly, my opinion of the sanity and niceness of a few people who kicked off this witch hunt here has gone down a lot. I know i'll be thinking twice before supporting their services if this is how they like to use their 'status'."

This indicates that your true impression of Anshe's orignal post was that she was using irony, and that you have lost respect for people who didn't appreciate this and went after her. I would have got the joke, "Americans don't understand irony" and even thought it was funny without that last paragraph, which seemed to qualify it as a serious comment. Do me a favor, and before talking about my high-horse, go back and re-read your post objectively and then tell me how blantantly obvious your humor was.

Oh, and I don't have any goals to further, and I didn't make a mountain out of a molehill. It's amazing how many sweeping generalities one can make when on the defensive.

After reading this thread and other posts directed at Anshe I can not help but raise another question: What constitutes harassment?

Guni,

Its been a two way street, that's for sure. Your post painting Anshe as a victim is as laughable as if I were to post saying I've never done anything wrong! Anshe, I believe, would admit she's a more than willing particpant in most of these discussions. I believe she would also admit that sometimes, in the heat of the moment, she has posted and done things she wishes she hadn't. I know I have!

-Flip

Yes, I know this is not RL, which does not necessarily mean that RL concepts shouldn't at least be examined to see if they fit.

In Gertz v. Welch (680 F.2d 527, 1974) the US Supreme Court noted that peoples' actions can make them a public figure not protected from commentary. From the majority opinion:I think Anshe has assumed a role of especial prominence by her actions in the world and in the forums. Not that this has any bearing on what happens in these privately run forums, but it is worth consideration.

I'm Australian so I'll just insult you all -- but only as a term of endearment.

As Sammy Davis Jr once said (words to the effect of) They insult me because they are my friends -- if they didn't like me they wouldn't say a goddamn thing.

Americans and British can find some common ground if they try... I mean you both hate the French

Siggy.

I can see where you're coming from. But because somebody attained prominence doesn't mean she isn't as human as you and I are.

But let me raise a question for you and those folks out there who engaged in that Anshe-bashing stuff in the past: What do you think you can achieve that way?

Look, I don't see how attacking her would help you to convince her of your viewpoint. I think Anshe has shown by now that she doesn't react when people call her out and try to force her towards something. Which I can understand 100%.

I have seen people in similar situations and I have seen them harden or break. You can only take so much til you become depressive or indifferent or get pissed and turn into a monster. I don't think you really want to see Anshe become just like that. But it is what you will get if you just keep hitting and sniping at a person.

Assume this isn't all about grudges and envy and all that stuff and you want to change a person and don't want to destroy her. Then I can only suggest you stop that train ASAP and move into a more positive direction. Why not convince her that you aren't after her? Try to work with her! Have you contacted her about the words she used before you called her out? C'mon, this thread here just reads like >Haha! We caught Anshe use the n-word! Let's toast her!<. Hey, I know you can do way better than that! Drop those guns & talk.

My 2c.

I don't include you in the "cackling" group, Cris. You presented a thoughtful point and kept your focus on what she wrote and the need for equality. Others took your original post as an opportunity to jump on the filet Anshe bandwagon.

I can appreciate the frustrations and dislike some have for her and completely share the feeling some have about her having gotten away with a lot. Where I am consistent (besides consistently being an asshole LOL) is in pushing for an equal application of punishment. Regrettably, LL follows society in general and applies justice based on the pocketbook.

Doctor, heal thyself Inane babbling indeed!

As an American, I wholeheartedly support irony AND sarcasm. Pretty funny stuff. I would hate to see funny stuff get side-tracked by warnings and disclaimers.