confused Posted March 14, 2013 Share Posted March 14, 2013 (edited) Wow! I was reading comments on an opinion piece in the WSJ on-line about the baby that was "cured" of HIV in Mississippi. The last comment is off-the wall anti-homosexual hatred. I tried reporting it but it's still there so either they are slow to respond or the powers that be think hate speech is okay? I feel like I can't let it sit there, but I'm not sure how to respond. He seemed really set in his beliefs, so I just responded that I don't think it's appropriate Edited March 14, 2013 by confused Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluechick Posted March 14, 2013 Share Posted March 14, 2013 One of the greatest yet most tragic aspects of our country is the right to free speech. Remember, it's a right not a privilege. Which means that any misguided, bigoted, jackoff can spout hate speech wherever they go. The hardest but most critical thing to do is to walk away and not listen. Don't give these idiots any of your precious emotional energy. They aren't worth it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bpladybug Posted March 14, 2013 Share Posted March 14, 2013 the Wall Street Journal? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
confused Posted March 14, 2013 Author Share Posted March 14, 2013 Sorry, yes the opinion piece was in the Wall Street Journal, but this guy was writing in the comments section. I know we have free speech but the policy says: You will not upload, post or submit anything that is obscene or contains profanity or veiled profanity or that may be hateful or offensive on racial, ethnic, sexual, stereotypical or any other grounds; it's offensive with veiled profanity Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mirazh Posted March 14, 2013 Share Posted March 14, 2013 Hate speech helps to promote a culture that continually oppresses marginalized groups, such as the LGBQ community, transgender people, people of colour, the mentally ill, women, etc. etc. etc. Until very very recently Canada had anti-hate-speech laws. There are still laws against hate crimes. Many states have similar legislation. On many websites as Confused detailed above, there exist policies against things like hate speech, etc. Many individual workplaces have stricter rules regarding such behaviour as well. And, IMHO, rightly so. There are neo-Nazis who do demonstrations in my city annually and they are bloody well protected because of free speech. These people are promoting a culture of hate and violence and white supremacy, and many members are essentially terrorists or close to it (yes I mean legally speaking.) WTF kind of society is it that allows these people to spew their hatred in public venues in such a city such as mine, or anywhere. Where anyone can see it, of colour or white alike. The sad truth about some websites though, even some workplaces, is that though they may put up such disclaimers, it's mostly to make themselves look good and they may rarely if ever actually act upon them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Emperor Posted March 14, 2013 Share Posted March 14, 2013 One of the greatest yet most tragic aspects of our country is the right to free speech. Seriously couldn't agree more. So glad that we have it, but it can be horrible at the same time. Have any of you heard of the Westboro Baptist Church? Probably. If you want to feel the need to burn things to the ground and beat someone senseless, look them up. I know you can't abuse your freedom of speech, but damn. Fuck the entire Phelps family. I can't stand them and they are fucking crazy ass pieces of shit. I can't help but wish horrible things that I can't even say upon them. Scummiest pieces of shit ever does not even do this justice. There are literally no words. I don't care about race, sexual preference, religion, anything. I'm all for people doing what makes them HAPPY. And I just don't and can't understand the people out there that would rather see people miserable than see people being themselves. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melissaw72 Posted March 14, 2013 Share Posted March 14, 2013 One of the greatest yet most tragic aspects of our country is the right to free speech. Seriously couldn't agree more. So glad that we have it, but it can be horrible at the same time. Have any of you heard of the Westboro Baptist Church? Probably. If you want to feel the need to burn things to the ground and beat someone senseless, look them up. I know you can't abuse your freedom of speech, but damn. Fuck the entire Phelps family. I can't stand them and they are fucking crazy ass pieces of shit. I can't help but wish horrible things that I can't even say upon them. Scummiest pieces of shit ever does not even do this justice. There are literally no words. I don't care about race, sexual preference, religion, anything. I'm all for people doing what makes them HAPPY. And I just don't and can't understand the people out there that would rather see people miserable than see people being themselves. What did the Phelps family do/say? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
confused Posted March 14, 2013 Author Share Posted March 14, 2013 One of the greatest yet most tragic aspects of our country is the right to free speech. Seriously couldn't agree more. So glad that we have it, but it can be horrible at the same time. Have any of you heard of the Westboro Baptist Church? Probably. If you want to feel the need to burn things to the ground and beat someone senseless, look them up. I know you can't abuse your freedom of speech, but damn. Fuck the entire Phelps family. I can't stand them and they are fucking crazy ass pieces of shit. I can't help but wish horrible things that I can't even say upon them. Scummiest pieces of shit ever does not even do this justice. There are literally no words. I don't care about race, sexual preference, religion, anything. I'm all for people doing what makes them HAPPY. And I just don't and can't understand the people out there that would rather see people miserable than see people being themselves. What did the Phelps family do/say? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westboro_Baptist_Church Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melissaw72 Posted March 14, 2013 Share Posted March 14, 2013 One of the greatest yet most tragic aspects of our country is the right to free speech. Seriously couldn't agree more. So glad that we have it, but it can be horrible at the same time. Have any of you heard of the Westboro Baptist Church? Probably. If you want to feel the need to burn things to the ground and beat someone senseless, look them up. I know you can't abuse your freedom of speech, but damn. Fuck the entire Phelps family. I can't stand them and they are fucking crazy ass pieces of shit. I can't help but wish horrible things that I can't even say upon them. Scummiest pieces of shit ever does not even do this justice. There are literally no words. I don't care about race, sexual preference, religion, anything. I'm all for people doing what makes them HAPPY. And I just don't and can't understand the people out there that would rather see people miserable than see people being themselves. What did the Phelps family do/say? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westboro_Baptist_Church Thanks for the link. Wow ... is all I can say at the moment. I had never heard of them until now. Incomprehensible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
confused Posted March 14, 2013 Author Share Posted March 14, 2013 Oh. good. They finally removed it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cacia Posted March 14, 2013 Share Posted March 14, 2013 (edited) ; Edited July 8, 2013 by Cacia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EyeMindBeingGrim Posted March 14, 2013 Share Posted March 14, 2013 Glad to hear that confused. I mean, it wasn't constructive at all or actually to do with the article's content itself. It was just straight up homophobia. Lol Cacia, me too! I read about them and say, "But do you *really* think that?" But whatever, I'm pretty sure that they beget and/or inspire a whole bunch (read, family) of trolls even if they're not themselves trolls. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Recluse Posted March 14, 2013 Share Posted March 14, 2013 Westboro aren't trolling. I can confirm this directly. They are just fucking insane. I've stopped hating them in favor of being sad for their incredible bitterness. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hagar Posted March 14, 2013 Share Posted March 14, 2013 Westboro aren't trolling. I can confirm this directly. They are just fucking insane. I've stopped hating them in favor of being sad for their incredible bitterness. Agreed. And I pity their poor, poor children. God help the kids in that circus-act that are LGBT. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Emperor Posted March 14, 2013 Share Posted March 14, 2013 Westboro aren't trolling. I can confirm this directly. They are just fucking insane. I've stopped hating them in favor of being sad for their incredible bitterness. Agreed. And I pity their poor, poor children. God help the kids in that circus-act that are LGBT. No, they aren't trolling. The documentary I watched on them was just like, I don't know. There's no way that those people could have been acting. And yeah, I was really sad to hear those little kids saying such terrible things. I mean, how can you hate people SO much at age five? I could never teach my kid to hate anyone for any reason. Except these people, ha ha. THESE people are the kind of people you can hate. I still hate them, I can't help it. When you think about it, yeah, it is sad for someone to life their life that way, but they seem to enjoy it well enough. I mean, just imagine how good you'd feel if you thought God favored you over everyone else because by picketing funerals of dead soldiers, etc. you are doing "God's" work. Fuck those people. And fuck their interpretation of God. They are poor excuses for human beings, and followers of God. Not that I'm a believer, but if I was, it wouldn't be THAT shit. What stupid assholes. See? Full of hate. Can't feel bad for them. I'm not that mature yet. Heh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Artemisia Posted March 14, 2013 Share Posted March 14, 2013 I had the impression that WB are trolling a little bit (even as they actually believe the hate they spew). I agree with those who believe that WB want to get sued by someone they can milk for serious money. They think they'd win on account of free speech, which they probably would. And I agree that the term "homophobia" is a misnomer. I think it was coined in order to make those who hate gays appear pathetic and weak by incorporating "fear" into the name. But it's hate, pure and simple. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gearhead Posted March 14, 2013 Share Posted March 14, 2013 Westboro aren't trolling. I can confirm this directly. They are just fucking insane. I've stopped hating them in favor of being sad for their incredible bitterness. I find I can do both at once. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mirazh Posted March 14, 2013 Share Posted March 14, 2013 Actually since many often hate what they fear/do not understand/etc. I think homoPHOBIA is a rather accurate term, personally. Like EWWW A QUEER QUICK SQUISH IT WITH YOUR SHOE. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts