Slashdot Mirror
Theater Professor's Firefly Poster Declared Threatening
ocean_soul writes "Probably because nothing more threatening was happening and they need to prove their usefulness the school police at University of Wisconsin-Stout decided a Firefly poster with the quote: "You don't know me, son, so let me explain this to you once: If I ever kill you, you'll be awake. You'll be facing me. And you'll be armed," was a threat to the safety on campus. Wasn't that a quote about not killing people?"
I get the same thing at work. A few friends had a photo op for a school project and the main person decided to do a Shadowrun themed shoot. We dressed up in our gear and I grabbed my fake Katana ($40 at a game convention; yea fake) for some fluff along with my hat and oversized coat over my motorcycle jacket (for bulkiness). Anyway, she took some really good pictures. I printed out one of me with my sheathed sword and posted it in my cube. I got a little "talking to" from my supervisor about appropriate content at work.
I've been talked to a few times about different things. My Zombie t-shirt with the shotgun on the back was one. I'm to the point that I have only one non-work related item up in my cubical. My Zombie calendar. I'm actually surprised it's lasted this long.
[John]
Shit better not happen!
While I generally agree that the calm, rational approach is the right one, it also shouldn't be the only one in your repertoire. And there are times when exploding on someone is the best way to handle a matter. That is especially true if the other side is acting first, and talking after the fact. Had they talked to him before removing the poster, I dare to guess he would have been calmer.
Here's why I can relate: I live in the center of my city. There's a street filled with pubs nearby. Near the weekend, lots of people over there are drunken assholes. Sometimes, on their way home or whatever, they come through my street, and yell, fight or piss in my entrance. If I ever catch one in the act, I've sworn to myself I'll rough him up badly. Because the fact that he got that idea in the first place disqualifies him for any rational discussion, calm or otherwise. And besides, the damage is already done.
While Miller reacted strongly, it seems to me that he was in a similar situation. They had already removed the poster, and their initial notification didn't indicate they were willing to reconsider, only that they'd answer questions. From his perspective, there was no option for a solution in his interest offered, so exploding was the act by which he intended to open up the issue, so the option "put the poster back" was at least on the table.
Could he have done it in a different way? Maybe. Sometimes, stating your thoughts calmly and rationally is the right thing. But sometimes, it also means you're not going to be taken seriously, and your opponent will not look for a compromise solution, but rather for a way to brush you off, exactly because you aren't loud, so you're not a thread, just a nuissance.
Assorted stuff I do sometimes: Lemuria.org
You have as many rights in these United States of America as you can afford to hire lawyers to defend.
I only look human.
My mother is a halfling and my dad is an ogre, so that makes me an Ogreling
Even though I don't agree with his liberal bashing, he is right about the offending part.
Its not just people's interpretation of offending behavior, it their interpretation of threatening behavior. I knew a professor who did computer vision research and had a round bulls-eye target (*not* a silhouette target, ie it was the type of target you would find in the Olympics not on a police or military range) shot full of holes on his wall. This target was used in a computer vision project and the professor would occasionally glance at it while thinking of algorithms to apply to its image. He joked he'll have to complete the project quickly because someone will invariably walk by in the hallway and see the target on his *interior office wall* and file a complaint saying the target created a threatening environment. He was serious, he was quite confident he will eventually be asked to take it down.
I think you're a little confused, or haven't been paying attention. To a right winger, anyone who thinks pollutants should be regulated is a "tree hugging hippie" and global warming is a left-wing conspiracy, Obama is a Muslim from Kenya, and the poor are all poor because they're barely human,creationism should be taught in schools and think "God helps those who help themselves" is in .the bible (it isn't) and it's your God-given right to never pay taxes ("Render unto Ceasar that which is Ceasar's").
Libertarians can lean to the left or the right. Me, I'm probably more left leaning; you should be able to do whatever you want so long as you don't victimize me, but then I consider paying someone shit for an honest day's work is victimizing him. I'm all for a European-style health care system; our own is simply retarded.
That said, it's just wrong to supress this guy's speech. You should have the right to say anything you want no matter how offensive, but if you slander me I have the right to sue.
You have the right to bare arms, but you don't have the right to point one at me.
Youe rights end where mine begin (and no, I agree that you don't have the right to not be offended).
Free Martian Whores!