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How about, "one ironic joke, and then a long flight where she could not communicate that she was being ironic, cost Justine Sacco a lot". She wasn't being raci

How about, "one ironic joke, and then a long flight where she could not communicate that she was being ironic, cost Justine Sacco a lot". She wasn't being racist, she was lampooning American insularity. Unfortunately, a lot of people didn't get that it was a joke, and/or didn't get the joke, and she paid the price.

taylorwc 12y ago
Even if one were to give her the benefit of the doubt on whether or not her tweets express racist sentiment, there's still a stupendous lack of judgment on her part. She's saying things publicly, associated with her name. Anyone who expresses something in that fashion should be fully prepared to deal with backlash. She should have the right to express her views, even if they are unpopular--and she should be willing to handle the consequences.
- theorique 12y ago
  Perhaps, but in this case, the consequences were really disproportionate to the "crime". Here's what "should" have happened: <sacco>: <original tweet> <public>: Hey, that's really racist. <sacco>: Oh, I didn't mean it that way - I'm making fun of American insularity. <public>: OK, I still don't like it, but I get what you meant now.
  - taylorwc 12y ago
    I agree with you that there was an overreaction. But that's a risk each of us runs when we publish something via a public medium. Any time I want to publish something, whether it's a private SMS, a tweet, a comment on HN, or something else, I'm obliged to consider its content, and make a judgment call on whether it's appropriate. If I'm wrong, I have to deal with it.
- chris_wot 12y ago
  Well, I think she knows that now. I guess you aren't the sort of person to ever make a bad judgement call in public. Like not even a single occasion.
  - taylorwc 12y ago
    I sure as hell have. Many times. And every time, no matter how much I hated it, I had to face the music and deal with the mess I had created, regardless of whether it was my original intent.
    - chris_wot 12y ago
      I was probably a tad harsh there. Sorry about that. I guess it's a matter of degree - she wrote something she thought was ironic which came across badly, but instead of getting a chance to face up to the music and explain her side, the entire Internet went insane and she lost her job. It seems a little much.

taylorwc 12y ago

Even if one were to give her the benefit of the doubt on whether or not her tweets express racist sentiment, there's still a stupendous lack of judgment on her part. She's saying things publicly, associated with her name. Anyone who expresses something in that fashion should be fully prepared to deal with backlash. She should have the right to express her views, even if they are unpopular--and she should be willing to handle the consequences.

theorique 12y ago
Perhaps, but in this case, the consequences were really disproportionate to the "crime". Here's what "should" have happened: <sacco>: <original tweet> <public>: Hey, that's really racist. <sacco>: Oh, I didn't mean it that way - I'm making fun of American insularity. <public>: OK, I still don't like it, but I get what you meant now.
- taylorwc 12y ago
  I agree with you that there was an overreaction. But that's a risk each of us runs when we publish something via a public medium. Any time I want to publish something, whether it's a private SMS, a tweet, a comment on HN, or something else, I'm obliged to consider its content, and make a judgment call on whether it's appropriate. If I'm wrong, I have to deal with it.
chris_wot 12y ago
Well, I think she knows that now. I guess you aren't the sort of person to ever make a bad judgement call in public. Like not even a single occasion.
- taylorwc 12y ago
  I sure as hell have. Many times. And every time, no matter how much I hated it, I had to face the music and deal with the mess I had created, regardless of whether it was my original intent.
  - chris_wot 12y ago
    I was probably a tad harsh there. Sorry about that. I guess it's a matter of degree - she wrote something she thought was ironic which came across badly, but instead of getting a chance to face up to the music and explain her side, the entire Internet went insane and she lost her job. It seems a little much.