New comment rule: Think first
People are stupid.
And not just everyday, "where'd I leave my keys" stupid, but going to get themselves into real trouble stupid. Especially when they get behind the fake anonymity of a computer.
Or should I spell it Annonymous:
I ripped one down Faggets.
I ripped one down, and i will rip more. Get ready to have no more posters, waste your money F A G G O T S
You are not anonymous when you post online. Your IP address is logged dipshit.
So I know you posted from a University of Alberta computer. This means you logged on, and even luckier for me your bigoted comment is timestamped.
When you are given a CCID on campus, it doesn't give you unlimited rights on campus computers like you can do at home. There is a Campus Computing Conditions of Use which specifically states:
5. Within the broad context of free academic discussion and debate, all forms of electronic communication are expected to reflect high ethical standards and mutual respect and civility. Users will be sensitive to the public nature of shared facilities and take care not to display in such public locations images, sounds or messages which could create an atmosphere of discomfort or harassment for others. Users will refrain from transmitting to others in any location inappropriate images, sounds or messages which might reasonably be considered harassing, offensive, or defamatory.
And further as an example of unacceptable use:
H) Objectionable content: The use of obscene, racist or sexist language, public display of pornography, and similar actions clearly violate the ethical standards of the University community and is as inappropriate for electronic communications as it is for other forms of University discourse. Such use contravenes section 5) and often section 1) of this policy. [emphasis added]
Now, I'm all for free speech, and I'll typically leave obscene comments up (mainly because it makes the commenter look stupid), but if you are stupid, I'm going to call you on it.
Annonymous has been reported to abuse@ualberta.ca and as will most cowards who act the same. If you're behind your home computer, I'm not going to send the thought police after you, because as far as I'm concerned you can be as obnoxious as you want from home.
But if you're using public computers (or public wireless), you are required to follow their terms of service because you are using their equipment. You don't own the University's computers or internet connection, everyone does.
So here's my simple rule for comments, and I'm ripping this off Bad Astronomy, Don't be a jerk and don't be stupid.
The internet isn't as "annonymous" as you cowards would like to believe.
Finally, if you ever have that moment of regret and want a stupid, angry, whatever comment removed, I have that power and will do it provided you email me.
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March 25th, 2009 - 18:18
Its such a wonderful thing that bigotted anger and stupidity often appear together. Will you get contacted if they figure out who posted that? It would make me feel great if they caught the moron!
March 25th, 2009 - 21:44
This kind of reminds me of those situations you read about over the internet where someone goes to commit a robbery (or other serious crime) and somehow, at the scene of the crime, they manage to drop their wallet (or something that contains vital information).
This guy/girl is a shining example of the modern definition of idiocy. Bravo to them… bravo.
March 26th, 2009 - 08:27
Why is this brainiac wasting our tax dollars on his or her ($50 says it’s a ‘him’) education, when he or she could be happily applying all that hetero brain power to something meaningful, like, say, driving a pallet jack in a warehouse full of lead-based dollar store toys? Nothing underscores a goon’s point better than multiple spelling mistakes and grammatical errors.
Perhaps I’m being too hard on Annonymous for his illiteracy, though. After all, he’ll have plenty of time for book-learnin’ when his lack of forethought inevitably lands him in prison for assaulting a Taco Bell cashier when his cheesy beefy melt isn’t beefy enough, thereby threatening his sexuality.
Oh, I’d better dumb this down in case Annonymous is (heh-heh) ‘reading’ this: I’m using WORDS to make fun of you, asshat.
March 26th, 2009 - 23:48
I’m sorry, but I am actually privy to what the university decided to do to the poster. I condone neither his sentiment nor the way he expressed himself (I do think the posters are in poor taste). That doesn’t change the fact that the way you’ve dealt with this situation is a massive overreaction. The individual in question was actually using the computer of a friend in residence, who took the heat from the AICT.
As long as you feel comfortable with the fact that you’ve knowingly guided the hand of censorship over comments that had, in reality, no importance, I suppose nothing I can say would make you understand the idiocy of condemning a foolish and inebriated first year for the crime of stupidity. Really the only thing more lacking in intelligence than his slurred post is how seriously you took it.
As you can see, I’ve provided my name. I hope this will aid in dispatching our lovely university’s fine thought police.
March 27th, 2009 - 07:17
I have no problem with an honest comment like yours. This remains my blog though, and as such I have the ability to censor, control and do whatever I want with my comments. I didn’t censor his comment (it still stands on this site), but I did call him on being offensive. I have many gay friends and take high offense to such language. His friend is still liable for what he lets other people do on his computer.
March 27th, 2009 - 08:07
And I should add one more thing: it’s really hypocritical for you to call me a censor when it was your buddy who was ripping down posters from public boards (the UAAA has always posted with either permission or on unregulated boards).
March 27th, 2009 - 10:29
To Patrick Shannon,
It’s funny that you would accuse Ian of censorship when it was your friend who was taking down posters that did not agree with his/her point of view. There is so much white space on the posters – why not just write on them if he/she felt the need to express their opinion by vandalism. At least that way a dialogue of some kind would be open.
I find it interesting that you would use the fact that your “friend” is a first year and was inebriated as an excuse for their actions. We are taught when we are young that there are consequences for our poor choices. By now, they should know to take responsibility for their own actions. Also, inebriation is never an excuse for ill-advised choices. They should know better.
Using the hateful word faggot is NOT ACCEPTABLE – whether it be on a University of Alberta IP address, or at home. It is a derogatory word that is used to belittle people who have different views than your own. It harkens to the bullies who beat up and kill gay people just for walking down the street together. Using that word was unnecessary, insulting, and REALLY offensive. The words DO have importance – and if you think otherwise take a look through history to see how the use of derogatory terms for people who are different have led to terrible actions. You should realize that it was this use of language and not the action of taking down the posters that Ian is upset about and that was unnacceptable to AICT.
March 27th, 2009 - 14:21
Ian, I have no objection to your removing of his comment – of course you have every right to do so. Were I in your position, I would have removed the comment without hesitation. I do object to your reporting the comment to AICT, and their subsequent disciplinary actions – which struck me as excessive given the importance of the situation.
Not once did I employ the word friend when referring to the individual. I mentioned that I have firsthand knowledge of the situation. I don’t like the fact that people can’t read my comment without immediately categorizing me as his ally, and this strengthens any argument for anonymity. Should I have posted the comment behind a proxy? Is this what it has come to? I posted my name because I thought people would be mature enough to examine my argument and not make ad baculum attacks on my allegiances. Clearly I was mistaken.
It isn’t at all hypocritical of me to disagree with Ian, because I VERY CLEARLY made my disapproval of the person’s behavior known. Believe it or not, I can actually support Ian’s rights and the poster’s at the same time. Ian has the right to mediate his blog, not to send the university shocktroops after people with fewer brain cells than him.
Now, I don’t mean to say that the word “faggot” is in any way acceptable behavior, and I hope everyone noted the fact that I found what he said, and the sentiment behind his comment absolutely abhorrent. But an internet post is an internet post. And you know the old adage about arguments on the internet. I just have, and hang my head in shame.
Ian, if you want to meet up with me for coffee and discuss censorship and atheism and such, I will buy you a large latte.
I’m not an enemy of atheism, homosexuality, or inebriated first years. Just someone who is willing to defend free speech to a ridiculous extent.
March 27th, 2009 - 14:25
To Sonia,
I do like the idea of a comment space on the posters. It might soften the message and appeal to peoples’ natural love of writing on things.