4 ms·

The law isn't social or corporate. It's funny this community supports separation of politics and workplace until it could possibly effect them negatively. I do

The law isn't social or corporate. It's funny this community supports separation of politics and workplace until it could possibly effect them negatively. I don't care how long it's been since you were in the KKK or sexually harassed your EA even if it was "socially acceptable at the time", I don't ever want to work with you.

TimTheTinker 6y ago
Journalism’s purpose is to report current and past events that have a bearing on history — both political and social. You may not want to work with a former KKK member, but that doesn’t mean the press (or anyone) has any business exposing their sins in public, unless there are specific crimes for which penal justice has yet to be served—and even then, a wise journalist would do well to contact the DA instead of publishing first. Beyond that, I would remark that “love your neighbor as yourself” does include personal and social forgiveness of past wrongs: “He who covers an offense promotes love.” But an unforgiving society is brittle and prone to collapse into totalitarianism.
- dragonwriter 6y ago
  > Journalism’s purpose is to report current and past events that have a bearing on history — both political and social. No, it's not. Journalism serves the current public interest, not history, except insofar as the latter serves the former. > You may not want to work with a former KKK member, but that doesn’t mean the press (or anyone) has any business exposing their sins in public, unless there are specific crimes for which penal justice has yet to be served. The scope of the public interest isn't limited to crimes, that's a ludicrous idea. Heck, that's not even consistent with your earlier claim about the relationship between journalism and history, as the interest of history is much broader than crimes.
  - TimTheTinker 6y ago
    > Journalism serves the current public interest, not history Thanks. I think my idea was a sort of "idealized journalism". I'll accept your correction. > The scope of the public interest isn't limited to crimes, that's a ludicrous idea. I didn't say that. If you can think of another reason for publishing specific activities of private individuals from years ago that serves the public interest—as we agree is journalism's purpose—by all means share it. I could only think of one reason; perhaps there are others. Generally, naming and shaming private individuals for specific non-criminal acts in the past does not serve the public interest; that's my point. The only interest it serves is that of the mob, or that of a totalitarian government, both of which we will find it harder to avoid the more we tolerate this type of journalism. This is not how a healthy, free society behaves.
    - bluntfang 6y ago
      >If you can think of another reason for publishing specific activities of private individuals from years ago that serves the public interest Donald Trump's history of sexual harassment. I don't want a womanizer to be President, even if it was socially acceptable to do a bunch of coke and fuck your EA or teenagers at the time.
      - TimTheTinker 6y ago
        Donald Trump is a public figure. My above points concern private individuals.
        bluntfang 6y ago
        Replace Donald Trump with my coworkers or boss or CEO.
        TimTheTinker 6y ago
        Yeah, that's where it firmly crosses the line regarding public interest. Whatever we allow to be done to others can just as well happen to us. Never forget: First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a socialist. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.
        bluntfang 6y ago
        This isn't about public interest. This isn't the law. This isn't the government. This is my (or my company's) interest. You can't tell me who I have to interact with. You are free to speech, but you are not free from consequences. If you're an asshole, people aren't going to want to hang out with you. And personally, I don't want people who sexually harass or rape their EAs near me or in public office. I don't want people who grab women by the pussy to be my boss or my peer or my employee. That's my choice.

TimTheTinker 6y ago

Journalism’s purpose is to report current and past events that have a bearing on history — both political and social. You may not want to work with a former KKK member, but that doesn’t mean the press (or anyone) has any business exposing their sins in public, unless there are specific crimes for which penal justice has yet to be served—and even then, a wise journalist would do well to contact the DA instead of publishing first. Beyond that, I would remark that “love your neighbor as yourself” does include personal and social forgiveness of past wrongs: “He who covers an offense promotes love.” But an unforgiving society is brittle and prone to collapse into totalitarianism.

dragonwriter 6y ago
> Journalism’s purpose is to report current and past events that have a bearing on history — both political and social. No, it's not. Journalism serves the current public interest, not history, except insofar as the latter serves the former. > You may not want to work with a former KKK member, but that doesn’t mean the press (or anyone) has any business exposing their sins in public, unless there are specific crimes for which penal justice has yet to be served. The scope of the public interest isn't limited to crimes, that's a ludicrous idea. Heck, that's not even consistent with your earlier claim about the relationship between journalism and history, as the interest of history is much broader than crimes.
- TimTheTinker 6y ago
  > Journalism serves the current public interest, not history Thanks. I think my idea was a sort of "idealized journalism". I'll accept your correction. > The scope of the public interest isn't limited to crimes, that's a ludicrous idea. I didn't say that. If you can think of another reason for publishing specific activities of private individuals from years ago that serves the public interest—as we agree is journalism's purpose—by all means share it. I could only think of one reason; perhaps there are others. Generally, naming and shaming private individuals for specific non-criminal acts in the past does not serve the public interest; that's my point. The only interest it serves is that of the mob, or that of a totalitarian government, both of which we will find it harder to avoid the more we tolerate this type of journalism. This is not how a healthy, free society behaves.
  - bluntfang 6y ago
    >If you can think of another reason for publishing specific activities of private individuals from years ago that serves the public interest Donald Trump's history of sexual harassment. I don't want a womanizer to be President, even if it was socially acceptable to do a bunch of coke and fuck your EA or teenagers at the time.
    - TimTheTinker 6y ago
      Donald Trump is a public figure. My above points concern private individuals.
      - bluntfang 6y ago
        Replace Donald Trump with my coworkers or boss or CEO.
        TimTheTinker 6y ago
        Yeah, that's where it firmly crosses the line regarding public interest. Whatever we allow to be done to others can just as well happen to us. Never forget: First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a socialist. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.
        bluntfang 6y ago
        This isn't about public interest. This isn't the law. This isn't the government. This is my (or my company's) interest. You can't tell me who I have to interact with. You are free to speech, but you are not free from consequences. If you're an asshole, people aren't going to want to hang out with you. And personally, I don't want people who sexually harass or rape their EAs near me or in public office. I don't want people who grab women by the pussy to be my boss or my peer or my employee. That's my choice.