# Has the media misrepresented the incident with the Covington Cathlic kids? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [January 22, 2019, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-media-misrepresented-the-incident-with-the-covington-cathlic-kids/828210 "2019-01-22T17:23:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 13
**Author:** ![Airbeck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/airbeck/32/6574_2.png) [@Airbeck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airbeck)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2019, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-media-misrepresented-the-incident-with-the-covington-cathlic-kids/828210/241 "2019-01-23T21:03:07Z")
> [@The\_Plutonium\_Kid](#): > > Compared to the typical leftie, a rabid wolverine would be the civil one. You just proved my point. Typical lefty? What democrats or liberals do you know personally? Any? How on Earth can you speak about the “typical lefty”? Based on what you see in internet comment section? Do you think I can know what the typical righty is like by reading conservative internet comments? Have you ever had a conversation with a democrat in real life? But you just know that based on the fact that I tend to identify with the left of the political spectrum that I’m likely less civil than a rabid wolverine? Do you hear how ridiculous you are sounding? ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2019, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-media-misrepresented-the-incident-with-the-covington-cathlic-kids/828210/242 "2019-01-23T21:04:42Z")
> [@Airbeck](#): > > Attack? When was there an attack? That appears to be a fabrication on your part. I’m not aware of anyone being attacked in this incident. Was there a police report filed for assault and battery? The dictionary is your friend. (But only if you chose to use one.) \ ***attack** verb (CRITICIZE) [T] to criticize someone or something strongly: Critics have attacked her ideas as antidemocratic. In TV ads, he attacked his opponent’s record. **attack** noun [C/U] (CRITICISM) An attack is also strong criticism of someone or something: [U] The more he speaks out, the more he comes under attack\*. > **[attack](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/attack)** > > 1. to try to hurt or defeat using violence: 2. to criticize someone strongly… ---
**Author:** ![Airbeck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/airbeck/32/6574_2.png) [@Airbeck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airbeck)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2019, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-media-misrepresented-the-incident-with-the-covington-cathlic-kids/828210/243 "2019-01-23T21:04:48Z")
> [@The\_Plutonium\_Kid](#): > > Bah. If it wasn’t for double standards, lefties would have no standards at all. OMG OBAMA WORE A TAN SUIT!!! OMG OBAMA ATE DIJON MUSTARD!!! Grab em by the pussy: meh Yeah you guys don’t have double standards at all :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Airbeck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/airbeck/32/6574_2.png) [@Airbeck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airbeck)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2019, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-media-misrepresented-the-incident-with-the-covington-cathlic-kids/828210/244 "2019-01-23T21:06:23Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > The dictionary is your friend. (But only if you chose to use one.) > > \ ***attack** > verb (CRITICIZE) > > [T] to criticize someone or something strongly: > > Critics have attacked her ideas as antidemocratic. > > In TV ads, he attacked his opponent’s record. > **attack** > noun [C/U] (CRITICISM) > > An attack is also strong criticism of someone or something: > > [U] The more he speaks out, the more he comes under attack\*. > > [ATTACK | definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/attack) What is it that you think you are accomplishing with this dictionary definition? Can you tell me the time stamp of the video where the attack occurred? ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2019, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-media-misrepresented-the-incident-with-the-covington-cathlic-kids/828210/245 "2019-01-23T21:08:28Z")
> [@Airbeck](#): > > What is it that you think you are accomplishing with this dictionary definition? Can you tell me the time stamp of the video where the attack occurred? The whole idea just kind of sailed right over your head, didn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2019, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-media-misrepresented-the-incident-with-the-covington-cathlic-kids/828210/246 "2019-01-23T21:08:38Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > Can anyone translate this for me? He’s making up and misusing words at an unprecedented pace. Which word didn’t you understand? ---
**Author:** ![Airbeck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/airbeck/32/6574_2.png) [@Airbeck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airbeck)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2019, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-media-misrepresented-the-incident-with-the-covington-cathlic-kids/828210/247 "2019-01-23T21:13:53Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > The whole idea just kind of sailed right over your head, didn’t it? Do you think anyone was attacked in the video? When did the attack occur? Or are you just calling what happened an attack because its a loaded term in this context? I remember some thread where you claimed having perspective was important. Do you think using inflammatory language like attacked is helping or hurting with the perspective of this situation? And please save the condescension. You are on doorhinge’s side ffs. That combo is not a good look. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2019, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-media-misrepresented-the-incident-with-the-covington-cathlic-kids/828210/248 "2019-01-23T21:14:12Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > Which word didn’t you understand? Lame street something or other. Hollywierd ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2019, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-media-misrepresented-the-incident-with-the-covington-cathlic-kids/828210/249 "2019-01-23T21:15:00Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > > [@Kimstu (at 1:49 today)](#): > > > > Sure, and I don’t see anybody here trying to claim that the hateful bigoted “Black Israelite” rabble-rousers should get a pass on their vile actions. > > > [@begbert2 (at 1:52 today)](#): > > > > The whole “screaming racist insults” thing doesn’t bother me, since I consider the act of wearing a MAGA hat to be equivalent to making threats of race-based violence. > > Perhaps you meant you hadn’t seen it yet. Why yes, it is true that when I posted my remark at 1:49 I had not seen the remark that **begbert2** posted at 1:52. Brilliant deduction, Sherlock. :rolleyes: And now that I **have** seen that (subsequent) remark, I do not endorse it. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2019, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-media-misrepresented-the-incident-with-the-covington-cathlic-kids/828210/250 "2019-01-23T21:22:23Z")
> [@Airbeck](#): > > Do you think anyone was attacked in the video? When did the attack occur? Or are you just calling what happened an attack because its a loaded term in this context? I remember some thread where you claimed having perspective was important. Do you think using inflammatory language like attacked is helping or hurting with the perspective of this situation? > > And please save the condescension. You are on doorhinge’s side ffs. That combo is not a good look. I think **doorhinge** ’s point was crystal clear, to anyone who is even minimally-informed about this topic and how it has developed over the last few days. To recap, here’s what he posted: > [@doorhinge](#): > > You’re attempting to justify the actions of the racist, yellow dog Democrat, hat-hating mob who chose to attack a teenager who hadn’t done anything wrong. The teenager simply stood there while an old man, and his entourage, attempted to bully him. The old man invaded that teenagers personal space. :eek: ( And we know how progressives hate it when someone invades someone’s space. 😉 ) The teenager didn’t utter a word. And the racist yellow dogs lit up the internet with their ignorance of what actually happened. Hollyweird, and the lame stream media, jumped on board the racist train without bothering to verify if some internet assholes were even stating facts, rumors, or horseshit. I think SSDD rules apply here. The lame stream media-types, the yellow dogs, the Hollyweirdos, and those who are simply haters for the sheer joy of being haters, had a field day attacking a teenager, a white teenager wearing a hat they do not approve of, for doing nothing wrong. I’m going to try to be charitable and assume that you really don’t understand what you got wrong. I’ll try to explain it, slowly. Notice that doorhinge’s post does not specify where / when the “attack” took place? He used the word “attack” twice: 1. “the racist, yellow dog Democrat, hat-hating mob who chose to attack a teenager who hadn’t done anything wrong” 2. “The lame stream media-types, the yellow dogs, the Hollyweirdos, and those who are simply haters for the sheer joy of being haters, had a field day attacking a teenager” He never said the attack happened “in the video”. That was something you imagined / invented all on your own. It seems pretty obvious to me, and I’m a bit surprised it’s not obvious to you, that the “attack” he’s referring to is the online frenzy with threats and denouncements and “strong criticism” (now would be a good time to refer to that definition of “attack” he posted for you), which all occurred after the video was posted online. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2019, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-media-misrepresented-the-incident-with-the-covington-cathlic-kids/828210/251 "2019-01-23T21:24:03Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > … And now that I **have** seen that (subsequent) remark, I do not endorse it. How very brave of you. ---
**Author:** ![BeenJammin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beenjammin/32/448_2.png) [@BeenJammin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeenJammin)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2019, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-media-misrepresented-the-incident-with-the-covington-cathlic-kids/828210/252 "2019-01-23T21:26:35Z")
Love that quantum mechanics-based endorsement policy. :smack: > [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > The whole idea just kind of sailed right over your head, didn’t it? [If only it was just about hats and personal space.](https://chicago.cbslocal.com/2019/01/23/army-vet-trump-shirt/) ---
**Author:** ![Airbeck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/airbeck/32/6574_2.png) [@Airbeck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airbeck)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2019, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-media-misrepresented-the-incident-with-the-covington-cathlic-kids/828210/253 "2019-01-23T21:33:17Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > I think **doorhinge** ’s point was crystal clear, to anyone who is even minimally-informed about this topic and how it has developed over the last few days. To recap, here’s what he posted: > > I’m going to try to be charitable and assume that you really don’t understand what you got wrong. I’ll try to explain it, slowly. > > Notice that doorhinge’s post does not specify where / when the “attack” took place? He used the word “attack” twice: > > 1. “the racist, yellow dog Democrat, hat-hating mob who chose to attack a teenager who hadn’t done anything wrong” > > 2. “The lame stream media-types, the yellow dogs, the Hollyweirdos, and those who are simply haters for the sheer joy of being haters, had a field day attacking a teenager” > > He never said the attack happened “in the video”. That was something you imagined / invented all on your own. It seems pretty obvious to me, and I’m a bit surprised it’s not obvious to you, that the “attack” he’s referring to is the online frenzy with threats and denouncements and “strong criticism” (now would be a good time to refer to that definition of “attack” he posted for you), which all occurred after the video was posted online. What I think is obvious is that you’ve found a way to use your main tactic on this board of finding some simple error that really isn’t the main points being debated and you pick at that as if it means anything, and you are now back to the condescension as if you’ve accomplished anything at all. Doorhinge’s post was a rambling incoherent mess, so gee you got me, I misinterpreted part of his word salad. Congratulations I guess? It doesn’t make his word salad any more comprehensible or factual. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2019, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-media-misrepresented-the-incident-with-the-covington-cathlic-kids/828210/254 "2019-01-23T21:33:49Z")
> [@BeenJammin](#): > > Love that quantum mechanics-based endorsement policy. :smack: > > [If only it was just about hats and personal space.](https://chicago.cbslocal.com/2019/01/23/army-vet-trump-shirt/) So… who’s the victim, exactly? The guy who was asked not to wear a Trump shirt at the gym, or the gym that got threats of arson after asking the guy not to wear a Trump shirt at the gym? Let me guess… the guy, right? Shirts outrank arson. ---
**Author:** ![Airbeck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/airbeck/32/6574_2.png) [@Airbeck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airbeck)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2019, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-media-misrepresented-the-incident-with-the-covington-cathlic-kids/828210/255 "2019-01-23T21:34:56Z")
> [@BeenJammin](#): > > Love that quantum mechanics-based endorsement policy. :smack: > > [If only it was just about hats and personal space.](https://chicago.cbslocal.com/2019/01/23/army-vet-trump-shirt/) Are the threats to burn down the gym part of the Republican civility you guys keep talking about? ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2019, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-media-misrepresented-the-incident-with-the-covington-cathlic-kids/828210/256 "2019-01-23T21:36:11Z")
> [@Airbeck](#): > > What I think is obvious is that you’ve found a way to use your main tactic on this board of finding some simple error that really isn’t the main points being debated and you pick at that as if it means anything, and you are now back to the condescension as if you’ve accomplished anything at all. Doorhinge’s post was a rambling incoherent mess, so gee you got me, I misinterpreted part of his word salad. Congratulations I guess? It doesn’t make his word salad any more comprehensible or factual. Are you kidding??!? The MAIN POINT of your post was that you didn’t understand what he meant by “attack” and imagined incorrectly that it referred to a physical assault “in the video”. Go back and read your own words: > [@Airbeck](#): > > Attack? When was there an attack? That appears to be a fabrication on your part. I’m not aware of anyone being attacked in this incident. Was there a police report filed for assault and battery? What, aside from your misunderstanding of the word “attack”, is the “main point” of that post? ---
**Author:** ![Airbeck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/airbeck/32/6574_2.png) [@Airbeck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airbeck)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2019, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-media-misrepresented-the-incident-with-the-covington-cathlic-kids/828210/257 "2019-01-23T21:39:35Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > Are you kidding??!? The MAIN POINT of your post was that you didn’t understand what he meant by “attack” and imagined incorrectly that it referred to a physical assault “in the video”. Go back and read your own words: > > What, aside from your misunderstanding of the word “attack”, is the “main point” of that post? The main point of the thread. Of the thread. The thread. See you do get stuck on tiny details and think that winning one pedantic point means something. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2019, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-media-misrepresented-the-incident-with-the-covington-cathlic-kids/828210/258 "2019-01-23T21:43:35Z")
> [@Airbeck](#): > > The main point of the thread. Of the thread. The thread. > > See you do get stuck on tiny details and think that winning one pedantic point means something. The “attack” that **doorhinge** referred to is literally the main point of this thread (that you’ve been participating in but seem unaware of). The title is literally “Has the media misrepresented the incident with the Covington Cathlic kids?” We’re not discussing some random sidebar triviality. We’re actually right on topic with this little exchange about the “attack” and you apparently being unaware of it. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2019, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-media-misrepresented-the-incident-with-the-covington-cathlic-kids/828210/259 "2019-01-23T21:45:43Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > We’re not discussing some random sidebar triviality. We’re actually right on topic with this little exchange about the “attack” and you apparently being unaware of it. Could you define “sidebar” for the help of everyone focusing on the topic of the thread and not your defense of posting definitions of words? ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2019, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-media-misrepresented-the-incident-with-the-covington-cathlic-kids/828210/260 "2019-01-23T21:51:09Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > Could you define “sidebar” for the help of everyone focusing on the topic of the thread and not your defense of posting definitions of words? Is this sarcasm / a joke? You asked me to post a definition in the same sentence that you complained about people posting definitions. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-media-misrepresented-the-incident-with-the-covington-cathlic-kids/828210.md?page=12) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-media-misrepresented-the-incident-with-the-covington-cathlic-kids/828210.md?page=14)