Throughout the primaries and presidential election of 2008 I was witness to some of the most ignorant speech regarding candidates on
Digg. From both sides, Democrat and Conservative. To be fair, some of the most idiotic shit came from the conservatives trying to muster false accusations against Obama.
This leads to the fact that Digg is a primarily liberal place, especially with the application of technology and electronic freedom. One thing that should follow alongside that idea is the freedom of speech. The freedom to say anything you like (to some sort of reasonable extent, e.g. shouting fire in a movie theater) regardless of what other people think. Somehow, I think Digg disagrees.
About myself; I believe the outrage against Don Imus was idiotic. I believe the FCC takes undue action against "violations" while supporting extreme censorship rules for TV and radio which hinder our country. I believe responsible people should maintain the right to own a gun. Et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.
I was under the impression that Digg, as well, supported the freedom of others to say what they feel. Apparently I have been mistaken, as highlighted in a recent story about a call for betting on the assassination of Obama...
Passions flared in a Maine town on Thursday over a sign in a store asking customers to place bets on an assassination of President-elect Barack Obama.
The Town Council in Standish condemned the sign on Thursday in a 6-0 vote and declared it reprehensible at a meeting where some residents defended the store owner, saying he had a right to free speech even if in bad taste, local authorities said. [Reuters] |
I had the pleasure of voting for Obama and contributing to his campaign. While I have a lot of respect for the man, I have even greater respect for the First Amendment. Maybe everyone who was shocked and outraged spend their days in a felt covered world, yet for everyone else, the threat of assassination to the president elect is very real. It's something I have discussed and overheard being discussed many times. I even find the idea of taking bets on assassination attempts to be silly fun. No reason for outrage.
Still, America and her 'hush hush' nature surrounding anything that might be morally wrong (yet delighting in watching odd death after death on programs such as CSI) being appalled by the store owners sign is nothing surprising. If anything my heart was touched by those who had taken the time to support the owner, and his freedoms, despite personal misgivings regarding the sign. Americans standing up for another's right to have a disagreeing opinion? I thought I'd never see the day.
This is where Digg comes in. Apparently the community is so incredibly outraged and filled with anger against the store owner you'd have thought they voted for Proposition 8.
Here are some experts from the story's
comments...
| "About 80 people attended the meeting, including some who defended the store owner, said town clerk Mary Chapman."
Are you serious? |
| About 80 people attended the meeting, including some who defended the store owner, said town clerk Mary Chapman.
"There were folks on both sides of the issue," Chapman said in a telephone interview. "People were passionate of their opinion but very respectful of others."
I have no respect for anyone betting or interested in harm of another, regardless of who it is
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| ""There were folks on both sides of the issue," Chapman said in a telephone interview. "People were passionate of their opinion but very respectful of others.""
Behold the rise of idiocracy in America.
There aren't two sides to this issue. This isn't a football match. This isn't about passion. There's no reason to be respectful of someone who "hopes" for the assassination of the next president.
|
You're speaking out
against the right to free speech and the right to have an opinion? Maybe America should take the first step by removing your fingers. Sure, I might be a hypocrite for not respecting your opinion, but if you don't respect others right to express, why should I return the favor?
Sure the store owner is probably a huge douche and should be subject to gambling laws, but to attack those who supported his freedom? Give me a break.
It should be noted that despite this there were those who supported the store owners freedom. There are some good comments scattered about....
| As disgusting as that sign is, and it is no matter who you voted for, free speech is free speech. Unless they can prove that he is inciting violence, I don't think he should be forced to take it down. What is right is to expose this behavior and allow the people in the town to show their values by boycotting and picketing the store.
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| The sign was in poor taste, and certainly stupid, but why are people getting so upset? Don't we have better things to worry about? [Currently in the negative Digg range]
|
Exactly. If you don't support this guy, show him with your wallet, by not shopping there anymore. The economy is in dire straights, people are losing their jobs left and right, certain rights in this country are slowly continuing to erode, and everything decides to throw a hissy fit over one little shop in Maine?
I'm sure there the Secret Service has already assessed this 'threat' and is paying attention to the more subtle, window sign lacking, radical groups. Best of luck to Obama in his first for years and beyond.
P.S. - "Change you can shoot" Dugg down over 100 times and reported? For fuck's sake Digg, lighten up.
