Slashdot Mirror
Website Calls Out Authors of Racist Anti-Obama Posts
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.
HAHA
Racists are such losers.
assassinate the president.
by TheSpoom (715771) Uncaring Linux user here. I have nothing to add to this but please continue. *munches popcorn*
Sounds like a good life's lesson before they'll face real consequences for their actions, and maybe their parents won't be able to continue to delude themselves about their childrens' behavior anymore.
Do not look into laser with remaining eye.
It's part of freedom of speech and expression. Assassination threats? Not okay. But equating racist posts with posts regarding assassination is ridiculous. Why not out everyone working on Book of Mormon for bigotry against religion? Post their addresses and phone numbers? They should be harassed for their bigotry, no?
So what if people are racist online. They have a right to be. Assassination threats are entirely different though. I guess this is more PC-liberal thought police attempts to control people. "Racism is as dangerous as assassination attempts". Wonderful.
So, do we believe that anonymous speech is the only true way to maintain truly free speech, or do we cheer a man who hunts racists, with a technique that cripples free speech?
http://hellothereracists.tumblr.com/
salon just made a decent argument lambasting them for outing kids in a manner that could permanently stigmatize them as racists. Granted I think arresting the penchant for racism at a young age is a good idea, perhaps it would be more fruitful if the parents of the children were outed instead?
additionally, many of the posts come from regions of America that you would anticipate racism to emanate from. at very least it helps to dispel the often heralded myth by of the GOP that racism happened a long time ago and we don't need to talk about it, as they did during the Treyvon Martin murder. The south, as a touchstone example, while forced to integrate has never been forced to accept it socially.
Good people go to bed earlier.
Perhaps those kid's countries need a "democracy" import, just like Irak had
So who gets to decide the difference between a "racist" comment and a generally insulting comment?
Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr's famous "dream" was that [people] will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character." Many of Obama's critics are doing exactly that.
Disclaimer: I'm a halfhearted Obama supporter in the "lesser of two evils" sense.
[Sir Garlon] is the marvellest knight that is now living, for he destroyeth many good knights, for he goeth invisible.
FTA:
Oh, I guess that makes everything all right then.
The most racist comments by the most racist people always start with "I'm not racist, but..."
FTS:
This, and similar, statements are made in the article, but never explained or justified. There's nothing illegal or immoral about revealing the source of a quote, regardless of age.
Does the site also reveal the identities of people who post bigoted comments about well known conservatives?
Or is this another case where something is only a problem when it done by people with whom you disagree?
Here is a tweet from a supporter of the website:
This tumblr is fantastic, i hope people search these asshats out and hurt most if not all of them.
No doubt they fail to realize they are as bad as the people they criticize.
... does not guarantee freedom from responsibility.
So why isn't this blogger exposing the real identities of poster who made racist comments about Allen West and Mia Love?
sudo make me a sandwich
Is he going to out all the ignorance-filled tweets/posts/etc. with people calling for Romney's death if he had won? Or what about the people who said they'd do it either way? Last I checked there were TONS of posts about "putting a cap in Romney's cracka ass" (with varying degrees of readability). Does their ignorance get outed as well, or is this just another "How dare you speak against our Dear Leader" ploy?
Interesting they don't call out Obama on his racist book "Dreams of My Father" he quotes in his own words and the racist "church" he attended for 20 years where he praised Jeremiah Wright. Oh, and how he attended Louis Farrakhan's (Jeremiah's Wrights close friend) racist rally... you know, the guy who says all white people are devils and said "Hitler was a very great man".
Nice double standard there. No, I don't see any bias or hypocrisy at all.
Will they also be outing the authors of all the tweets that threatened to assassinate Romney or riot and murder in general if Romney had won? Just curious.
I disagree with this website & they didn't "uncover" anything these people used their real names. While I'm against racism personally, people need to understand that tolerance works both ways. You can't on one hand say people should respect your views & then on the other not at least respect theirs.
If its a matter of public disclosure, they can always place the identity information on a web page protected with a password for use by law enforcement. Make the password 'password' and we'll call it good.
Have gnu, will travel.
Oops. Sorry about my racist title.
War is still good now.
If you put your information in a state is can be accessed then you deserve to be found. For those who really want to be racist, it was Bush not Obama who destroyed the US, looks like the white man destroyed his people again.
As I was on it they took it down.
Below is what I get at http://hellothereracists.tumblr.com/
Not found.
We couldn't find the page you were looking for.
Tumblr pulled it?
Looks like http://hellothereracists.tumblr.com/ is already 'down' (returning a "Not found" message). I wonder if it was done voluntarily, or if Tumblr did it themselves.
LegendMUD
Another Obama love struck idiot.
What about all the threats made against others? Palin, Cain, Santorum, Romney, West, etc etc etc.
Annnd, it's gone already. Or it's gone at the moment.
Not clear if the author took it down, if this is an automated reaction to problem reports on Tumblr, or if Tumblr itself took it down for Reasons.
It's nice that someone is doing this. People should be visibly held up for spreading hatred.
But where's the equivalent for bigotry and sexisim?
Read an article that included some stats from a national survey of college students.
One in four college women have either been raped or suffered attempted rape.
84 percent of the women who are raped knew their assailants.
57 percent of the rapes occurred on a date.
Women, ages 16-24, have four times higher risk of being raped than any other population group.
One in 12 male students surveyed had committed acts that met the legal definition of rape.
16 percent of male students who had committed rape took part in episodes with more than one attacker's gang rape.
75 percent of male students and 55 percent of female students involved in date rape had been drunk or using drugs.*
33 percent of males surveyed said that they would commit rape if they could escape detection.**
25 percent of men surveyed believed that rape was acceptable if the woman asks the man out, the man pays for the date or the woman goes back to the man's room after the date. ***
http://rwu.edu/campus-life/health-counseling/counseling-center/sexual-assault/rape-myths-and-fac
And this is just what they admitted to in an anonymous forum, the real stats are higher.
While looking through the blog, I went to click through to the next page and suddenly the blog didn't exist anymore.
I'm not racist, but I think that's a good thing. Their basic plan of attack was "take anything criticizing Obama and mentioning race and plant content to make them look extremely racist"
wow, site goes down right as its being discussed....
Fully licensed blockchain psychiatrist
On the actual site (quit linking to some blog that links to a site of interest, Slashdot submitters), it's just typical jerks, mostly in high school. Somebody at the Secret Service will have to read through all that dreck looking for someone who might conceivably be a threat. It's mostly just kids mouthing off. Ones who are both making threats and have guns may get some attention.
It's sad reading the Facebook pages of some of those people. Their future is dim. For white people with only a high school education, life in the US has become slightly worse each year since 1973. For them, there is no American Dream. Hard work is no longer enough. Of course they're angry. The GOP and Fox News exploit and direct that anger at Obama, but they didn't create it.
Looks like the blog is gone.
I guess tumblr was afraid of the slashdotting they were about to get.
So who's busy outing the folks speculating about the bleached assholes of Romney and Ryan's wives? Why does this shit only seem to flow one way? Liberals are racist and sexist as well folks.
Are they going to decide what is racist?
For example racist comments against the prez are verboten but what if somebody makes asian slurs or hispanic slurs - will those be outed too?
If you just single out racism against one race and not others isn't that in itself racist?
That the concept of tolerance is only applied to certain ethnic groups. The whole idea of tolerance is racist. I, as a white man HAVE to tolerate what any other ethnic groups feels the need to voice, but as soon as I voice mine, I am a racist if my views don't line up with theirs. I think we all are missing the point here. This event has much bigger implications. If you can't (or won't) recognize them, then you deserve them.
Here's a cached version, since the site is no longer available.
If you ever thought that advocating for or even casually mentioning the assassination of geroge w bush as a positive thing, you cannot really object to people doing the same thing with obama. Back in 2003, i certainly did want bush out by any means necessary. So it would be hypocritical of me to not side with free speech here.
Hate speech is another issue, but as i understand it, hate speech is not illegal in the USA, whereas assassination threats are taken more seriously because of the seriousness of the position. Probably because in the usa the position of president is sacrosanct, whereas hate speech, which often builds to hate crimes (and arguably is more likely to insight actual violence), affects only the ordinary citizen who is less protected then the president, obviously.
As a potential lottery winner, I totally support tax cuts for the wealthy
The people that post that sort of shit are just fine saying it outloud anyways.
If tumblr has a problem with this blog and yanked it offline, I'd be proud to host it myself on my own server. Contact erik@otakubell.com if interested.
salon just made a decent argument lambasting them for outing kids in a manner that could permanently stigmatize them as racists. Granted I think arresting the penchant for racism at a young age is a good idea, perhaps it would be more fruitful if the parents of the children were outed instead?
Sorry, but racist remarks by themselves rarely are illegal. Racist remarks may indicate that a criminal act is racially motivated (and thus a "hate" crime), but are otherwise protected free speech.
I admit I haven't seen every single post on the blog, but all of the ones I did read already had the alleged racist's full name attached.
TFS claims the blogger was "uncovering" the poster's real name, implying that he/she was doing some kind of sleuthing to find the individual behind a pseudonym. This is not the case. The blogger is merely aggregating Facebook and Twitter posts that he/she deems racist.
Anyone could do a cursory search of twitter for racial epithets and get basically the same results. I really don't see how there are legal implications for the blogger.
Did anyone wget that site before it went away? I would like to check it for a couple of names.
In leftist thinking all who disagree are racist. And sexist. And homophobic.
"Bob is a racist" sums it up:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbULBAjstBA
Replying off-topic but it's relevant:
https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache%3Ahellothereracists.tumblr.com
"When information is power, privacy is freedom" - Jah-Wren Ryel
Looks like the blog is gone.
I guess tumblr was afraid of the slashdotting they were about to get.
Here's a map someone made a week ago:
http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2012/11/where-americas-racist-tweets-come-from/265006/
Sheesh, evil *and* a jerk. -- Jade
Any post critical of Obama is, by new definition, racist.
It's just dumb kids with poor upbringing.
Let's see the coverage this gets on /.
Gee, didn't see too many complaints about all the threats of assassination, riots, fire, and general mayhem that were made against Romney.
Your job if you choose to accept it is to scour the internet for those posts and
1) Make those posts public knowledge.
2) Out those who made the posts
And please post here with the results, I'd love to see what you come up with.
Don't know something? Look it up. Still don't know? Then ask.
Nothing has changed in America... same values, same fears, same reactions, same witchhunt mentality. Sad really as it implies no progress.
I looked through the cached page, and it was a little disturbing to see a false positive. Specifically, Hallie C. She may or may not be a racist, but clearly the evidence that I saw on the blog was not sufficient to call her one. Apparently she complained that proposed race-based quotas would remove a requirement to work hard in order to get a job (which seems plausible, since it de-emphasizes merit-based competition in order to consider instead the color of your skin). And so our blogger claimed she was saying black people are lazy. Whatever, dude.
Also, the chairman of the Maine Republican party. If black people are not known to live in a town, yet they are bused in to vote, it is legitimate to ask questions about that. Sorry, it just is. If he's mistaken about the demographics, let him be duly raked over the coals for crying wolf unnecessarily. But why call him a racist for apparently being a watchdog against voter fraud?
This blogger was apparently in over his head, and most definitely does not have my respect. Glad his site is down.
The author of the blog was kind enough to provide links to the schools for some of the people...So I took the liberty of emailing some of them the links to the blog. "Thank you for bringing this to our attention. We are addressing it with the child and we have already contacted his parents. They certainly are not indicative of the general student body at Midlakes."
The idea in the US is that you really try to only bring people you are fairly sure are guilty to trial. A trial costs a lot of money and majorly disrupts a person's life. You don't say "Just take them to trial, it'll get all sorted out there."
In the case of an affirmative defense, like self defense, what should happen is the police investigate the situation and determine if the affirmative defense holds water. If it doesn't, they then had it off to the DA for charges.
So "Wait for the facts," is indeed appropriate. You would probably like the same courtesy extended to you if you were suspected of a crime. You'd like them to see if there is a reason to actually charge you, not just toss you in a trial and let that sort it all out.
Also there's the issue that you don't want to go to trial if you aren't ready, or you can well lose. If the state goes off half-cocked and charges someone with little to no evidence, their lawyer will likely file a speedy trial motion to push for a fast date, because they know the state will be screwed.
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
You are keep fucking pushing until it explodes in your face. Whites are already pissed off enough after the election and seeing how "multi culturalism" is bullshit and they were betrayed. 93% of blacks in America voted Obama and only 59% of whites voted Romney.
Keep pushing though. Push people to the brink. I can't fucking wait for it to "pop off."
Please feel free to make racist comments about GOP politicians with impunity. Remember the thinly veiled racist comments hurled at Cain by the Liberal side of the media during the primaries? As for citing sources, do your own research or dismiss this entirely. I don't care.
They're protected by Federal Law. Can't publish information about persons under the age of 13 on the internet. At lease not in the states.
and it's only a matter of time before someone decides to shoot you in the face. And you know what? You'll have deserved it.
Some entries involve racial slurs or threats of secession; others advocate openly for the assassination of Obama
1. So we have threats of secession which seems to happen every time a new president is elected. How quickly we forget what conspiracy nuts were spouting off about Bill Clinton while he was in office.
2. Racial slurs
3. Finally we have death threats.
Parse "death threat" carefully... TFA cites an example "I want an assassination" this by itself is not a death threat. Wishing someone to be killed is not the same as threatening or otherwise conspiring to have them killed.
While the people behind the racial slurs may find themselves in legal trouble
WTF? Why? The only way "free speech" and "freedom" work in society is tolerance of the bullshit of others.
In the USA nobody should be in "legal" trouble for dreams of secession, popping off slurs or wishing someone dead. Obviously there may incur other costs for being an asshat.
Legal trouble should only be limited to those who have actually made threats.
If you don't like the concept of freedom of speech then by all means feel free to move to Europe.
....the blog author.
Sounds like a good life's lesson before they'll face real consequences for their actions
Yeah, that sounds just like something a fucking snitch would say. I hope one day you snitch on the wrong person and face the real consequences of your actions.
I'd think it cool if they were equal in coverage and also pointed out the racists on the other side of the race and/or political spectrum as well. They are there....just conveniently ignored usually.
akma
here's the text content in case it goes down again:
(the tweets are only screenshots)
Hello there, Racists
ask me anything
rss
archive
Jamie Spalding - Florence, South Carolina
Jamie Spalding is from Florence, South Carolina. He attended South Florence High, and is currently working at Red Bone Alley
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JamieSpalding2
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jamie.spalding.526
2 seconds ago
#florence
#south carolina
#South Florence High
#Red Bone Alley
Drew Lawrence - O’Fallon, Missouri
Drew Lawrence from O’Fallon, Missouri. He is fond of racial slurs, and may also be anti-Semitic.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/drewlawrence95
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001575853928
6 minutes ago
2 notes
#o'fallon
#missouri
Brennen Mykol North — Lebo, Kansas
Brennen Mykol North lives in Lebo, Kansas, but is from Fort Wayne, Indiana. Brennen studies at Illinois Central College, and works at DWE Livestock.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BrennenNorth
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/brennen.north
9 minutes ago
#Lebo
#Kansas
#Illinois Central College
#DWE Livestock
Bart Conner — Midland, Texas
Bart Conner is from Midland, Texas, and attends Lee High School.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheConnerFactor
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/bart.conner.9
12 minutes ago
#midland
#texas
#lee high school
Josh Fox - Erie, Pennsylvania
Josh Fox lives in Erie, Pennsylvania. He is from Schereville, Indiana.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/chevyman9182
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/josh.fox.714049
16 minutes ago
#erie
#pennsylvania
#schereville
#indiana
#treason
#confederate flag
#poor grammar
Doug Smith — Soddy-Daisy, Te
It's funny how people's understanding of how government works goes right out the window as soon as they find a talking point to latch onto.
The original blog hellothereracists.tumblr.com seems to be back up.
One of them lost his job over this, let's all tell him what a stupid douche he is!
https://twitter.com/bigdoug92/status/269517576965615617
The website “Hello There, Racists!” appears to be 'outing' anyone who tweets or otherwise makes it clear they don't support Obama. The article states - 'Although its subjects clearly oppose Obama’s re-election, not all of them explicitly identify themselves as Republicans. Some also state specifically that they are not racist.' It's sort of an online House Committee on Un-American Activities for the internet.
'I don't know what it's called. I just know the sound it makes, when it takes a man's life.' ~ Four Leaf Tayback
You know, the shit that overshadows anti-black racism by 100000x or so?
over the past 4 years I have learned several new things about racisim.
1. If you care about the future of the country.. you may be a racist
2. If you have children and you care about their future.. you may be a racist.
3. if you feel that businesses that are run badly should not be bailed out by the government.. you may be a racist
4. If you buy american goods.. you may be a racist
5. if you belive crime should be ileagal.. you may be a racist.
etc... feel free to add
As of 11:32 PM Pacific Time the site loads for me. There are only about a dozen entries -- this may be a reboot.
Really idiotic that this was taken down. These racist douchebags deserve to be exposed and to have some secret service agents question them.
People have the right to free speech and yes there can be consequences of said speech but this is why anonymity is very important. With anonymity one can make the most outrageous claims without someone directly targeting them(their personas or physical self) and keep an honest debate without fear or reprecussions. The best example of this was the federalist papers. People need to stop trying to personally attack others because of their thought and convictions especially when the have done so with an alias...it is harmful, destructive and puts a chilling effect on free speech -- no matter how vile.
Remember the old ink blotters. Teenagers like all infants are just reflecting whats said in their home, club or whats passed on down to them. OK
For a nation hailing your great freedoms, you sure are a country obsessed with trying to punish, vilify and limit one another to whats "proper and respectable"
How com,e he isn't outing all of the posters who said they were going to kill Mitt Romney if he won. Is it because they are predominantly B***K
The new right fascists are bilingual. They speak English and Bullshit.
Two things I find rather interesting and telling about this blogger.
1. I don't see his/her name and address listed anywhere. If he/she is ready to publish others info he/she should be ready to publish their real info. Cowardly.
2. I didn't see any posts on people making racist/threatening comments against Romney. Again, what a hypocrite.
All I can say is good riddance.
It can't be much of a problem. Most real racists are illiterate and don't know how to use a computer. Maybe it is more about trying to shut down legitimate political discourse by claiming racism because someone thinks obama is a radical leftist or a full bore communist. These are not a race, these are a mental retardation problem that does not target members of any particular race. As for the racists, they are simply the dregs that only have being at the bottom of whatever group they are a part of as a reason to feel good about themselves.
Hence, they must promote that group at the expense of other groups to make them feel better about being the dregs of that group.