Abusive Commenter
If, like me, you've been wondering what is driving the steady stream of
hate emanating from a frequent recent commenter (name rhymes with or resembles prick, or sick), check out his horribly racist rant on
LisB's thread:
http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/blogs/lisb/2009/01/hail-to-the-captain.php
http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/blogs/lisb/2009/01/hail-to-the-captain.php
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After reading his comment, if you feel abused/offended, I urge you to click the Report Abuse button like I did.
January 17, 2009 4:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
Here's a link to the exact comment:
http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/blogs/lisb/2009/01/hail-to-the-captain.php#comment-3343167
Thank you, tt, for your service to the community.
January 17, 2009 6:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
When I went to the link, I expected some really sick stuff, Aryan Nation- or KKK-level hatred.
All I found was some weak (white?) guy afraid that another black guy was going to be in line for some media praise.
So he's a jerk. Bannable? I doubt it. You don't like the creep's peaches, don't shake his tree. Please don't make it a virtue you inflict on everyone else out of having your sensibilities so easily offended.
January 17, 2009 7:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
I really don't see that I am inflicting anything on anyone. I grew up in a little hick town, surrounded by expressions of racism both blatant and veiled, but generally taken for granted by most. Like someone exposed to toxic levels of harmful chemicals, I have no tolerance for such shit any longer, and I know that many here feel the same way. Therefore, I'm giving anyone who cares a heads-up. Whether anyone reports the guy or not is strictly up to them.
January 17, 2009 8:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
"I grew up in a little hick town, surrounded by expressions of racism both blatant and veiled, but generally taken for granted by most. Like someone exposed to toxic levels of harmful chemicals, I have no tolerance for such shit any longer."
Uh-huh. And without your dutiful "heads up," I'm sure that anyone who ran across that stupid comment would have had the incorrect reaction to it.
You've saved us once again.
January 17, 2009 10:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
Model271, I really can't tell what's bugging you. In your first comment, you almost seem disappointed that what I reported wasn't juicy enough. Then, you seem to suggest that I called for banning the person in question. I did not. Reporting a comment for abuse simply triggers an Email notice to the management, so they can check it out and determine whether the comment does indeed violate their policies. And even if it does, that doesn't mean the commenter is banned. It does mean the management may inform them that they are violating community standards. And how the commenter deals with that is their business.
In your second comment, you seem to mock my honest explanation of why I found the racist comment offensive, then you seem to suggest that I am trying to dictate your (or anyone else's) reaction. Maybe you should reread what I said at the top of this thread:
" . . . if you feel abused/offended, I urge you to click the Report Abuse button like I did." That's a suggestion of what someone COULD do IF they feel offended.
I am no one's cop or nursemaid, and I am staunchly anti-authoritarian. Free speech is sacred. In the months since that Report Abuse button was added at TPM, I have used it precious few times, and only in response to racist hate speech. Anyone here has the right to post hate speech all day, and everyone has the right to report it as abusive and expose it to the light of day.
January 17, 2009 10:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
I want to commend this comment, ttarleton. And to repeat once more my appreciation for your service to the community. Thanks!
January 18, 2009 12:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
I thank you for the heads up, ttarleton. I had not seen the comment and agree with you that it was abusive.
January 18, 2009 1:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ah TT I just ignore him.
I did a thing on Rush and two guys came out of nowhere--some RSS or link thread or something--and were threatening me.
Now spric does not threaten me. And I noted on my two mile trek today into the tundra that there is a sign posted by the war memorial up here and it quotes Noam Chomsky as proposing that the First Amendment applies to that speech which I hate. I could have just googled Noam and probably got the exact quote but TPM is so important to me.
Anybody, and I mean anybody can post here. And I know because most of the time I feel less than anybody.
At any rate I enjoy reading you and we have the freedom to criticize too. So I support you.
January 17, 2009 7:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
I respect you completely, dd. And I know you have legal training and I do not. But it is my understanding that while the First Amendment applies to the "public square" it does not apply to our homes, nor to a private board such as this, which is free to set standards of speech - as it has.
I am always cognizant that when it comes to sexual harassment, for example, "the thinnest skin governs," that if one woman feels demeaned by remarks and reports that, her feelings must be respected and the remarks must stop - or even the supervisor becomes liable and the workplace as well.
If sexual harassment is not a subject up for debate but rather a matter for the judgment of each person (who's been the object of such harassment), then I think we need to be very careful about not putting down someone who feels offended by whatever remarks - for that doubles the offense. Persons who have a tender conscience or tender feelings should not be made to suffer twice, once from the remarks of bullies and again, if others tell them - "Well that doesn't bother me." As if because it doesn't bother you, it shouldn't bother me.
In the public square we can simply ignore hate speech. In private situations we have every right to speak out. As tt has done here. And I applaud that courage!
Please let's not get to a situation where we permit bullying or bigotry here. This is private blog. I would hope we can speak out against bigotry of whatever type - and respect that people have different tolerances - and that sensitivity to bigotry is not intolerance.
January 18, 2009 10:39 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yes. I stand corrected. We will not abide bigotry, sexism, racism. Bullying is hard to define but there were some things said to Bwak and Flower (if I recall correctly) that were over the top.
But political views on their own, you agree, should be given wide berth.
Yes, I do stand corrected the more I think about it.
January 18, 2009 11:12 AM | Reply | Permalink
I am a big fan of the First Amendment! And I will uphold the rights of all political speech!
Thanks for reconsidering your position. In the best spirit of TPM!
I salute you!
January 18, 2009 11:27 AM | Reply | Permalink
For those who quibble, I of course uphold free speech in the public square.
January 18, 2009 11:28 AM | Reply | Permalink
tt, thank you for calling attention to this comment. It is, as you stated, up to the individual whether to report abuse or not.
A few days ago, I was in a similar situation. I gave myself a 'sleep on it' and ended up making the decision not to press the abuse button. It was a case, I think, of societal ignorance rather than an overt attempt to scare or humiliate me personally. Ignorance can be cured.
However, the poster on LisB's blog is a flat out racist. He/She is a coward. They wouldn't have the guts to say what they wrote straight to yours or to anybody's face. But, they are exercising their freedom of speech as disgusting as it is.
Like dickday, I support you and your reasons for reporting this poster for abuse.
I rec'd your post.
Regretfully, I cannot report it as abuse.
January 17, 2009 10:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks, flowerchild! Freedom of speech is a given, but so is my (and everyone's) right to object to hate speech.
January 17, 2009 10:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
I have to say that I think you're over reacting.
It was a thoughtless, dopey comment, particularly since there has been enormous amount of "fawning" media coverage of the skillful pilot; but not worthy of the abuse button, I think.
January 17, 2009 11:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
Point taken, but please see my comments to Model271 above.
January 17, 2009 11:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
ps to CBrown - I mean read the comments if you want details of my rationale - I don't mean that you are responding in the same way as Model271
January 17, 2009 11:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
I understood your meaning. No problem.
January 18, 2009 8:16 AM | Reply | Permalink
I think his thesis is flawed in his black pilot analogy. What did Palin do that was heroic enough to get the kind of attention from the press that he is talking about?
I have enjoyed having spric around as a simple minded mama's boy target for when it just feels good to lash out, but not have to worry about destroying someone of value.
He is the sacrificial insert attracting corrosion away from the structural foundation of this site.
He can be our token to beat whenever we feel the need if you all agree. If not, no problem - axe him.
January 17, 2009 11:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
The poster is not just a racist, but seems to believe bigotry is innate:
http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/blogs/it/2009/01/being-gay-is-a-gift-change-is.php#comment-3343185
January 18, 2009 10:22 AM | Reply | Permalink
Good grief. His family tree doesn't have many branches, does it?
January 18, 2009 10:30 AM | Reply | Permalink
Great comment!
January 18, 2009 10:40 AM | Reply | Permalink
Okay. I followed the link. NOW I'll press the abuse button.
January 18, 2009 11:35 AM | Reply | Permalink
This guy seriously lives on a different plane of existence. Quinn was having a little fun with him on another thread. OMG I laughed so hard I almost peed. Check it out and read down the thread a bit.
http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/blogs/quinn_esq/2009/01/every-single-one-of-your-atoms.php#comment-3343389
January 18, 2009 12:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
dd clued me in to all the fun I missed last night. But how thrilling to have it this morning! His comments give you sense of this little being, kind of like a naughty chimp, that needs to be potty trained.
I beg the pardon of chimps!
January 18, 2009 12:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
God, what a fatuous discussion.
January 18, 2009 11:59 AM | Reply | Permalink
I don't agree. I'm glad to have been directed to the comment. And think the subject worth discussion.
Certainly after reading this I'll cease paying any attention to the commentator from now on. But I don't think he should be banned or even labelled as abusive. Sad was the adjective that occured to me.
I've disagreed with any of the previous TPM bans where I had actually read the comments even tho in all those cases I disagreed with the position of the banned commentator. I don't deny that there can be some comments which should be struck.
I haven't read any but of course I won't have read the ones which needed to be censored and were.
Based on my limited experience of ones which I felt were unreasonably banned I think TPM is already too quick to act as a censor and I don't wish to encourage it.
That said, to repeat, I think ttarleton provided a service in raising the issue.
January 18, 2009 12:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
Here's another one to take a look at. And don't miss oleeb's comment below it!
http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/blogs/usjamerica/2009/01/i-mean-who-would-assassinate-a.php#comment-3343697
With MLK day tomorrow, for someone to explain that his death was beneficial - that goes too far!
January 18, 2009 1:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
Wow! That is messed up!
January 18, 2009 1:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well, I don't know how to link a particular comment, so I'll give you an excerpt, which marks my absolute LAST to and fro with spric:
Lest you think I made this up (and who could blame you for doubting such a doltish comment)! Go here:
http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/blogs/debbiedoesnothing/2009/01/steve-kings-my-rep---im-so-pro.php#comment-3343582
January 18, 2009 2:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oh, I guess all you have to do is be at the right spot and cut & paste the whole http! I learned something new!
January 18, 2009 2:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
That's right. Click permalink (below the comment). And then copy and paste the url. :)
January 18, 2009 3:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
You know guys...I've read his links. If he is censored does that mean the site implements a watermark to exclude those below a minimum level of ignorance or a maximum level of ability to be offended?
January 18, 2009 4:15 PM | Reply | Permalink