The writing’s on the wall
The guy thought there was no one else was in the room. But I caught him writing hateful X-rated stuff on a factory bathroom wall about a plant supervisor. At first I wouldn’t have thought too much about it. Lots of people write on bathroom walls. I might have myself a time or two.
But this guy just didn’t seem like the type. He’d always carried himself with the countenance as to being above such crudeness. That’s probably why his face turned beet red as he put the Magic Marker in his shirt pocket and sheepishly walked out the door.
On some level, posting things anonymously on Internet blogs, message boards and social networking sites is akin to writing on the bathroom wall. You don’t have to own up to your remarks. And, you can be as hateful and as rude as you want without putting your name to it.
Nasty comments have become commonplace on the Internet. Discussions on topics as innocuous as jazz can turn into racist, hate-filled diatribes within a few posts. Sometimes they turn into death threats, as was the case of a female technology blogger as reported in a recent issue of USA Today. The lady received so many sexually explicit death threats that she went into hiding.
Then there’s cyber-bullying, or online social cruelty. Mostly done by high school kids and some immature adults, this form of electronic bullying involves sending mean, vulgar or threatening messages or images about another person.
There’s been more than a few news stories about teens who have committed suicide after being victims of cyber-bullying.
A Martian reading these messages boards would probably think we’re a bunch of foaming-at-the-mouth, illiterate, sexist racists. And seeing that we use such crude language as “UR Ugly and “U Suk,” he might think we’ve progressed little beyond cave wall literature.
A story last Friday entitled “City has fastest growing Hispanic population in the U.S.,” got 126 posts in one day. Too many of the responses showed crude racism and intolerance. That’s why an editor had to spend much of his time Friday monitoring the site for overtly offensive language.
But even some of the milder posts were prejudiced and stereotypical.
“All Hispanics are illegal.” “LEARN THE LANGUAGE” in bold capital letters. Somebody calling themselves “Nobama” said that “... the quality of our Mexican food will decrease if said ‘illegals’ are deported.”
Another said “My city used to be white ... really white. Now it’s only *kind of* white.”
To be fair, there were more than a few comments that expressed tolerance and fair-mindedness. But there was enough bigotry expressed to make me wonder, how bad is it? Are we really this intolerant, or is it just the residue of our frustrations?
The only thing that separates some of us from the racist remarks of Michael Richards, Mel Gibson and Jesse Jackson is that no one left a microphone on or captured it on a cell phone camera.
Alonzo Weston can be reached at alonzow@npgco.com
This story has 13 comments. Click here to join in on the discussion.
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how bad is it? really, really bad.
Posted by familyguy on August 13, 2008 at 8:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)I don't think it's fair to cast such stereotypical aspersions on a whole community based on comments made on this site. This site and the forum on St. Joe Channel constitute an extremely insignificant portion of the local population. I believe most people are fair-minded and tolerant in real life. Since there are only a handful of people posting on this site, it's easy to get caught up in the emotions of the topic.
I chose not reply to that comment thread because I realized that many people were being intolerant and I did not want to get caught up in the frenzy. I disagreed with the intolerant people, but I noticed that others had already taken them to task so I moved on. I'm sure many others here may have done the same.
Posted by TFurguson on August 13, 2008 at 8:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)I agree 100% Familyguy.
I saw that thread and said to myself..."not with a 10 foot pole".
Posted by azmaggie on August 13, 2008 at 9:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)I posted regarding the Illegals. I do not have a problem with Mexicans (many of my friends are Mexicans.) I have a problem with the illegals as they are breaking the law the same as any other criminal. To me there is not difference. If they do not respect one law do you expect them to obey any other laws.
Posted by apmastrangelo on August 13, 2008 at 10:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)Alonzo - Your are so correct. Many think they are hiding behind anonymity but reality it is a relatively small town and amazing how many are not as anonymous as they would think. Thanks for your great side note.
Posted by younggrandma on August 13, 2008 at 1:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)I also posted to the article. I have NO problem with anyone who moves to our town, but if they are here ILLEGALLY there is a reason for it. They need to go through the same channels everyone else did. I say if they do not feel they need to follow the first law they have to deal with in this country what makes anyone think they will abide by any of the other ones? I am sure that the majority of the illegals have a background that would get them deported if they went through a background check. If an American went to another country and refused to obey the law do you think would happen, they would be thrown in jail or deported.
Posted by Mizzou on August 13, 2008 at 2:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)I think that most people are frustrated with the luxuries that illegal aliens are granted in this county. As far as using the comment "learn the language". I do not really have a problem with it. It depends on what goes around the comment is what could be considered racist.
On a different note, no offense to azmaggie, when ever the topic of race comes up the comment of, "I don't have a proplem with (insert group here), a lot of my friends are (insert group here.)
Posted by Mr_America on August 13, 2008 at 3:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)“My city used to be white ... really white. Now it’s only *kind of* white.”
I think it would have been better if the user would have used beige or maybe khaki.
Posted by heritage on August 13, 2008 at 7:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)youngrandma....."i am sure that the majority of illegals have a background that would get them deported if they went through a background check."? this is exactly the reasoning which really bothers me. if you intend to paint an entire group with the same brush, please provide documentation for that assumption.
Posted by younggrandma on August 13, 2008 at 9:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)heritage.... I don't think anyone can provide documentation on assumptions. Since you are so sure I am wrong and these people are fine upstanding ILLEGALS why do you think they continue to break the law? Beacuse most know they will be sent back.
Posted by heritage on August 13, 2008 at 10:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)meaning that your assumption is possibly or probably incorrect. IF SOMEONE DRIVES DRUNK, DOES IT MAKE IT ANY MORE OR LESS REPREHENSIBLE IF THEY ARE OF A CERTAIN NATIONALITY OR LEGAL STATUS? of course not, silly rabbit.
Posted by gladimgone on August 13, 2008 at 10:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)Nationality, no (shouldn't figure into the equation whatsoever). Legal status, absolutely. Those who enter a country (not necessarily even the U.S.) without the proper endorsement of the legal process are committing a crime, and are therefore criminals (and the DUI is then a second crime). Fair? Not for me to say. True? Yes.
Posted by younggrandma on August 13, 2008 at 10:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)Has anyone ever seen me enter the word Mexican, German or any other nationality? NO. I am talking about anyone that is here illegaly. If my youngest child walks around me with her had behind her back I assume she is up to something because she usually is!! When someone refuses to become a Legal alien and drop the ILLEGAL status they are usually up to something also. Since you brought it up I think we are too easy on all drunk drivers!! Heritage you are still one of my favorites. I don't get to debate you often!
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