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The girl was used as an example to push back against the broader culture of the school. It's unfortunate for her, but disproportionately punishing individuals f
by sagarm 6y ago
The girl was used as an example to push back against the broader culture of the school. It's unfortunate for her, but disproportionately punishing individuals for societal failures is pervasive in America.
Hopefully this will encourage administrators, teachers, and parents to take this as seriously as the rest of the world does.
- koheripbal 6y ago> disproportionately punishing individuals for societal failures is pervasive This is exactly what mob justice is. It is always an emotional overreaction to a legitimate transgression. > Hopefully this will encourage administrators, teachers, and parents to take this as seriously as the rest of the world does. Unlikely. The reaction I've seen at other schools is to be so terrified of these mob overreactions that they stifle all critical thinking with draconian rules that limit any form of expression. For that same reason, we are seeing many school districts banning classical literature, because it doesn't conform to the modern ethical norms. Works like The Odyssey and works of Shakespeare... https://www.wsj.com/articles/even-homer-gets-mobbed-11609095872 https://www.wsj.com/articles/even-homer-gets-mobbed-11609095... We are creating a culture of fear and regression.
- orf 6y agoI dunno, I think I’m ok with a culture of fear around using racial slurs, and perhaps viewing them as “legitimate transgressions” is part of the problem?
- koheripbal 6y agoFirstly, I think you misinterpreted what I meant by "legitimate", and secondly, the point is that a mature rational society takes a proportionate approach to corrective behavior that doesn't include life destroying consequences.
- ThrowawayR2 6y ago> "I think I’m ok with a culture of fear around using racial slurs" How many times has history demonstrated that angry groups of people can go out of control and lash out at innocents? The term "witch hunt" entered our lexicon for a reason.
- true_religion 6y agoSure, but is that what happened in this case?
- smt88 6y agoThe difference is that there is no such thing as a witch. You can't hunt them because they are imaginary, and everyone is innocent of witchcraft. There are racists and racial slurs. It might be difficult to identify a racist, but it's easy to identify the oldest and most famous racial slur. It's also easy not to say it.
- ThrowawayR2 6y agoWitches not being real is cold comfort to those who were accused of witchcraft and killed for it, wouldn't you say? As for racism, I imagine this guy would have something to say about whether the witch hunt mentality for racists is real: https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/sdge-worker-fired-over-alleged-racist-gesture-says-he-was-cracking-knuckles/2347414/ https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/sdge-worker-fired-ove...
- loopz 6y agoMob justice could be for illegitimate, incorrect and wrong reasons too. It is the job of politicians to do the job of representation, and avoid mob rule.