Disorderly Conduct Charge for Offensive Classmate Ratings

Hatta writes "A Chicago-area teenager who posted a demeaning list of female classmates on Facebook has been arrested for disorderly conduct. Is this an appropriate response to online harassment, or a threat to free speech?"

Comments

The summary is bad

[bsharp8256]

He didn't get arrested and charged because he posted it on Facebook, TFA says he distributed hard copies at school.

Re:The summary is bad

[Anonymous Coward]

Speaking as a father, I hope that the ex-boyfriend was beaten senseless by male relatives of that girl.

That, my friends, is how people used to be kept in line, and I believe it was more effective and put significantly less cost on the public.

This likely sounds barbaric to most people, but let's be honest. As a teen I "harassed" a popular girl. A couple of her friends "set me straight". Lesson learned. I'm now a productive member of society as opposed to someone who has been either sued into welfare or served jail time only to become a hardened criminal. I only wish society was still like this.

Re:Over the top, but not a free speech issue

[dkleinsc]

Free speech doesn't protect racist or sexist slurs.

Oh yes it does. For instance, in National Socialist Party of America v. Village of Skokie the US Supreme Court ruled that the Nazis had the right to march through a predominently Jewish city. It's perfectly legal to call Hillary Clinton or Michelle Bachman (to pick a couple of random examples) a "cunt" or a "cracker" if you want to. And the various modern versions of the KKK can spew their rhetoric and have cross burnings all they like without government interference.

I'm not saying I approve of any of these, just that they are most definitely protected by free speech and assembly.

Re:Over the top, but not a free speech issue

[dkleinsc]

You are partially protected when it comes to libel: affected private citizens can sue you for it, but the government cannot bring criminal charges against you for it. It's solely a civil matter, not a criminal matter.

Re:hot because she is Asian?

[Celarent Darii]

<p>So, if someone doesn't like a certain type of speech, it should be restricted?</p></quote>

Yes.

It happens all the time. Even slashdot is moderated to remove trolls. Freedom is not a perfection in itself but rather the means to obtain it. Free speech only has value if what is said is actually worth something.

And in general this has nothing to do with free speech, but just being a miserable excuse of a human being.

Re:hot because she is Asian?

[reiisi]

Yes, if "Kelly" doesn't want to be rated

So, if someone doesn't like a certain type of speech, it should be restricted?

It isn't a matter of simple preferences, and you know it isn't. Girls have a right to tell guys no. They don't have to be subjected to verbal abuse from boys who have been turned down, and they don't have to be subjected to the splashback when boys get their feelings hurt.

When a boy's opinion has been refused, and the boy persists too long in forcing his opinion on a girl, it becomes a tool of emotional abuse. Emotional abuse can be a reason for children to appeal to adults. If a boy further persists, it is abuse, and can become a wedge to enable physical forms of abuse. That is the point where this kind of thing crosses the line into criminal behavior.

that is a slur and a racial slur. Sexual slur, too.

And?

Racial and sexual slurs are most often used in precisely this way.

Seriously, what other reason would one have for using racial and sexual slurs, other than as an attempt to strip one's opponent of emotional defense?