OTV: Love To See Racist Trolls Outed

11 comments on this post so far. Add yours!

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  Sisyphus on May 13 at 8:12 a.m.

  If a cockroach scatters and disappears from view, does the racism go away?

  Hold it up. Shine a light on it. Its everybody’s problem.

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  toadman on May 13 at 8:40 a.m.

  “Are you bolder writing online under a pseudonym than you are in person?” -DFO

  I only write under a pseudonym, but I don’t feel emboldened by that in any way. I don’t know what kind of weight my words carry, but I would never want to say some of the things these lovely people have said over at CDA Press, or other places. Hurtful words are just as bad, maybe worse, than hurtful physical blows, in my opinion.

  To me, close mindedness and racism belies two things, lack of education, and/or lack of life experience…and possibly a third, lack of desire to understand others…but that’s more vague. Now, having said that, one doesn’t need to be a Rhodes Scholar to be open minded, nor does one need to be thick as a brick to be close minded. There’s a bell curve in there somewhere, the world is gray.

  But, I do think lack of life experience is part of the issue. If the only experience you’ve ever had with an African American or a Hispanic American, or even Anglo Americans, is negative, then you form an opinion based on too little data. By the same token, if all you ever see on television are negative depictions of these groups, the same thing happens…unless you are able to introspect, and dissect the message being delivered to your brain. Sadly, critical thinking and logic like this isn’t really taught until College, or sometimes Graduate school. Personally, I think it should be taught starting in junior high.

  Anyway, I could go on.. but I won’t. Suffice it to say, the world is more gray than we think…and also, times are changing. For the most part, the younger you are, the less likely you are to hold racist views…so, Orange, I think just wait about ten years, and most of the racists will not only dry up, but start decomposing as well.

  ;-)

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  Cindy_H on May 13 at 10:04 a.m.

  I don’t write under a pseudonym and never have. If I had the energy or imagination to come up with a good nom de plume, maybe I would explore my darker side and go all mean and nasty.
  But. I. Doubt. It.
  I do think anonymous commenters are probably more strident and harsh on the boards than they would be in person. And maybe that’s why HBO has become a more convivial place. So many of us have met in person, or read each other’s blogs— it’s hard to feel like a stranger here :-)

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  JeanieSpokane on May 13 at 10:10 a.m.

  I am the real me. I think even if I made up another name, you all would be able to pick me out. And I’m with Cindy - several of us have met; we have become good friends, and I feel safe here.

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  JBelle on May 13 at 11:24 a.m.

  hahahahaha! I’ve long observed the equation for ($hit$torm in Two $hoe$) but have never seen it quantified so neatly. well done!

  But you can’t be two things. While I think it’s possible to write novels, with great characterizations, you are who you are. And always have been. For those of us who have been around awhile, it’s really fun to see the renaissance that HBO has effected and see the new friendships form and bloom. HBO reinvents itself one more time.

  Benjamin Franklin was and had a seismic impact on public policy in its infancy in this country and no small part of it was his use of pseudonyms used in publishing his letters and pamphlets. There are really good reasons why people do not use their own name and the majority of readers will never know. I don’t think they need to; in fact, the question i ask i Would a rose by any other name smell as sweet? It’s not about who writes it—it’s about what they write. And if you could take everything written here and assign it to, oh for heavens’ sakes, KAREN DORN STEELE, or Dave Tolle, would you have a different opinion of what was written?

  A piece of indulgent, filmy soap scum is a piece of indulgent, filmy soap scum no matter who writes it. Just as a rose…well, I bet you’re tracking by now. What does it matter who I go by and what you call me? I sure don’t care and shouldn’t it be up to me?

  (DFO wouldn’t it kinda fun, oh come on! to take some of Sisyphus’ comments and attribute them to Larry Spencer next April Fools’ Day? To take something I say and put Karen Dorn Steele’s byline on it? )

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  poolman on May 13 at 11:34 a.m.

  I write under my real identity all the time - it’s called WORK.

  This is purely entertainment for me (and it provides a great deal of that – Thanks DFO! ). This blog needs people from all opinions and perspectives and needs to have some people around with the stones to throw out a controversial take on a subject once in a while (not in tasteless Open CDA kind of way) – otherwise it’s BORING like dry toast – SO NICEY NICE NICE – Let’s have a big hug and get along. I also like to play devil’s advocate once in a while just to try to get some people fired up. I wrote a post about automobile preferences for certain member of the Hispanic community the other day that was totally sarcastic just to see what kind of reaction it would bring. I happen to see one that morning and thought it was funny. It wasn’t racist- it was mildly stereotypical - in a Cheech and Chong, “Up in Smoke” kind of way. Although back then it was jumping cars with fuzzy dice and a rosary hanging from the rear view mirror and the Virgin Mary glued to the dash board. I could have just as easily written about red-necks that drive muddy 4X4’s with the sticker in the back window of Calvin peeing on a Ford on their way to Monster Truck show or a professional wrestling match. Point is, I would never go there otherwise. I’ll keep my pseudonym and the world will be a better place for it – or not – depending on your point of view.

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