[vulgarity warning] Hate speech met w/more speech equals university action

The short version is: go read this post at Feministing.com.

The long version starts at this post at Feministing.com.

The quick hit on the incident is that the admittedly drunken now-former public relations officer of the Southern Illinois University College Republicans wrote and sent this e-mail to Feministing.com (posted in the second link above):

Men are better than women look at the comparison in IQ men are scientifically proven to have a higher IQ by roughly 5 points, or 5% you cannot dispute science sorry and if you want a much better website than your sh***y one you might want to go to [redacted]. I think you would gain a lot more knowledge from that website and you might learn about the truth that way you would not be so stupid and ignorant you stupid c***s. [asterisks edited in by me]

The comments in that thread detail reader reactions and the reaction and action of fellow SIU College Republicans. The first link to Feministing in this post describes what’s happened since.

Here’s the comment I left there:

Thank you to Jessica for publishing the original e-mail and keeping updates posted as well.

I’d like to add that in addition to the hope the exchanges show about how, as Jessica wrote about,”we can hold harassers accountable, and how seriously the “real” world will take hate speech - online or off.”, the actions by the young men involved (GOP notwithstanding) demonstrate that people can learn from their behavior and others’ behavior. And who is to say that Alex Kochno won’t learn or hasn’t learned?

It’s our consistency and persistence in dealing with hate speech (by using more speech) that not only reinforces for us and other women or targets of hate speech that harassers can be held accountable, but that they might also stop their behavior.

I didn’t say it will for sure change them, of course. But this incident gives me hope that our persistence can change people.

A hattip to Jeff Hess who always champions the idea that we battle hate speech with more speech.

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By Jill Miller Zimon at 4:16 pm April 23rd, 2008 in Social Issues, Law, Civil Rights, Writing, Education, Women, Blogging

Comments

7 Responses to “[vulgarity warning] Hate speech met w/more speech equals university action”

1 Jeff Hess on April 24th, 2008 9:03 am

Shalom Jill,

Thanks for the plug.

I dislike the term Hate Speech because, like the term Homeless, it over simplifies the challenge.

I don’t think that Alex Kochno hates women. I don’t even think that what he says was hateful.

What I think his speech is, however, is crude, common, uneducated and uncivil. In short, Kochno is no gentleman. He is a lout in serious need of lesson in manners and comportment. And the blame lies squarely on his parents.

Or maybe just a good spanking and time in the corner with a bar of Lifebuoy in his mouth to reflect on his behavior.

B’shalom,

Jeff
2 Have Coffee Will Write » Blog Archive » MY COMMENTS… on April 24th, 2008 9:06 am

[…] Hate speech met w/more speech equals university action Posted in Life, The Universe & […]
3 joseph R snodgrass on April 30th, 2008 5:32 pm

I am warning everyone who tries to make this a public issue that you will be sued. I know a contract lawyer personally and if you disfigure this mans charicter you are breaking the law. I will be listining closely and if any insults on lifestyle are written or spoken i will personally slander you in court.
4 Bad American on April 30th, 2008 7:23 pm

Joe:

Go back to playing Grand Theft Auto IV and let the adults handle this, K?
5 Have Coffee Will Write » Blog Archive » CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS STOOPS TO RACE BAITING… on May 10th, 2008 8:52 am

[…] She Who Writes Like She Talks rightly reminds people, I’m a rabid supporter of the First Amendment of our Constitution and […]
6 joseph R snodgrass on May 14th, 2008 3:33 am

yea [content deleted for racist slur and profanity] i am a adult and i like grandtheft auto take anger out in games because of people like you
7 Jill Miller Zimon on May 14th, 2008 6:50 am

Joseph - I’ve edited your comment for racist slurs and profanity. Next time, I delete it.