# Is internet shaming a good way to combat racism and bigotry? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 7, 2017, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-internet-shaming-a-good-way-to-combat-racism-and-bigotry/786082 "2017-05-07T19:39:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2017, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-internet-shaming-a-good-way-to-combat-racism-and-bigotry/786082/161 "2017-05-09T19:02:01Z")
> [@octopus](#): > > Let’s put it this way iiandyiiii, would you hire a rapist or a murderer or a thief who has been released from prison? If you wouldn’t personally should anyone hire them? How about someone convicted for arson, assault, or something else? Should those people be wards of the state for the rest of their lives? Should they be dependent on private charity? > > Ok. If we can accept that criminals ought to be able to earn a living and maybe even have a friend why can’t we accept that some random person ranting and raving on the street doesn’t deserve to lose her job, all of her friends, and all that she owns because someone’s outrage-o-meter went off? > > Secondly, we have the issue that people are damn right nutty, no offense to nuts, with their partisanship nowadays. Trump supporter? You must be a closet racist, misogynist, bigot, etc-o-phobe. That deplorable should be fired or ostracized. > > What if you are a member of a religion that has a holy text that says certain sexual practices are abhorrent? If you believe that or support that why should you have a job? > > What if you don’t support a position strongly enough? That lack of support and money should be shamed! At some point we have a mob based totalitarian society. People getting their heads cracked with bicycle locks due to political differences is where this inability to act as an adult leads. There’s nothing about “deserve” – it’s about everyone’s freedom to choose who to be friends with, or who to employ. I said that I could remain friends and retain employment for someone who made a racist rant as long as they apologized sincerely and expressed a desire to improve themselves. Similarly, I could be friends with or employ an ex-con in certain circumstances, and especially if they apologized for their crimes and improved themselves. If someone goes on a racist rant in public, is publicly called out for it, and then loses friends and their job, then _that’s their fault_, not anyone else’s. It’s up to them how to respond. If they apologize sincerely and try to improve themselves, then they’ll have a great chance to regain their friends and their job, or new friends and a new job. If they double down and blame liberals and SJWs for ruining their lives, taking no responsibility for anything they did, they might be less likely to do so. That’s up to them. And this says nothing about doxxing, or threats, or violence, which are completely different, and wrong. People can be publicly called out for good reasons and for bad reasons. I have no problem with calling people out for good reasons, and I doubt you do either – the only disagreement is probably about what constitutes a good reason. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2017, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-internet-shaming-a-good-way-to-combat-racism-and-bigotry/786082/162 "2017-05-09T19:02:24Z")
> [@octopus](#): > > A permanent underclass of thought criminals doesn’t seem like a good idea? Aggressive assholery toward others does not constitute a “thought crime”. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2017, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-internet-shaming-a-good-way-to-combat-racism-and-bigotry/786082/163 "2017-05-09T19:04:27Z")
> [@octopus](#): > > Perhaps my upbringing has influenced my desire for things to be let go and the past to be the past. I grew up in a diverse neighborhood. Some ethnic tension. I had friends of all sorts of ethnic or racial or whatever you want to call it background and sometimes words, even racially charged words would be exchanged, fists might fly for a few minutes. Then it was back to being friends and getting on with the day. Honestly, this quest for Cosmic Justice!!! is tiresome. That’s your perspective. Many of your friends may have different ones. I’ve known lots of older white folks to say that when they were young, race relations were great – they were very friendly with their black neighbors. The perspectives from their actual neighbors, now all grown up, were usually quite different – they didn’t see these people as friends or friendly, but were polite due to extreme fear. They didn’t see their community as welcoming or kind, but kept quiet and didn’t complain out of terror of the authorities and law enforcement. ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2017, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-internet-shaming-a-good-way-to-combat-racism-and-bigotry/786082/164 "2017-05-09T19:15:12Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > There’s nothing about “deserve” – it’s about everyone’s freedom to choose who to be friends with, or who to employ. I said that I could remain friends and retain employment for someone who made a racist rant as long as they apologized sincerely and expressed a desire to improve themselves. Similarly, I could be friends with or employ an ex-con in certain circumstances, and especially if they apologized for their crimes and improved themselves. > > If someone goes on a racist rant in public, is publicly called out for it, and then loses friends and their job, then _that’s their fault_, not anyone else’s. It’s up to them how to respond. If they apologize sincerely and try to improve themselves, then they’ll have a great chance to regain their friends and their job, or new friends and a new job. If they double down and blame liberals and SJWs for ruining their lives, taking no responsibility for anything they did, they might be less likely to do so. That’s up to them. > > And this says nothing about doxxing, or threats, or violence. People can be publicly called out for good reasons and for bad reasons. I have no problem with calling people out for good reasons, and I doubt you do either – the only disagreement is probably about what constitutes a good reason. Are you ignoring the fact that they might not be fired or lose friends because of the rant but because of the damn horde of internet based harassment that can follow? You don’t get the fact that the magnitude is now uncontrollable and unconstrained. You have a lot of faith in a perfectly calibrated response using a dangerous weapon. Here’s another example. Let’s say we start creating a database of folks who participate in violent or obnoxious anti-Trump or anti-free speech protests. Wear a non dorky version of Google Glass and it can label the person on the forehead with an overlay as such member. Technology is progressing. And at some point you won’t be able to escape anything in your past. And there may not be much privacy. You might think that everyone should be pure or sincerely trying to be pure. That’s great. But humanity isn’t pure and to expect that a random magnitude response to any action judged by a mob to be less than pure virtue will lead to a pleasant society is mistaken. Here’s an action that is probably racist, ageist, ableist, and misogynist. It’s also a crime. [Broward Teen Gets Home Detention After Video Allegedly Shows Him Throwing Woman Into Water at Pool Party – NBC 6 South Florida](http://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/Man-Throws-Woman-With-Dogs-Into-Pool-at-South-Florida-Pool-Party-421644904.html) Should this young man and all those who encouraged him be publicly shamed and lose their jobs/benefits and all friends for several years? Or should they spend a bit of time in jail and be able to get on with their lives? ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2017, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-internet-shaming-a-good-way-to-combat-racism-and-bigotry/786082/165 "2017-05-09T19:18:12Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > That’s your perspective. Many of your friends may have different ones. I’ve known lots of older white folks to say that when they were young, race relations were great – they were very friendly with their black neighbors. The perspectives from their actual neighbors, now all grown up, were usually quite different – they didn’t see these people as friends or friendly, but were polite due to extreme fear. They didn’t see their community as welcoming or kind, but kept quiet and didn’t complain out of terror of the authorities and law enforcement. We fought together and played together. It was a rough neighborhood. But you can’t go through life carrying ridiculous grudges. That’s the problem with kids nowadays. Get off my lawn. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2017, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-internet-shaming-a-good-way-to-combat-racism-and-bigotry/786082/166 "2017-05-09T19:29:19Z")
> [@octopus](#): > > Are you ignoring the fact that they might not be fired or lose friends because of the rant but because of the damn horde of internet based harassment that can follow? You don’t get the fact that the magnitude is now uncontrollable and unconstrained. You have a lot of faith in a perfectly calibrated response using a dangerous weapon. This is a danger with any speech whatsoever. I don’t see how publicly calling out bad behavior is any more likely to spark something bad than any other form of speech. > [@](#): > > Here’s another example. Let’s say we start creating a database of folks who participate in violent or obnoxious anti-Trump or anti-free speech protests. Wear a non dorky version of Google Glass and it can label the person on the forehead with an overlay as such member. Technology is progressing. And at some point you won’t be able to escape anything in your past. And there may not be much privacy. So what’s your point? Yes, this could occur. Bad things can happen. Tools can be used for good or ill. There’s nothing you or I can do to stop this. This is a consequence of freedom of speech. > [@](#): > > You might think that everyone should be pure or sincerely trying to be pure. That’s great. But humanity isn’t pure and to expect that a random magnitude response to any action judged by a mob to be less than pure virtue will lead to a pleasant society is mistaken. While I hope everyone would try to be a good person, I understand this isn’t so. It has nothing to do with my position. > [@](#): > > Here’s an action that is probably racist, ageist, ableist, and misogynist. It’s also a crime. [Broward Teen Gets Home Detention After Video Allegedly Shows Him Throwing Woman Into Water at Pool Party – NBC 6 South Florida](http://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/Man-Throws-Woman-With-Dogs-Into-Pool-at-South-Florida-Pool-Party-421644904.html) Should this young man and all those who encouraged him be publicly shamed and lose their jobs/benefits and all friends for several years? Or should they spend a bit of time in jail and be able to get on with their lives? If they committed a crime, they should be prosecuted. If they behaved badly, they might be publicly criticized. I make no judgment about losing friends, benefits, or jobs. How they act, and how they respond if they are prosecuted or criticized, is entirely up to them. I’m for personal responsibility. This means that sometimes bad behavior will go public. Decent and mature people should take responsibility for this and apologize sincerely if they did something bad and it goes public. ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2017, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-internet-shaming-a-good-way-to-combat-racism-and-bigotry/786082/167 "2017-05-09T20:28:03Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > This is a danger with any speech whatsoever. I don’t see how publicly calling out bad behavior is any more likely to spark something bad than any other form of speech. > > So what’s your point? Yes, this could occur. Bad things can happen. Tools can be used for good or ill. > > There’s nothing you or I can do to stop this. This is a consequence of freedom of speech. > > While I hope everyone would try to be a good person, I understand this isn’t so. It has nothing to do with my position. > > If they committed a crime, they should be prosecuted. If they behaved badly, they might be publicly criticized. I make no judgment about losing friends, benefits, or jobs. How they act, and how they respond if they are prosecuted or criticized, is entirely up to them. > > I’m for personal responsibility. This means that sometimes bad behavior will go public. Decent and mature people should take responsibility for this and apologize sincerely if they did something bad and it goes public. Why not make a judgement about them losing jobs or friends? That is what this thread is about. Severe life altering/ruining consequences for public behavior. If you don’t understand the danger of how the internet amplifies and encourages mob mentality I know I can’t convince you. In time, hopefully, you’ll grasp proportionality for political incorrectness and punishment/vengeance. Perhaps we can adopt some anachronistic behaviors in the US to help persuade family members and associates to behave with honor and without shame. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2017, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-internet-shaming-a-good-way-to-combat-racism-and-bigotry/786082/168 "2017-05-09T20:52:17Z")
> [@octopus](#): > > Why not make a judgement about them losing jobs or friends? That is what this thread is about. Severe life altering/ruining consequences for public behavior. I can’t make a judgment about what people I don’t know deserve. This debate isn’t about what people deserve, it’s about what actions are appropriate in response to bad behavior. I hold that it’s reasonable to call out bad behavior in public. I think you’re alleging that this leads to unjustly ruined lives, but that case hasn’t been successful in my opinion. This is speech being responded to with speech, which in other threads, you’ve advocated for. Why must speech be responded to with silence in these cases? > [@](#): > > If you don’t understand the danger of how the internet amplifies and encourages mob mentality I know I can’t convince you. In time, hopefully, you’ll grasp proportionality for political incorrectness and punishment/vengeance. The internet absolutely can do this. Tools can be used for good and for ill. Assholes can respond with assholery. This doesn’t affect my position. > [@](#): > > Perhaps we can adopt some anachronistic behaviors in the US to help persuade family members and associates to behave with honor and without shame. Feel free to suggest some such behaviors. ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2017, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-internet-shaming-a-good-way-to-combat-racism-and-bigotry/786082/169 "2017-05-09T21:04:10Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > I can’t make a judgment about what people I don’t know deserve. This debate isn’t about what people deserve, it’s about what actions are appropriate in response to bad behavior. I hold that it’s reasonable to call out bad behavior in public. I think you’re alleging that this leads to unjustly ruined lives, but that case hasn’t been successful in my opinion. > > This is speech being responded to with speech, which in other threads, you’ve advocated for. Why must speech be responded to with silence in these cases? It’s not speech met with silence that I’m advocating. You don’t lose all your friends and a job for several years if pressure and harassment aren’t employed. Are you not reading the OP? What exactly are you responding to? The premise was consequences ought to include losing her job for several years and her friends. Not speech met with speech. Let’s at least debate the same topic. > [@](#): > > The internet absolutely can do this. Tools can be used for good and for ill. Assholes can respond with assholery. This doesn’t affect my position. And as tools develop usage needs to as well. You think Hulk Hogan was treated fairly? I don’t. He was ranting in private and lost a tremendous amount. That’s the internet being used as a weapon. Who wants to deal with a horde of crazed internet denizens? > [@](#): > > Feel free to suggest some such behaviors. Public whipping, stoning, amputations? Those are tools used in other cultures, sometimes for good and sometimes for ill, to control behavior. Consequence people with a flog or sword and maybe then people will sincerely repent. I’d rather take a cane strike on the buttocks than lose my job for years. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2017, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-internet-shaming-a-good-way-to-combat-racism-and-bigotry/786082/170 "2017-05-09T21:12:49Z")
> [@octopus](#): > > It’s not speech met with silence that I’m advocating. You don’t lose all your friends and a job for several years if pressure and harassment aren’t employed. > > Are you not reading the OP? What exactly are you responding to? The premise was consequences ought to include losing her job for several years and her friends. Not speech met with speech. > > Let’s at least debate the same topic. These consequences are due to the free choices of employers and friends. What are you advocating for – that these friends continue a friendship that they don’t want? That employers continue to employ someone they think is harming their business? I have no control over these consequences, except for my own friends and employees. > [@](#): > > And as tools develop usage needs to as well. You think Hulk Hogan was treated fairly? I don’t. He was ranting in private and lost a tremendous amount. That’s the internet being used as a weapon. Who wants to deal with a horde of crazed internet denizens? He said something dumb which went public. So what? He’s a public figure. The internet probably spread it more widely and more quickly than otherwise. I’m not sure what your point is, here. What did I do wrong in that instance? What did **monstro**? What did anyone do wrong, aside from Hogan? > [@](#): > > Public whipping, stoning, amputations? Those are tools used in other cultures, sometimes for good and sometimes for ill, to control behavior. Consequence people with a flog or sword and maybe then people will sincerely repent. I’d rather take a cane strike on the buttocks than lose my job for years. Would you rather just not say racist things in public? I would prefer we not bring back such cruel and unusual punishment, especially for protected speech. What you’re complaining about appears to me to be the free speech and actions of others as a consequence to someone’s bad behavior. If it’s not that, than what? What actions are supposed to change, in your mind? ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2017, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-internet-shaming-a-good-way-to-combat-racism-and-bigotry/786082/171 "2017-05-09T21:33:15Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > I don’t believe in karma, but I do think there should be consequences for shitty behavior. She’s entitled to as many shitty opinions as she wants. But I believe once she started spouted off in public, in front of a camera, she gave everyone permission to judge her and thus act on those judgments. I love some schadenfreude as much as anybody, but this simply isn’t how society should work. People should have a shot at due process and redemption. She shouldn’t have the rest of her life burned to the ground just because she said some awful things. This could be you. Before you say you’d never do anything that bad, remember that the mob is unconcerned with evidence, deliberation, or reasonable sentencing. Once the internet decides you’re a monster and gets your identity, life as you know it is over. ---
**Author:** ![drewder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/57b2e6/32.png) [@drewder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewder)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2017, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-internet-shaming-a-good-way-to-combat-racism-and-bigotry/786082/172 "2017-05-09T21:34:27Z")
It wasn’t that long ago that advocating gay marriage would have been considered immoral, should employers have fired employees who advocated for such? Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![you\_with\_the\_face](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ecccb3/32.png) [@you\_with\_the\_face](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/you_with_the_face)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2017, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-internet-shaming-a-good-way-to-combat-racism-and-bigotry/786082/173 "2017-05-09T21:39:48Z")
> [@octopus](#): > > It’s not speech met with silence that I’m advocating. You don’t lose all your friends and a job for several years **if pressure and harassment aren’t employed.** You state this matter-of-factly, but I believe otherwise. People lose friends all the time, for offenses less egregious than the kinds of things we’re talking about. They also lose jobs for stuff as minor as talking shit about their company on Facebook. In other words, internet mob action is not necessary for people to face regular, every day consequences for ass-showing. Do you think it’s unfair the feller who yelled “fuck her in the pussy” at the reporter lost his job? I assume this was a choice his employer made without public coercion, seeing how it was a public utility and not really vulnerable to boycott threats. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2017, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-internet-shaming-a-good-way-to-combat-racism-and-bigotry/786082/174 "2017-05-09T21:46:22Z")
I think whatever conversation there was to be had here is over. There is no answer to a “they done wrong, so what happens to them, happens” attitude. Welcome to the 21st century and its neo-Puritans. They’re the good guys. Just ask them. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2017, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-internet-shaming-a-good-way-to-combat-racism-and-bigotry/786082/175 "2017-05-09T21:48:16Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > I think whatever conversation there was to be had here is over. There is no answer to a “they done wrong, so what happens to them, happens” attitude. Welcome to the 21st century and its neo-Puritans. They’re the good guys. Just ask them. That straw man is done slayed. Well done! ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2017, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-internet-shaming-a-good-way-to-combat-racism-and-bigotry/786082/176 "2017-05-09T21:51:59Z")
Again, mob vigilantism goes both ways. ---
**Author:** ![you\_with\_the\_face](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ecccb3/32.png) [@you\_with\_the\_face](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/you_with_the_face)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2017, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-internet-shaming-a-good-way-to-combat-racism-and-bigotry/786082/177 "2017-05-09T21:54:23Z")
> [@HMS\_Irruncible](#): > > I love some schadenfreude as much as anybody, but this simply isn’t how society should work. When you say you don’t think society should work like this, do you mean you think society shouldn’t support people’s right to form and express opinions about offensive behavior using the internet? Or do you mean you don’t think people or organizations should decide whom to associate with based on their opinions about a person’s behavior? I ask these questions because it is not clear what is being argued, in practical terms. It seems like your position is essentially “People shouldn’t be shunned regardless of what they say and do.” But what if their actions offends people. Isn’t it _un_reasonable to expect they wouldn’t be shunned? ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2017, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-internet-shaming-a-good-way-to-combat-racism-and-bigotry/786082/178 "2017-05-09T21:55:47Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > I think whatever conversation there was to be had here is over. There is no answer to a “they done wrong, so what happens to them, happens” attitude. Welcome to the 21st century and its neo-Puritans. They’re the good guys. Just ask them. The inquisition and such are all fun and games until you are the one in the Iron Maiden. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2017, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-internet-shaming-a-good-way-to-combat-racism-and-bigotry/786082/179 "2017-05-09T22:00:35Z")
> [@octopus](#): > > The inquisition and such are all fun and games until you are the one in the Iron Maiden. I haven’t yet figured out what you’re advocating. People can speak freely and criticize, and then people can freely choose not to be friends or employ someone that said something they don’t like. What part of this, in your mind, should change? ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2017, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-internet-shaming-a-good-way-to-combat-racism-and-bigotry/786082/180 "2017-05-09T22:01:36Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > Again, mob vigilantism goes both ways. No one has denied this; it has nothing to do with any of the points we’ve made. No matter what liberals do, mob vigilantism can hurt people. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-internet-shaming-a-good-way-to-combat-racism-and-bigotry/786082.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-internet-shaming-a-good-way-to-combat-racism-and-bigotry/786082.md?page=10)