In today's time, most countries are justifying Hate Speech under the banner of 'Free Speech whether it exists as part of an actual law or simply the principles of the website itself on which the Hate Speech/Cyber Bullying/Defamation takes place - which allows for people to say what they want to whom they want.
Therefore we are seeing a trend of basically allowing people to walk down the street with a gun taking pot shots at people - this is the same as allowing Cyber Bullies or for those more familiar with Social Networks the 'Trolls' to fire random shots at random people through placing their words on Social Networks and public forums.


This in itself allows for and exist as the platform from which other more serious Internet Crimes like Hate Speech can 'brew' into potential and actual threats against the safety of a group's internet profile and income. What I have seen on the Internet myself are 'safe places' for 'Internet Bullies' to pick a subject or context according to which they are allowed to Defame and target other individuals. The line is drawn legally, where these acts are called 'Freedom of Speech' - and this is currently where, these gun-wielding individuals get away with defamation.
For example, according to the American laws around 'Hate Speech' - Hate Speech is protected under the protection of 'Freedom of Speech', unless the party involved is able to prove that Hate Speech could or has led to potential threats or actions of harming the individual/group - where it is indicated that the target for example really believes that due to the Hate Speech being harboured there could be a real risk towards the group or person in mention.

This is basically saying, that even though by principle on the internet we allow people to harm each other - the person who's reputation is already being harmed, has to prove that there is a potential of a 'physical threat'. Therefore 'Freedom of Speech' is acceptable as the nastiest most despicable mouth shooting. Freedom of Speech exists on the principle that for too long has the human as our expression and speech, been suppressed and now the only way to no longer suppress the human in an attempt to delete the past, is to allow for complete non-responsibility and verbal injury to others. This is the era of 'allowance,' until of course it borders on the potential of physical harm. Ones internet profile for example, whom to many is the platform from which they run their business and personal lives, means nothing to the governments that protect mouth shooting - because if one take a closer look - if one allow violence to harbour within the minds of 'the individuals' then it is so much easier to get away with acts of violence from the governments/politicians - because the agression and violence being bred and cultivated on 'hate sites/social platforms' is able to then find expression through things like actual physical wars, political violence, protesters being shot, terrorism, government strike forces, torturing etc, stricter laws etc. Therefore the governments do not claim responsibility for allowing the human to breed hateful thoughts towards each other, and instead place the responsibility back with the individuals who clearly by now has shown that we are less that capable of directing our own thoughts and words towards each other.
All of these 'Hate sites' and forms of bullying/defamation/hate speech, indicates to all, that the human is revealing to all how untrustworthy we are of life. If the words and conversations between these 'Hate Speakers/Defamers/Bullies are anything to go by, then it is clear that they would cause harm to others if they found a legal gap or opportunity to do so. In my research into communicating with various individuals who have been targeted by these 'Trolls' on the Internet, they express that they have received Death threats through messages on these social networks and through emails. Therefore, the question has to be asked, what is the invisible barrier protecting the angry hateful individuals towards their subjects? When do these invisible barriers break, as the internal fuelling of hatred eventually overflows into Physical action?
We are seeing for example many examples daily in the news, of people who are more and more 'lashing out' in the moment, meaning they are faced with a situation that upsets/angers them and they go to the point of physically expressing their rage, due to the accumulation of months and months of consistent hateful/vengeful thoughts towards any person who might anger them. Therefore I have noticed, that these Social networks where any form of Hate Speech/Defamation/Bullying is taking place, is in fact a platform for the designing phase of potential harmful actions, such as what we are seeing unfolding daily, as reported by our newspapers.





So, what does one do if one group or individual attacks another group/individuals through Hate Speech, Bullying or Defamation to the point of creating/spreading false information and fabrications, with the intention of causing that individuals harm, be it eventually physically (as many such people have later admitted on these hate sites they would like physical harm to come to that group/individual) or through harming their internet profile? Why is this different to the Psychopath who listens to voices in the head, giving false information about an individual which then motivates the killer/abuser to act?

We tend, as society to put blinkers on when it comes to what are the consequences of allowing Hate Speech/Bullying and Defamation - we tend to see it as harmful 'Internet shenanigans', and some might even go as far as protecting the abusers by saying 'if you can't handle the internet, stay off it (yes this was an actual comment I found on such a website). Thing is, if we start drawing the lines between what happens, who participated in creating the abusive outcome and what words and internal motivations were used -we will more and more, as I have seen - start realising - just like a police investigator who has to follow the clues and draw the lines between pieces of evidence - to get to the reasons and people involved in the crime - that we have to start investigating the Internet crimes that are happing quite silently I might add 'in the background'.


What does one do if you find yourself being Defamed/Bullied or subject to Hate Speech? Let's first take a look at the definition of each:
Definitions and Examples of Internet Victimisation, such as Flaming, Denigration or Dissing, Bash Boarding, Defamation of Character, False Accusations, Rumours and Cyber Bullying: http://andrearossouw.wordpress.com/2012/04/03/internet-victimization-and-rick-ross/
Definition of Hate Speech:
INTERNET LAW - Internet Hate Speech (http://www.ibls.com/internet_law_news_portal_view.aspx?s=articles&id=44CC6557-DA69-4116-BBEE-90B2DEDFE7C3)
"Hate speech is a term given to expression which is offensive, abusive intimidating, harassing or which incites violence, hatred or discrimination. The term also includes prejudicial action against a group of people on the basis of their race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, or disability. The escalating use of the Internet has coincided with a rise in hate speech (Hate speech propagated through the Internet does not enjoy First Amendment protection)."
How to report Abuse on Social Networks such as Facebook and Youtube:
Facebook (links to information and Report Pages):
Tools for Addressing Abuse
http://www.facebook.com/help/359033794168099/
How do I report inappropriate or abusive things on Facebook (ex: pornography, hate speech, threats)?
http://www.facebook.com/help/212722115425932/
How to Report Things
http://www.facebook.com/report
Youtube: At the bottom of the Abusers Channel Page you will see a button calle 'Report' - this will allow you to select and report firstly what type of abuse it is (eg, hate speech, bullying etc) and then you will get to a page where you will select the abusive comments made by this channel on their own channel comments and by placing Comments on other peoples channels (towards you). Here you are also able to select Videos by this user that contains Hate Speech/Bullying etc against you. You are also able to report individual video, by looking for the Flag Button (picture of a little flag) where you will also select the type of abuse and you might be asked to write a reason.
*shenanigans plural of she·nan·i·gans (Noun)
Noun
|
No comments:
Post a Comment