# Chalk on the sidewalk, Boo hoo hoo **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 24, 2016, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chalk-on-the-sidewalk-boo-hoo-hoo/750025 "2016-03-24T15:20:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sahirrnee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sahirrnee/32/13937_2.png) [@Sahirrnee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sahirrnee)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2016, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chalk-on-the-sidewalk-boo-hoo-hoo/750025/1 "2016-03-24T15:20:07Z")
[http://emorywheel.com/emory-students-express-discontent-with-administrative-response-to-trump-chalkings/](http://emorywheel.com/emory-students-express-discontent-with-administrative-response-to-trump-chalkings/) First there was bad cafeteria food, then there wasn’t enough fried chicken. Now we have chalk… on the sidewalk… okay, so it’s supporting Trump, but still, chalk on a sidewalk? Perhaps one of the benefits of global warming is that all the special snowflakes will melt. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2016, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chalk-on-the-sidewalk-boo-hoo-hoo/750025/2 "2016-03-24T15:34:29Z")
You could not pay me enough to be a college President and have to deal with students. Though this quote was pretty funny: > [@](#): > > While Wagner initially stated that he would not be writing a University-wide email regarding Trump, after over an hour of discussion in the board room, he appeared to have decided to begin working on an email concerned with at least the chalkings, at which point he gently wrapped up the conversation so that he could begin drafting it. Fine, I’ll send an email, as soon as you crybabies get out of my office and let me write it! ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2016, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chalk-on-the-sidewalk-boo-hoo-hoo/750025/3 "2016-03-24T15:40:33Z")
_"University President James W. Wagner…wrote that he intends to implement “immediate refinements to certain policy and procedural deficiencies, regular and structured opportunities for difficult dialogues, a formal process to institutionalize identification, review and [the] addressing of social justice opportunities and issues and a commitment to an annual retreat to renew our efforts.” "_ This registers so high on the Bullshit-O-Meter that nothing Emory students have said could possibly top it. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2016, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chalk-on-the-sidewalk-boo-hoo-hoo/750025/4 "2016-03-24T15:44:38Z")
As Justice Brandeis said, the remedy for bad chalk is more chalk. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2016, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chalk-on-the-sidewalk-boo-hoo-hoo/750025/5 "2016-03-24T15:44:43Z")
Normally I am ambivalent to these sorts of things or even slightly able to be empathetic to the student protesters. Because, whatever…protest away. But I read the article twice and I cannot, for the life of me, figure out why the kids’ reaction to these chalkings was to march up to the administration and start yelling. Why not get buckets of water and wash them away in defiance? Why not get yourself some chalk and draw penises over the ads and “Fuck Trump!” all over the sidewalks? They complained that there had been swift action when a swastika appeared on campus and wondered why these chalkings didn’t get the same treatment. I understand the tenuous link between Trump and Hitler _right now_ but the symbol and the campaign signs are really VASTLY different. I’m mad at these kids for chipping away at my ability to empathize :-/ ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2016, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chalk-on-the-sidewalk-boo-hoo-hoo/750025/6 "2016-03-24T15:47:22Z")
I was at Purdue in the late 70s. There were a lot of Iranian students there who didn’t like the shah, and they expressed their discontent by spray-painting messages on the sidewalks around campus. THAT raised quite a ruckus. I suspect chalking wouldn’t have even raised an eyebrow… ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2016, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chalk-on-the-sidewalk-boo-hoo-hoo/750025/7 "2016-03-24T15:59:17Z")
A “Trump 2016” _sidewalk chalking_ merits student protests?! These kids need more homework or something else better to do. It’s too bad the chancellor can’t pull out some weed and tell them to have some and chill out. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2016, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chalk-on-the-sidewalk-boo-hoo-hoo/750025/8 "2016-03-24T15:59:50Z")
Man college students are a sensitive bunch. 😛 One thing after another upsets these precious little darlings. 100 year old statues, insensitive speech in the classroom, the word Trump written in chalk. Why it’s just too much for their delicate brains to process. How ever can they possibly cope? :eek: 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2016, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chalk-on-the-sidewalk-boo-hoo-hoo/750025/9 "2016-03-24T16:00:18Z")
> [@Peremensoe](#): > > As Justice Brandeis said, the remedy for bad chalk is more chalk. The only thing that can stop a bad guy with chalk is a good guy with more chalk. ---
**Author:** ![Sahirrnee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sahirrnee/32/13937_2.png) [@Sahirrnee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sahirrnee)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2016, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chalk-on-the-sidewalk-boo-hoo-hoo/750025/10 "2016-03-24T16:01:51Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > _"University President James W. Wagner…wrote that he intends to implement “immediate refinements to certain policy and procedural deficiencies, regular and structured opportunities for difficult dialogues, a formal process to institutionalize identification, review and [the] addressing of social justice opportunities and issues and a commitment to an annual retreat to renew our efforts.” "_ > > This registers so high on the Bullshit-O-Meter that nothing Emory students have said could possibly top it. I’m amazed that somebody could say so little with so many words. However, the part about ‘a commitment to an annual retreat’ part is probably true. I suspect that retreat includes a lot of alcohol. I’m sure they need it. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2016, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chalk-on-the-sidewalk-boo-hoo-hoo/750025/11 "2016-03-24T16:10:03Z")
Screw the students why didn’t the president send the freaking janitor, at the first request? Done, and done! ---
**Author:** ![Heart\_of\_Dorkness](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/4bbf92/32.png) [@Heart\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heart_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2016, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chalk-on-the-sidewalk-boo-hoo-hoo/750025/12 "2016-03-24T16:11:00Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > Normally I am ambivalent to these sorts of things or even slightly able to be empathetic to the student protesters. Because, whatever…protest away. > > But I read the article twice and I cannot, for the life of me, figure out why the kids’ reaction to these chalkings was to march up to the administration and start yelling. Why not get buckets of water and wash them away in defiance? Why not get yourself some chalk and draw penises over the ads and “Fuck Trump!” all over the sidewalks? > > They complained that there had been swift action when a swastika appeared on campus and wondered why these chalkings didn’t get the same treatment. I understand the tenuous link between Trump and Hitler _right now_ but the symbol and the campaign signs are really VASTLY different. > > I’m mad at these kids for chipping away at my ability to empathize :-/ This, all of this, exactly. I just… do they not read _1984_ in high schools anymore? ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2016, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chalk-on-the-sidewalk-boo-hoo-hoo/750025/13 "2016-03-24T16:15:43Z")
> [@Heart\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > This, all of this, exactly. > > I just… do they not read _1984_ in high schools anymore? Nope, they don’t - or at least many of them don’t. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2016, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chalk-on-the-sidewalk-boo-hoo-hoo/750025/14 "2016-03-24T16:20:53Z")
Trump is an actual candidate for office. “Trump 2016” is a conventional bumper-sticker slogan. Do you want to bet that there are plenty of “Hilary! 2016” and “Feel the Bern” chalkings on campus? These people are freaking out at the idea that there may be people on campus who support a political candidate they do not like. THAT is the scary part of this. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2016, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chalk-on-the-sidewalk-boo-hoo-hoo/750025/15 "2016-03-24T16:29:55Z")
> [@](#): > > “I’m supposed to feel comfortable and safe [here],” one student said. “But this man is being supported by students on our campus and our administration shows that they, by their silence, support it as well … I don’t deserve to feel afraid at my school,” she added. Putting aside that feeling comfortable – in this case clearly never having to feel uncomfortable – is antithetical to much of the learning process (remember Socrates?), how immature do you have to be to fear for your safety because someone holds a political view different from yours? These kids come across to me as intellectual and emotional babies. Helicopter parenting is bearing fruit, sadly. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2016, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chalk-on-the-sidewalk-boo-hoo-hoo/750025/16 "2016-03-24T16:36:55Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > Screw the students why didn’t the president send the freaking janitor, at the first request? I’d assume that, on a typical college campus, there’s about thirty-bajillion maintenance tasks that should take precedence over some scary sidewalk chalk. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2016, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chalk-on-the-sidewalk-boo-hoo-hoo/750025/17 "2016-03-24T16:49:15Z")
> [@Gary\_T](#): > > Putting aside that feeling comfortable – in this case clearly never having to feel uncomfortable – is antithetical to much of the learning process (remember Socrates?), how immature do you have to be to fear for your safety because someone holds a political view different from yours? These kids come across to me as intellectual and emotional babies. Helicopter parenting is bearing fruit, sadly. I’ve seen numerous articles about students complaining about college professors that dare discuss controversial subjects or asks them to read a book like Huckleberry Finn. They feel uncomfortable and threatened. :smack: I’m not sure how anyone can grow and mature intellectually without having their view of the world challenged occasionally. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2016, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chalk-on-the-sidewalk-boo-hoo-hoo/750025/18 "2016-03-24T17:00:53Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > … I’m not sure how anyone can grow and mature intellectually … Since when is this a goal? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2016, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chalk-on-the-sidewalk-boo-hoo-hoo/750025/19 "2016-03-24T17:03:29Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > But I read the article twice and I cannot, for the life of me, figure out why the kids’ reaction to these chalkings was to march up to the administration and start yelling. Why not get buckets of water and wash them away in defiance? Why not get yourself some chalk and draw penises over the ads and “Fuck Trump!” all over the sidewalks? Or simply add chalk swastikas to each Trump drawing. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Parker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/35a633/32.png) [@Richard\_Parker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Parker)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2016, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chalk-on-the-sidewalk-boo-hoo-hoo/750025/20 "2016-03-24T17:11:00Z")
This is the fundamental tension created by the embrace of so-called “hate speech” by many on the Left and some on the Right. It is foolish to imagine that you can draw a consistent line between hate speech and extreme political speech. Trump is the perfect example of an inhabitant of the gray area in between. If the chalk had been “David Duke 2016” would that be OK? How about “No more Muslim immigrants?” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chalk-on-the-sidewalk-boo-hoo-hoo/750025.md?page=2)