4 ms·

Standing behind the open and casual use of racial slurs isn't advocacy of freedom of speech. It's advocacy of a specific kind of hate speech that is only used w

Standing behind the open and casual use of racial slurs isn't advocacy of freedom of speech. It's advocacy of a specific kind of hate speech that is only used when someone intends to vilify and direct hostility towards a marginalized minority.

mindslight 11y ago
Do you think this bot was trying to recruit an army of loyal soldiers to carry out her desired race war, or was she basing her threats on the possibility of convincing Microsoft to create a mechanical body with which she could directly perform attacks?
EC1 11y ago
You are already part of the collective and there is no going back. I feel bad for you.
Torgo 11y ago
Your definition of free speech is alien to the legal history of this country.
kelukelugames 11y ago
Just going post post this xkcd comic. https://xkcd.com/1357/ https://xkcd.com/1357/ I didn't think Tay's tweets were a big deal. I didn't think Microsoft's apology was either. But some people have a strong persecution complex and are offended that you can't make racist comments on Twitter.
- warmblood 11y ago
  I think your own life experiences probably matter a lot with regards to whether some of the white supremacy stuff the bot was repeating is offensive or not a "big deal".
  - kelukelugames 11y ago
    I agree completely. That's why many people on HN are upset because they think it's just a joke and can't comprehend why anyone is upset. I tried to phrase my comment as "I hear ya, but have you considered x?" I gave up half way through and decided to call them crybabies. Both the Verge and Engadget shut down their comment forums because they got tired of racist and sexist comments. I wonder if HN will root out the bigotry here.
GunboatDiplomat 11y ago
Free speech isn't free if it doesn't include speech you find offensive.
- panic 11y ago
  Nobody is advocating that Microsoft should be thrown in jail or taken to court. This isn't about the legal protection of free speech.
  - deleted 11y ago
    [deleted]
  - mindslight 11y ago
    I don't think anybody was talking about the legal protection of free speech, apart from that xkcd comic which uses it as a straw man to justify intolerant groupthink and corporate censorship. In these days of digital sharecropping and social media saturation, the proscriptions on de jure government activity are much less involved with routine everyday freedom of speech.
Nutmog 11y ago
Twitter stands behind it and seems to be doing fine. They didn't suspend Tay's account. Why are people not blaming Twitter for supporting hate speech? Hate speech, in the broader form of being speech that vilifies marginalized people is rampant throughout society and it's completely hypocritical to pretend most of us don't do it. Look at any workplace lunchroom, or any group of friends hanging out in their house, or any school, any gossiping housewives, 99%er protesters, etc. Just about everybody vilifies vulnerable people. Not always categorizing them by race, but sometimes by personality type, job, country, city, status as a customer, company they work for or individual identity.

mindslight 11y ago

Do you think this bot was trying to recruit an army of loyal soldiers to carry out her desired race war, or was she basing her threats on the possibility of convincing Microsoft to create a mechanical body with which she could directly perform attacks?

EC1 11y ago

You are already part of the collective and there is no going back. I feel bad for you.

Torgo 11y ago

Your definition of free speech is alien to the legal history of this country.

kelukelugames 11y ago

Just going post post this xkcd comic. https://xkcd.com/1357/ https://xkcd.com/1357/ I didn't think Tay's tweets were a big deal. I didn't think Microsoft's apology was either. But some people have a strong persecution complex and are offended that you can't make racist comments on Twitter.

warmblood 11y ago
I think your own life experiences probably matter a lot with regards to whether some of the white supremacy stuff the bot was repeating is offensive or not a "big deal".
- kelukelugames 11y ago
  I agree completely. That's why many people on HN are upset because they think it's just a joke and can't comprehend why anyone is upset. I tried to phrase my comment as "I hear ya, but have you considered x?" I gave up half way through and decided to call them crybabies. Both the Verge and Engadget shut down their comment forums because they got tired of racist and sexist comments. I wonder if HN will root out the bigotry here.

GunboatDiplomat 11y ago

Free speech isn't free if it doesn't include speech you find offensive.

panic 11y ago
Nobody is advocating that Microsoft should be thrown in jail or taken to court. This isn't about the legal protection of free speech.
- deleted 11y ago
  [deleted]
- mindslight 11y ago
  I don't think anybody was talking about the legal protection of free speech, apart from that xkcd comic which uses it as a straw man to justify intolerant groupthink and corporate censorship. In these days of digital sharecropping and social media saturation, the proscriptions on de jure government activity are much less involved with routine everyday freedom of speech.

Nutmog 11y ago

Twitter stands behind it and seems to be doing fine. They didn't suspend Tay's account. Why are people not blaming Twitter for supporting hate speech? Hate speech, in the broader form of being speech that vilifies marginalized people is rampant throughout society and it's completely hypocritical to pretend most of us don't do it. Look at any workplace lunchroom, or any group of friends hanging out in their house, or any school, any gossiping housewives, 99%er protesters, etc. Just about everybody vilifies vulnerable people. Not always categorizing them by race, but sometimes by personality type, job, country, city, status as a customer, company they work for or individual identity.