So I'm starting into this new series examining the trend of people online openly making fun of Asians and in some cases making some pretty hateful statements. To me the whole things stinks of internet bullying on a racial level. The same rules apply as any other bullying situation. Do you ignore them? Do you organize some sort of "official" response? Or do you find where they live and slash their tires? Many would claim that taking the high road is the best thing to do. Let the ignorant drown in their own ignorance. But that doesn't really do anything to stop them, does it? Well, Simon is on a mission to find out exactly what it will take to make them stop once and for all. Stay tuned...
Sunday, March 27, 2011
The Asian Response
So I'm starting into this new series examining the trend of people online openly making fun of Asians and in some cases making some pretty hateful statements. To me the whole things stinks of internet bullying on a racial level. The same rules apply as any other bullying situation. Do you ignore them? Do you organize some sort of "official" response? Or do you find where they live and slash their tires? Many would claim that taking the high road is the best thing to do. Let the ignorant drown in their own ignorance. But that doesn't really do anything to stop them, does it? Well, Simon is on a mission to find out exactly what it will take to make them stop once and for all. Stay tuned...
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Very good point. Racial internet bullying is a very tricky issue.
ReplyDeleteIt's really hard to battle this sort of collective bullying, especially since so much of it comes from regular people (not institutions or public figures), and it's aimed at such a large number of people. So yes, where does one start?
Angry responses give power to bullies by validating them. Humor takes that power away from them. Silence is not an option, and violence should also not be an option. What's left are humor and intelligence, loud and clear, to counter all the stupidity and hatred.
The Internet allows even the rarest fringe voice to reach everyone. A decade ago these people would have lived out their lives in complete obscurity and you probably never would have heard from them. They want attention because it gives them some sense that their hate and anger means something. Leave them to their obscurity. Living with themselves is the probably the hardest thing for them to deal with.
ReplyDeleteHumanity loses when our most creative minds spend their time talking to the worst minds. You'll never get through to them either because their hate or mental illness keeps them from learning.
Good posts. The good news is, the internet is not a reflection of society as a whole. Unfortunately, it does say a lot about many communities in this country. I personally avoid it like the plague whenever. Pity, but the Asian-hate is part of many people's genes. But don't lower yourself to their level by either being racist or violent, you're better than that.
ReplyDeleteThere is a lot of hate out there, not all of it is racial.
ReplyDeleteIf you post that you are basically a conservative, people (without knowing anything else about you) will call you a racist or a gun nut retard, fascist, hillbilly, nazi, hater, etc. I've been called all of this and it is wrong. I have even received death threats for stating an opinion!
I know that liberals suffer much hate on the Internet also, but my perception is that it is much worse for the conservatives. I will fully admit that I could be wrong.
I think the majority of people out there are nice people that would never do or say anything like this, but the relative anonymity of the Internet draws the haters like chum draws sharks.
The best tack I think is to refuse to be drawn into the cesspools of their mind.
If few bad people utilize internet to express their racial (or "humorous" according to them) remarks, they should've thought it through and expect few good people to utilize the same media to retaliate with an equally offensive response.
ReplyDeleteViolence is never an answer, but critical issues can be overlooked and pass by if we are too silent. No need to lower ourselves to the idiots, but use our humor and intelligence to make them fell that way.