Is it vigilante justice if there is no question of misidentification? What about a shop that has a homophobic sign in the window?
kersploosh@sh.itjust.works 4 days ago I suggest we not allow it, and I think the proposed Rule 5 covers that case. Seeking vigilante justice on the internet is a dangerous game. It is much too easy to misidentify someone, or to act on inaccurate information. There are plenty of documented cases out there of innocent people coming to harm, but two high-profile examples come to mind:
A university professor wrongly identified as a participant at a white supremacist rally: www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-40935419
The Boston Marathon bombing in 2013, where a bunch of innocent people were wrongly accused and faced harassment: scu.edu/…/social-media-and-the-boston-marathon-bo…
AwesomeLowlander@sh.itjust.works 2 days ago
brbposting@sh.itjust.works 3 days ago
Thank you
AlligatorBlizzard@sh.itjust.works 4 days ago
I agree when it’s at the level of internet gossip, but if a reputable news source picks it up or it’s something the business itself is verifiably bragging about it should be fair game. Last month a bakery had a sign in their window and were doing a “nuclear family” discount and the local subreddit was calling to boycott the homophobic place. And yeah they were bragging about their bigotry on Facebook and local news picked up the story. At some point I think it’s valid to allow metaphorical pitchforks.
BassetHound@sh.itjust.works 3 days ago
No? How is a nuclear family discount inherently offensive enough to be worth getting out pitchforks out over? I don’t agree that being bigots is enough either. They are backwards, lots of people are backwards, and harassing them probably won’t yield any constructive outcomes. So if they aren’t actively harming others, then what are you going to achieve here.
As a broader question, who gets to be the arbiter of acceptable harassment?
AwesomeLowlander@sh.itjust.works 2 days ago
Since the other comment got deleted — For anybody else confused, this was a US-specific bullshit where ‘nuclear family’ got used as a dogwhistle for homophobia.
AlligatorBlizzard@sh.itjust.works 3 days ago
BassetHound@sh.itjust.works 3 days ago
Why am I intentionally missing the point? I don’t think platforming harassment is ever justified or constructive. Your assumption that I am acting in bad faith with no evidence is the same kind of ignorance that a lot of the right wing wackos have.
AwesomeLowlander@sh.itjust.works 2 days ago
Imagine anybody not being in the US and not knowing the details of whatever bullshit of the day, automatically being an asshole.