Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Website Calls Out Authors of Racist Anti-Obama Posts

Posted by Soulskill on from the more-speech-as-a-counter-to-free-speech dept.

stevegee58 writes "A tumblr blog entitled 'HelloThereRacists' is publicly identifying other online posters who make racist/assassination comments about President Obama. Beyond merely identifying online usernames, the blog's author is uncovering and publishing the real names and locations of offending posters. It's an interesting mess of legal issues. The outed posters are at risk of a Secret Service visit, but the trouble may not end there. The HelloThereRacists blogger himself may have some problems publicly identifying posters, who are frequently underage teenagers." Update: 11/16 19:17 GMT by S : The blog has already been taken down.

2 of 423 comments (clear)

  1. Re:so what if they're minors? by CanHasDIY · · Score: -1, Offtopic
    From the link:

    in most states juvenile court proceedings and records can be closed to the public. Some states also allow judges to close down the portions of adult trials that require juvenile testimony or evidence. In such cases, the decision of whether to allow access is often left to the discretion of a judge.

    As a result, judges have occasionally placed conditions on reporters' access to otherwise closed juvenile proceedings by allowing reporters in — but only after they have promised not to disclose certain information about minor participants that might be revealed during the proceeding. Such conditions are probably valid.

    As I said, legal gray area.

    On another note, I personally hope someone finds out who wrote this blog, and posts their name and address online for all the world, just to see how he reacts.

    To wager a guess, I'm betting he won't take it well.

    --
    An enigma, wrapped in a riddle, shrouded in bacon and cheese
  2. Not against the law to be racist by argStyopa · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    I know it's very anti-pc of me to point out, but there's nothing illegal about being racist.

    Remember that whatever strictures you place on someone's hateful speech today, could have been likewise been employed against those "crazy" people advocating things like gay rights and the rights of blacks to do things like vote and ride in the front of the bus.

    The most abhorrent speech is that we must most stringently defend despite our personal loathing of what's being said.

    --
    -Styopa