The time I was racist.

[RyukaTana]

I really hate when people use that kind of defense. No, genocide is not likely the outcome here, is that the only form of suffering that exists? Do you not parse forms of human suffering that aren't at the extreme end of the spectrum?

I used that example because it's well-known, and easily accessible. I'm not suggesting we'll end up with a Holocaust, I'm discussing something more insidious. Subtle evils are often the worst kind. At least when things get really fucked up, people tend to take action.

This is why one variant of Godwin's law is that whoever mentions Hitler first in an internet discussion loses.

It's not a good comparison and it confuses the debate more than it helps.

It's a statement with shock value that loses that value if you're talking about something insidious.

That's why I hate Godwin's Law, because it has more to do with the failure of people to recognize the use of such an example because they can't see past 'shock value'.

[Nepene]

I really hate when people use that kind of defense. No, genocide is not likely the outcome here, is that the only form of suffering that exists? Do you not parse forms of human suffering that aren't at the extreme end of the spectrum?

I used that example because it's well-known, and easily accessible. I'm not suggesting we'll end up with a Holocaust, I'm discussing something more insidious. Subtle evils are often the worst kind. At least when things get really fucked up, people tend to take action.

This is why one variant of Godwin's law is that whoever mentions Hitler first in an internet discussion loses.

It's not a good comparison and it confuses the debate more than it helps.

It's a statement with shock value that loses that value if you're talking about something insidious.

That's why I hate Godwin's Law, because it has more to do with the failure of people to recognize the use of such an example because they can't see past 'shock value'.

Your Hitler example wasn't useful, you didn't really illustrate any useful consequences of politician's actions and you derailed the thread. If you make analogies between situations that are wildly different in scale then you're more likely to draw confusion than any real understanding.

You'd have done better to quote a politician or journalist who had said something objectionable and explain why it was bad, or make an analogy between this and some incident of fear mongering of a similar scale that lead to some issues.

[Felblood]

I see journalists and politicians capitalizing on this as a rather minor concern. I don't see it as really villainous either. Murder is more important than talk.

Pedantic quibbling over examples notwithstanding, the pen is mightier than the sword.

The media have the freedom to say whatever they want, but that right cannot exist in a vacuum.

It's only healthy for society if we also exercise our freedom to call them out when they abuse that power, ignoring their responsibility to use it to help heal these wounds.

This town is crawling with militant radicals from around the country. Where is the media concern for what will happen the the residents if those people try to turn this into some foll revolution. Media hype trying to make those splinter factions sound crazy makes them more confident than they realistically should be. Aren't they partially responsible if those delusional militants make an overconfident play?

[Nepene]

I see journalists and politicians capitalizing on this as a rather minor concern. I don't see it as really villainous either. Murder is more important than talk.

Pedantic quibbling over examples notwithstanding, the pen is mightier than the sword.

It's not an issue of pedantic exceptions. The police overtly have almost limitless authority and limited pen oversight. Their baton is much larger than any written down laws.

The media have the freedom to say whatever they want, but that right cannot exist in a vacuum.

It's only healthy for society if we also exercise our freedom to call them out when they abuse that power, ignoring their responsibility to use it to help heal these wounds.

It's not good to forgive and forget if one side doesn't feel guilty and is trying to open wounds anew.

This town is crawling with militant radicals from around the country. Where is the media concern for what will happen the the residents if those people try to turn this into some foll revolution. Media hype trying to make those splinter factions sound crazy makes them more confident than they realistically should be. Aren't they partially responsible if those delusional militants make an overconfident play?

I'm more worried about the police purposefully harassing them with violence and tear gas and rubber bullets.