Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Teh Internets Sure, It's an Asshole Thing to Say, but...
Posted by Megan Seling on Wed, Jan 7, 2009 at 12:06 PM
In this week's Savage Love, a young woman wrote Dan asking for advice on a very unfortunate situation—she was date raped by an ex-boyfriend.
There are over 100 comments on the thread, many of them supporting the young woman, but there's one comment that... isn't so much.
"She was kind of asking for it though wasn't she?"
When I first read that comment, I rolled my eyes and thought it was mean, but flippant—I figured everyone would just ignore it. That's the best way to deal with a troll, after all. Just ignore them.
I was so wrong. This specific comment has been reported as "abuse" dozens and dozens and dozens of times since being posted less than 24 hours ago. I've never seen a comment get reported as abuse as much as this comment has been. The e-mails just keep coming, and coming.
People are asking that it be taken down because:
"The poster is stating that a young woman who was raped deserved it. I find this comment false, offensive, and misogynistic."
"is it ever okay to say a woman is asking to be raped?"
"The letter writer does not need this crap and could suffer damage from it."
"The comment is advocating rape and victim-blaming."
"offensive comment that implies woman should be raped"
"saying a woman who was raped as 'asking for it' is one of the crown jewels of misogyny and I am horrified that made it past your filters."
"Obvious trolling in a thread about rape."
But, well, here's the thing: there's obvious trolling all over the internet—it's part of the commenting community, for better or worse. No topic is safe, not even rape. And the letter writer, as nice as she may be, anonymously wrote a letter to a public forum looking for advice, therefore opening her situation up for discussion among everyone. Even the heartless trolls.
And while I will whole-heartedly agree that the comment is mean-spirited, it is not saying that all rape victims deserve it or that this particular woman "got what she deserved." It's not advocating rape either. It's just someone being a jerk. And no more a jerk than so many other people have been so many times before, actually.
So for now the comment stays. But I can't help but wonder, as the abuse reports continue to flow, are readers being a little too sensitive? Or am I being too dismissive?
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1
If you start removing comments deemed "abusive" and "offensive" then you might as well shut Slog down. Which might be ok anyway....
2
Face it folks at The Stranger, you encourage this kind of non-sense with your own flippant attitude. If you took a different tone with the paper at large maybe this kind of thing wouldn't ever get posted in the first place.
5
Too dismissive. How many people have to tell you that you're wrong before you believe you're wrong? I realize that a lot of people shirk "popular opinion" to maintain their cool street cred, or whatever bullshit, but you're asking for our opinion in this post. I think the opinions have already been stated.
8
Well, if you receive a monetary incentive for each commented response to your posts as a paid blogger then the comment obviously stays. Duh.
9
So is it more being a jerk if the poster is hetero or non-hetero?
Personally, at the very least it's flamebait.
And still wrong.
w7ngman @6 for the win.
Personally, at the very least it's flamebait.
And still wrong.
w7ngman @6 for the win.
10
It's offensive. No one "asks" to get raped. It's not a case of being sensitive or dismissive. Women never 'ask' to be raped, and anyone who has worked with or been educated about sexual assault issues knows that the 'ask' comment is a common, if pretty disgusting reaction. Yeah, she wrote about her problem in a public forum. She came out seeking advice, which was a pretty brave thing to do. Personally, I'm glad to see this comment was tagged so many times as abuse, because it shows Slog readers are supportive of those dealing with sexual assault issues.
11
There is nothing wrong with asking that question. The problem lies entirely with people who are brainwashed into believing that certain beliefs may not ever be discussed and certain questions may not ever be asked. Honestly, shouldn't it be trivially easy for anyone to prove that she couldn't have asked for it? If it is too stupid a question to even bother answering, then ignore it.
12
or were you just commanded to write this to troll yourself for large numbers of comments to bulk the numbers because your advertising is suffering and the stranger is broke?
13
It is pretty clearly trolling, not much better than the comments that just call ECB a whore whenever she says something vaguely feminist on Slog (which are deleted). So, in this case, I would say take it down.
However, if the commenter made some sort of case as to why he thought she was asking for it, then my response might be different.
However, if the commenter made some sort of case as to why he thought she was asking for it, then my response might be different.
14
I've seen worse comments than that on this blog. I think you should assume that anybody who writes to The Stranger for advice knows to expect moronic commentary at some point from the Slog readers. If she wanted advice that didn't carry a risk of douchebaggery, she could've picked any number of other places to go for help.
15
Leave it. The person is a jerk and a troll and the comment is offensive, sure, but The Stranger shouldn't get into the habit of taking down comments just because the person is a jerk. It's not like the person is saying she deserved it, they're asking a question, a stupid misogynistic question, but a question that is brought up about rape a lot.
17
Leave it up, it's obviously trolling and mean but taking it down might as well be considered censorship (yes I know there's no reason for comments in the first place, but whatever).
Trolls, haters, nutjobs, and general asshats should definitely be allowed to put their inane comments up there, if only to warn the rest of us that, yes, they're still here.
This is going to be taking it way beyond a simple mean comment on a sex-advice column, but driving hate groups underground only makes their actions unknown, it doesn't make them go away. You WANT groups like WBC and the KKK and other losers out in the spotlight where everyone can see them and everyone knows where they are all the time. You don't want them doing their stuff in secret.
Trolls, haters, nutjobs, and general asshats should definitely be allowed to put their inane comments up there, if only to warn the rest of us that, yes, they're still here.
This is going to be taking it way beyond a simple mean comment on a sex-advice column, but driving hate groups underground only makes their actions unknown, it doesn't make them go away. You WANT groups like WBC and the KKK and other losers out in the spotlight where everyone can see them and everyone knows where they are all the time. You don't want them doing their stuff in secret.
18
I think people feel powerless before bigots and abusers and so adopt a zero tolerance policy which in turn sets them up for easy trolling.
Staying focused on the deeper solutions to relationship violence rather than getting into shouting matches with commenters can help, but it remains difficult in the face of such provocation.
Staying focused on the deeper solutions to relationship violence rather than getting into shouting matches with commenters can help, but it remains difficult in the face of such provocation.
19
As much as I love them, anonymous forums tend to foster this kind of bullshit. People read the article, then have the opportunity to post whatever is on their mind that second, without thinking about it. The person who posted that comment may not actually believe women deserve to be raped, it could have just been his immediate reaction to the letter.
Of course, that doesn't excuse his actions. By all means, string the guy up.
Of course, that doesn't excuse his actions. By all means, string the guy up.
22
Yes, the comment was a little twisted by some. Perhaps people are overreacting to it. But you are most certainly overreacting to the overreaction. Rape is a powerful subject, and you ARE too dismissive of it. And, while I would agree with most of what you say the comment is not, it most certainly does advocate rape. Read it again.
23
This kind of post is dumb because it's exactly what any troll wants.
It's like making a movie about Mark David Chapman, who killed John Lennon for attention (and also probably because he was crazy). You're giving him exactly what he wants!
It's like making a movie about Mark David Chapman, who killed John Lennon for attention (and also probably because he was crazy). You're giving him exactly what he wants!
24
So let me get this straight...
Someone trolled an article, quite obviously, then undoubtedly some people responded to it in the original post, "dozens and dozens and dozens" of people flagged it and wrote up a reason why it should be deleted, then Megan Seling wrote this article inviting further discussion into said troll, then approximated 10 people respond to said discussion here.
Then I wrote this.
Mkay.
Someone trolled an article, quite obviously, then undoubtedly some people responded to it in the original post, "dozens and dozens and dozens" of people flagged it and wrote up a reason why it should be deleted, then Megan Seling wrote this article inviting further discussion into said troll, then approximated 10 people respond to said discussion here.
Then I wrote this.
Mkay.
25
you are too dismissive, but you aren't as dismissive as Dan.
I am still stunned that Dan would offer such dangerous and thoughtless advice.
It is dangerous to suggest confronting a violent individual. Rape is always a violent crime, no matter how it may appear. So it is quite dangerous to suggest a confrontation.
Also, I am sure the police want the report. At the very least, it could help the next survivor make their case. Also, the police might press charges in the situation described to Dan, and I am saddened that Dan would ever suggest not informing law enforcement about a dangerous individual.
It is always up to the survivor to decide on whether they will cooperate with a police investigation. More information and support with that process and healing from sexual assault is available at www.rainn.org.
I wish Dan would have consulted law enforcement, attorneys and anti-violence advocates before writing his response. Dan is a widely read and widely respected writer, and I am very disappointed that he would give such terrible and destructive advice.
I hope that Dan issues a correction in a future column.
I am still stunned that Dan would offer such dangerous and thoughtless advice.
It is dangerous to suggest confronting a violent individual. Rape is always a violent crime, no matter how it may appear. So it is quite dangerous to suggest a confrontation.
Also, I am sure the police want the report. At the very least, it could help the next survivor make their case. Also, the police might press charges in the situation described to Dan, and I am saddened that Dan would ever suggest not informing law enforcement about a dangerous individual.
It is always up to the survivor to decide on whether they will cooperate with a police investigation. More information and support with that process and healing from sexual assault is available at www.rainn.org.
I wish Dan would have consulted law enforcement, attorneys and anti-violence advocates before writing his response. Dan is a widely read and widely respected writer, and I am very disappointed that he would give such terrible and destructive advice.
I hope that Dan issues a correction in a future column.
26
I, too, have seen much worse on SLOG.
It may well have been a poorly written ask into why she didn't take better measures to protect herself. Saying that she could have is not the same thing as blaming the victim and/or advocating date rape.
We have ALL, and I do mean ALL, put ourselves in harm's way (knowingly or not) at one point or another, and many of us have fallen victim to said harm, myself included.
Of COURSE she wasn't ASKING for it. She was taken advantage of. The guy's an asshole and a criminal. That said, it's not totally out of bounds to put it out there that MAYBE, just MAYYYYYBE, going out into a parking lot alone with someone with whom you have a sexual history after an evening of drinking may not have been the most self-safe thing to do. Just as getting into an elevator with a strange man who outweighs you by 75 pounds is not the most self-safe thing to do. Does it give permission to attack? Of COURSE not. I don't think anyone is saying that. But there's a lesson in it for all of us. Pointing that out to SLOG readers is not abusive.
Keep the post on.
It may well have been a poorly written ask into why she didn't take better measures to protect herself. Saying that she could have is not the same thing as blaming the victim and/or advocating date rape.
We have ALL, and I do mean ALL, put ourselves in harm's way (knowingly or not) at one point or another, and many of us have fallen victim to said harm, myself included.
Of COURSE she wasn't ASKING for it. She was taken advantage of. The guy's an asshole and a criminal. That said, it's not totally out of bounds to put it out there that MAYBE, just MAYYYYYBE, going out into a parking lot alone with someone with whom you have a sexual history after an evening of drinking may not have been the most self-safe thing to do. Just as getting into an elevator with a strange man who outweighs you by 75 pounds is not the most self-safe thing to do. Does it give permission to attack? Of COURSE not. I don't think anyone is saying that. But there's a lesson in it for all of us. Pointing that out to SLOG readers is not abusive.
Keep the post on.
27
I have a question: who makes the final decision on whether a comment is taken down or not? The author of the piece being commented on? The site manager? Nipper?
I'm just wondering. Sometimes it seems like there's a lower threshold of tolerance for offensive comments on Slog posts by certain authors. Example: If I were to call Dan an awful faggot in the comments to one of his posts, it would probably stay up, but if I were to call ECB a dumb whore in the comments to one of her posts, it would probably be deleted (as Julie @13 points out).
I'm just wondering. Sometimes it seems like there's a lower threshold of tolerance for offensive comments on Slog posts by certain authors. Example: If I were to call Dan an awful faggot in the comments to one of his posts, it would probably stay up, but if I were to call ECB a dumb whore in the comments to one of her posts, it would probably be deleted (as Julie @13 points out).
29
Good lord. How is it any worse than the multiple times that Mr. Poe has suggested that someone go kill themselves? Get real, people. The girl wrote in knowing that Dan may publish her letter. She didn't ask him not to, therefore she had to expect that if it got published it would be subject to the comments, just like every other thing posted online at The Stranger. The Slog is frequently offensive; we've all seen worse on here. The thing is, you don't HAVE to read it! Why get your panties in a bunch when you can just hit that little red x in the upper right-hand corner of your screen?
30
Maybe I've watched far too many Law & Order SVU reruns.
Isn't there a deep irony in how "dozens and dozens and dozens" of readers feel they have been violated and follow the process to do something about this violation...only to have their claims dismissed, ignored, questioned.
At some level, isn't this the message board equivalent of "Just relax and try to enjoy it?"
(And, from a practical point of view, the end result of ignoring the very system you've created to police your public forum will be more time spent by you making those editorial decisions on a case by case basis.)
Isn't there a deep irony in how "dozens and dozens and dozens" of readers feel they have been violated and follow the process to do something about this violation...only to have their claims dismissed, ignored, questioned.
At some level, isn't this the message board equivalent of "Just relax and try to enjoy it?"
(And, from a practical point of view, the end result of ignoring the very system you've created to police your public forum will be more time spent by you making those editorial decisions on a case by case basis.)
31
One troll, one more posting, 162 comments total and counting, watch the pennies trickle in for your clicks.
32
Actually, I read it as ironic. Like saying "that old man must have provoked that pit bull somehow". No?
33
Leave it up. I find the over-reactions to the comment to be more offensive than the comment itself. Who knows which opinions the angry mob will want deleted next?
Clearly the idea that some women "ask" to be raped is still in use in some dark corners of our society. Its better to expose it to opposition than to hide it.
Clearly the idea that some women "ask" to be raped is still in use in some dark corners of our society. Its better to expose it to opposition than to hide it.
34
@32: Me too.
Although, re: the "don't read it if you don't like it" sentiment, I still don't get how you're supposed to classify something as worthy of ignoring unless you read it first.
Although, re: the "don't read it if you don't like it" sentiment, I still don't get how you're supposed to classify something as worthy of ignoring unless you read it first.
35
AND what of Psilly Cybin's remarks? How were they seemed somehow not abusive enough to warrant deletion?
36
@28. Yes, that's exactly what Dan said in his column. When he said "Understand that you were raped" and "He needs to hear from you that you regard—and, for what it's worth, I regard—what happened as rape", what he clearly meant was "you asked for it, so what are you complaining about".
37
How about every time there's a post about a rape the first comment, put up by you, will always be "She was asking for it!". Then the inevitable troll will have to think of something more creative.
38
"Panties in a bunch?" FUCKING MISOGYNIST!
(Seriously, I am so tired of the Slog hens rolling out that term at every perceived micro-slight. It numbs the senses and lessens the word's intended effect when there might be a bona fide case of misogyny.)
(Seriously, I am so tired of the Slog hens rolling out that term at every perceived micro-slight. It numbs the senses and lessens the word's intended effect when there might be a bona fide case of misogyny.)
39
You did the right thing. Don't feed the trolls. Although, you might try disemvoweling:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disemvoweli…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disemvoweli…
40
If something is offensive that doesn't mean it should be taken down. "Abuse" is for when you post the same thing over and over, or post spam links.
41
Yet, yesterday you posted an article about a woman lighting a man's penis on fire -- male mutilation -- as a "joke" article.
How about giving respect...before asking for it.
How about giving respect...before asking for it.
43
While The Stranger is not obligated to embody the full measure of our freedom of speech, the fact that it does to a greater extent than most others makes it quite interesting and, perhaps, somewhat admirable.
If a newspaper doesn't value a little, uninhibited expression and salacious discourse, is it really fit to print, much less read?
A writer and reader must be courageous, neither silent in fear of offense or in response to offense.
Your mettle needs be made of sterner stuff.
If a newspaper doesn't value a little, uninhibited expression and salacious discourse, is it really fit to print, much less read?
A writer and reader must be courageous, neither silent in fear of offense or in response to offense.
Your mettle needs be made of sterner stuff.
44
You're being too dismissive.
If a vast number of people flag a post as being unacceptable, and you ignore the flagging, why bother with the ability to flag posts? Just remove that option, since clearly there's nothing that's truly unacceptable in Slog. Of course in return for that, you end up with 4Chan's /b/ board, with its casual racism, homophobia, and misogyny.
If a vast number of people flag a post as being unacceptable, and you ignore the flagging, why bother with the ability to flag posts? Just remove that option, since clearly there's nothing that's truly unacceptable in Slog. Of course in return for that, you end up with 4Chan's /b/ board, with its casual racism, homophobia, and misogyny.
46
@44
"Since clearly there's nothing that's truly unacceptable in Slog."
That's not completely true. The abuse reports are read, and in some cases they have been very helpful in deleting spam, multiple posts, and threats.
"Since clearly there's nothing that's truly unacceptable in Slog."
That's not completely true. The abuse reports are read, and in some cases they have been very helpful in deleting spam, multiple posts, and threats.
47
Of course you should leave it up, but your attention to this comment is excessive, and your criticism of people's sensitivity to rape, unkind. Let people be angry. Meanwhile, you (Megan) should move on.
49
The argument being made that the comment is offensive and should be taken down is the same argument that people use to ban what is deemed offensive in movies, TV, video games, etc. If you (in the pejorative sense) find it offensive, don't read, watch, or listen to it. Let others make that determination on their own before trying to ban it. Did I find it offensive and despicable? Of course. Is it abuse? No. Just as I am entitled to delivering my own opinion via this comment, the person who left the rape comment has that same right...however douchebaggy it may be.
50
What's the definition of "abuse" re: comments on SLOG? Attacking another commentor, being off-topic, ??
This comment, while offensive to many people, is on-topic and part of the larger debate on the topic. Lots of other people wrote in with variations on the same theme, "Maybe she gave a certain degree of consent". While I don't agree with the perspective, I think it's creating an informative dialogue.
It's at least as socially responsible as the debate(s) re: the definition of "neo-Nazi" and/or legality of shooting blanks carried on in the comments of the article about the German Studies student killed by cops.
I say keep it.
This comment, while offensive to many people, is on-topic and part of the larger debate on the topic. Lots of other people wrote in with variations on the same theme, "Maybe she gave a certain degree of consent". While I don't agree with the perspective, I think it's creating an informative dialogue.
It's at least as socially responsible as the debate(s) re: the definition of "neo-Nazi" and/or legality of shooting blanks carried on in the comments of the article about the German Studies student killed by cops.
I say keep it.
51
I haven't counted, but it seems to me that the vast majority of comments recommend keeping it up, so... this is really a phantom controversy. Don't we all feel very righteous?
53
Leave it up. People who say things like "She asked for it" need to experience the inevitable backlash of survivors and general non-assholes telling them what an asshole they are; deleting them just makes them say "Ooh, who's the victim now? Censorship!". For the record, I don't think Slog (or anyone) should be any more dismissive of rape than they think is acceptable about gay-bashing or race-based hate crimes. But Slog is about discussion, intelligent or not, so keep it going and hope intelligent people outnumber the rest.
54
Sorry, that last post under "Joh" was me, not Joh (damn you, saved display name and e-mail address!)
56
I think it should be left for conversation. It's better to know about the toolbags who are lurking out there. Of course this may have just been someone who posted this crap to see how many people would respond to it..
57
what?!
Israel is constantly 'raping' Palestine, and all i hear from many Americans is " oh well...the Palestinians deserved it....they killed about 10 Israeli soldiers...meh who cares if 640( many of whom are children) Palestinians are killed from the Gaza attacks, and that some 3000 are displaced/wounded from/at there homes "they were asking for it" (by trying to defend themselves, and being there in the first place?!!?)
completely outrageous...
i see that these two situations are very similar to one another...hmpf...the only difference is that one is on a larger scale then the other.....so why are many people reacting to these cases differently?
Israel is constantly 'raping' Palestine, and all i hear from many Americans is " oh well...the Palestinians deserved it....they killed about 10 Israeli soldiers...meh who cares if 640( many of whom are children) Palestinians are killed from the Gaza attacks, and that some 3000 are displaced/wounded from/at there homes "they were asking for it" (by trying to defend themselves, and being there in the first place?!!?)
completely outrageous...
i see that these two situations are very similar to one another...hmpf...the only difference is that one is on a larger scale then the other.....so why are many people reacting to these cases differently?
58
Since when is Slog a democracy? If you find it offensive, take it down. If you find the commenter offensive, ban them. You don't owe a troll a forum to comment. You are not bound by the rules of "free speech". If a troll wants to comment on something, let them do it on their own blog.
60
@55
You're right, i would respond with something like;
"BLAMMO!"
Then i would do some sort rad ASCI picture.
<("<)
You're right, i would respond with something like;
"BLAMMO!"
Then i would do some sort rad ASCI picture.
<("<)
61
the comment gave me pause. and made me think. for the last ten minutes. and isn't that why we, the literate, read things in our spare time in the first place?
62
Leave it up. Ignoring ignorant comments breeds more ignorance. Communication is the best way to dismantle unintelligent and hateful ideas.
That's why a blog comment format is sort of a shame, really. Everybody is shouting out into the wild fray of the interwebs, able to say whatever they want without any real accountability. Dang. Wonder if it really even matters that I'm posting this?
That's why a blog comment format is sort of a shame, really. Everybody is shouting out into the wild fray of the interwebs, able to say whatever they want without any real accountability. Dang. Wonder if it really even matters that I'm posting this?
63
Rape is the most repugnant manifestation of female oppression. I'm all for free speech, but even I agree with the Supreme Courts in saying that yelling fire in a un-enflamed theater is an abuse of free speech. And yelling "she was asking for it" in a public forum, when the oppression of women is a very real issue, and when women are raped and then dismissed for it with these sort of beliefs at hand precludes society for attaining any notion of equality or freedom from these old oppressions. By flagging this comment as abuse, we are saying that it is not okay to talk about certain things in certain ways, because a human's autonomy is the first place to draw the line of asshole-ery, and we need to elevate the level of debate to help make steps toward stopping rape and the subjugation of women a reality.
64
Since when is it a right to be a jerk in a blog comment and not get the comment deleted? Just delete the comment and be done.
65
If you're going to delete that comment, then you should delete the entire post where Dan made fun of a man who was killed when his wife set his genitals on fire.
68
I think we can find at least one positive in the asshole's posting of that comment: just like Idaho Nazis remind us evil still exists, the victim-blaming commenter reminds us stupid motherfuckers still exist and we have to remain vigilant.
69
I recognized it as flamebait right away and ignored it. Unfortunately, anyone who expressed valid doubts about the integrity of the letter writer's story were immediately associated with the troll.
70
I believe it's within The Stranger's rights to edit comments as they see fit. In this case, deleting the comment would have led to a much more civilized and productive discussion. HOwever, I don't think it's The Stranger's responsibility to police the comments, either. THe writer should have expected trolls in a public forum.
71
I agree that "abuse" should be construed narrowly: limited to things that could get the Stranger in trouble for having (i.e. leaking Classified information), incitements to criminal conduct (here's how to build a bomb and send it to Rick Warren), and commercial spam (free enzyte!).
If you want to talk about posts saying "The victim was asking for it, wasn't she?": while phrased insensitively (as if that were reason to delete it), it raises a point that some people seem to consider valid: a number of posters, including mrclean, Psilly Cybin, and a number of sel-proclaimed rape victims and other whackos all take the perspective that it was at least partly the girl's fault. You can either delete every post that says the girl has to take some ownership of what happened, or we can have a whole conversation about it and let people go back and forth.
Before you say, "Well, of course it should be deleted," remember that even if there's nothing to be read between the lines of the letter, women DO do things like this all the time. Sometimes it's to get sympathy from a bf they just cheated on, sometimes it's to vacate their responsibility for something they regret afterwards, and sometimes it's to get back at someone. Was the Duke Lacrosse scandal so long ago that we've forgotten it already? If you want to pretend that false accusations of rape never happen and forbid people from even asking the question, go ahead, but remember that you'll be perpetuating just as big of an injustice as those who say that rape victims are always asking for it.
If you want to talk about posts saying "The victim was asking for it, wasn't she?": while phrased insensitively (as if that were reason to delete it), it raises a point that some people seem to consider valid: a number of posters, including mrclean, Psilly Cybin, and a number of sel-proclaimed rape victims and other whackos all take the perspective that it was at least partly the girl's fault. You can either delete every post that says the girl has to take some ownership of what happened, or we can have a whole conversation about it and let people go back and forth.
Before you say, "Well, of course it should be deleted," remember that even if there's nothing to be read between the lines of the letter, women DO do things like this all the time. Sometimes it's to get sympathy from a bf they just cheated on, sometimes it's to vacate their responsibility for something they regret afterwards, and sometimes it's to get back at someone. Was the Duke Lacrosse scandal so long ago that we've forgotten it already? If you want to pretend that false accusations of rape never happen and forbid people from even asking the question, go ahead, but remember that you'll be perpetuating just as big of an injustice as those who say that rape victims are always asking for it.
72
Why does it have to be "too sensitive" or "too dismissive." The reality is that the comment was abusive. Yes, tons of comments are abusive, yes it is the nature of the internet.
Slog gave us the ability to flag, so we flagged. There have been many abusive things on Slog that I would not think to flag. I did write in when there was a bunch of racist stuff about Obama. I wish Slog would take down the misogynist posts about ECB--although I have never flagged them.
You all at Slog can choose what you take down, and we choose what we think is so abusive as to flag.
Slog gave us the ability to flag, so we flagged. There have been many abusive things on Slog that I would not think to flag. I did write in when there was a bunch of racist stuff about Obama. I wish Slog would take down the misogynist posts about ECB--although I have never flagged them.
You all at Slog can choose what you take down, and we choose what we think is so abusive as to flag.
73
The original post was not a troll but this whole article is (and its working!) The original post was so obviously cliché that it was meant as irony and possibly humor. An article about “what should a paper based on outrageous comments and irony do about an outrageous and ironic comment???” is disingenuous. Troll on troller.
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