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It could be that generally whataboutism is something people don't like, rather than some indication of the "toxicity" of this website.

downandout 8y ago
“Whataboutism” is relevant in a case where there is clear bias. If what Alex Jones posted violated Twitter’s rules, I am perfectly fine with his account being suspended or even permanently banned. I certainly don’t agree with or want to see his whacked out posts. But I’m not at all fine with the rules being selectively enforced, seemingly along political lines. And yes, if saying that nobody should be given a megaphone with which to spew hateful rhetoric gets downvotes, that is an indication of the toxicity of HN.
- tomlock 8y ago
  But both Jeong and Jones are currently not banned, so I'm not sure why you think saying "what about how Jeong isn't banned" is anything but whataboutism.
  - downandout 8y ago
    Point is that Jeong was never banned, while Jones was.
    - tomlock 8y ago
      But their situations aren't equivalent.
      - downandout 8y ago
        How are they not? They both said truly terrible, almost unspeakable things. What makes them not equivalent?
        tomlock 8y ago
        They clearly aren't equivalent. What specific people were harmed by Jeong's speech? Were you specifically upset by Jeong's speech? Yes? Ok, now imagine your child has been shot and then someone says you're a liar, and that since their death people keep showing up at your house and church calling you a liar. Do you think you'd be more or less upset by this?
        downandout 8y ago
        Were you specifically upset by Jeong's speech? Yes? Yes, I specifically was indeed very upset by Jeong's speech, as any other human should be (apparently you were not). Nobody should be saying those things about any race, period. Arguably, some of her tweets also called for violence. Her favorite hashtag - "#CancelWhitePeople" - calls for the elimination of white people from the planet. You're going to try to stick to your argument, but there's no winning this one. Calling for the elimination of an entire race of people is just as bad if not worse than making some ridiculous assertions about a mass shooting being a hoax.
        tomlock 8y ago
        >apparently you were not Apparently a lot of people weren't because she still has a job at the New York Times. Clearly your belief that humans should be upset isn't reflected in society or reality. Your view that you'd be more upset at someone You and I never heard of before this outrage saying white people should be "Cancelled" (lol) than someone deliberately accusing you that you lied about the death of your child is, simply, ridiculous.
        downandout 8y ago
        What's ridiculous is this argument. Why can't you just admit that they both said terrible things that clearly violated Twitter's policies, and for that, both of them should have been thrown off the platform? You're essentially saying that what she said was OK. You're tacitly endorsing her statements, many of which were incredibly vile. So, this discussion is over, since I refuse to engage with people that endorse racists or racist statements of any kind. Have a nice life.

downandout 8y ago

“Whataboutism” is relevant in a case where there is clear bias. If what Alex Jones posted violated Twitter’s rules, I am perfectly fine with his account being suspended or even permanently banned. I certainly don’t agree with or want to see his whacked out posts. But I’m not at all fine with the rules being selectively enforced, seemingly along political lines. And yes, if saying that nobody should be given a megaphone with which to spew hateful rhetoric gets downvotes, that is an indication of the toxicity of HN.

tomlock 8y ago
But both Jeong and Jones are currently not banned, so I'm not sure why you think saying "what about how Jeong isn't banned" is anything but whataboutism.
- downandout 8y ago
  Point is that Jeong was never banned, while Jones was.
  - tomlock 8y ago
    But their situations aren't equivalent.
    - downandout 8y ago
      How are they not? They both said truly terrible, almost unspeakable things. What makes them not equivalent?
      - tomlock 8y ago
        They clearly aren't equivalent. What specific people were harmed by Jeong's speech? Were you specifically upset by Jeong's speech? Yes? Ok, now imagine your child has been shot and then someone says you're a liar, and that since their death people keep showing up at your house and church calling you a liar. Do you think you'd be more or less upset by this?
        downandout 8y ago
        Were you specifically upset by Jeong's speech? Yes? Yes, I specifically was indeed very upset by Jeong's speech, as any other human should be (apparently you were not). Nobody should be saying those things about any race, period. Arguably, some of her tweets also called for violence. Her favorite hashtag - "#CancelWhitePeople" - calls for the elimination of white people from the planet. You're going to try to stick to your argument, but there's no winning this one. Calling for the elimination of an entire race of people is just as bad if not worse than making some ridiculous assertions about a mass shooting being a hoax.
        tomlock 8y ago
        >apparently you were not Apparently a lot of people weren't because she still has a job at the New York Times. Clearly your belief that humans should be upset isn't reflected in society or reality. Your view that you'd be more upset at someone You and I never heard of before this outrage saying white people should be "Cancelled" (lol) than someone deliberately accusing you that you lied about the death of your child is, simply, ridiculous.
        downandout 8y ago
        What's ridiculous is this argument. Why can't you just admit that they both said terrible things that clearly violated Twitter's policies, and for that, both of them should have been thrown off the platform? You're essentially saying that what she said was OK. You're tacitly endorsing her statements, many of which were incredibly vile. So, this discussion is over, since I refuse to engage with people that endorse racists or racist statements of any kind. Have a nice life.