# Is this hate speech? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [June 18, 2010, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-hate-speech/543714 "2010-06-18T21:35:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 14
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2010, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-hate-speech/543714/261 "2010-06-23T21:30:26Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > Whether or not that is an accurate summary is a different argument. Well, yes. That’s rather what **Gary** was disputing. ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2010, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-hate-speech/543714/262 "2010-06-23T21:33:32Z")
Try going to the JREF and mention any alternative thoughts to the Official Truth, and you’ll either be ridiculed mercilessly, treated with derision and contempt, or told to read the 10,000 page NIST report before you can comment. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2010, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-hate-speech/543714/263 "2010-06-23T21:44:20Z")
> [@ivan\_astikov](#): > > Try going to the JREF and mention any alternative thoughts to the Official Truth, and you’ll either be ridiculed mercilessly, treated with derision and contempt, or told to read the 10,000 page NIST report before you can comment. Sorry about your baggage, dude, but this isn’t JREF. ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2010, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-hate-speech/543714/264 "2010-06-23T21:47:31Z")
It’s not baggage. I’ve been banned from the place over 12 mths now, and how many times have I mentioned that before this moment? To save you searching through my posts, I’ll tell you… none! ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2010, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-hate-speech/543714/265 "2010-06-23T21:57:56Z")
**Gary “Wombat” Robson** said: > [@](#): > > I recognize that different people use the word differently. Perhaps some of them mean it as hate speech. I certainly don’t. I use the term “woo-woo” for junk science; for things that people believe even when faced with direct proof that they are wrong. By your definition, what makes something “hate speech”? I think most people are using the label “woo-woo” derisively. I don’t think anyone considers that a neutral term for paranormal or counter-science beliefs. That doesn’t make it “hate speech” in a legally actionable context. **Peter Morris** said: > [@](#): > > Yeah, well, I could do so. But I know from long experience that the less good skeptics would reject the evidence. If someone rejects every bit of evidence you present them, is it because they are being dismissive and defending their own entrenched belief that is counter to yours, or is it because all the evidence presented is lacking in rigor? **Peter Morris** said: > [@](#): > > I mean just look at the woo-woo=vagina discussion. I have presented actual evidence to support my statement. The word woo-woo does mean female genitals. I’m certainly not going to claim that nobody has ever used “woo-woo” to mean the female genitals. But how common is it? Certainly less common than using “pee-pee” to mean the penis (as opposed to piss). The relevant point, though, is if that has any connection to the use of “woo-woo” to mean “supernatural, paranormal, counter-science, or mystical claims”. You have made that claim, and that is the claim that is being contested. There is no evidence to support that claim. **ivan astikov** said: > [@](#): > > Those who are “reporting the phenomenon” should be under no obligation to provide proof at all. If they offer an opinion, you can ask for their reasoning, but you can’t expect people to be eloquent and authoritative on every topic they have an interest in. If they are “reporting the phenomenon”, then they are claiming an interpretation of the phenomenon. If they are offering no evidence for their interpretation, then there is no burden to provide any explanation for dismissing them beyond “you have failed to provide any evidence to support the claim this is what you think it is”. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2010, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-hate-speech/543714/266 "2010-06-23T22:02:19Z")
**Bosstone** , from my reading of Gary’s comment, he sounds like he is trying to refute Peter, but he is actually stating Peter’s point: the self-styled “skeptics” are in fact not skeptics at all. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2010, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-hate-speech/543714/267 "2010-06-23T22:14:15Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > **Bosstone** , from my reading of Gary’s comment, he sounds like he is trying to refute Peter, but he is actually stating Peter’s point: the self-styled “skeptics” are in fact not skeptics at all. I’m skeptical. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2010, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-hate-speech/543714/268 "2010-06-23T23:29:12Z")
Just finished the whole thread. So the answer is no? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2010, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-hate-speech/543714/269 "2010-06-23T23:34:14Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > Just finished the whole thread. > So the answer is no? That is correct. ---
**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:** [June 23, 2010, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-hate-speech/543714/270 "2010-06-23T23:38:01Z")
I think it is time to put this thread where it belongs; in the sceptic tank. ---
**Author:** ![Cheshire\_Human](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Cheshire\_Human](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheshire_Human)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2010, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-hate-speech/543714/271 "2010-06-24T01:36:45Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > I think it is time to put this thread where it belongs; in the sceptic tank. Be sure and flush twice. Those are some pretty big logs! ---
**Author:** ![Sister\_Vigilante](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@Sister\_Vigilante](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sister_Vigilante)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2010, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-hate-speech/543714/272 "2010-06-24T03:04:44Z")
I didn’t read the whole thread so bash me if you will. But “woo” or “woo-woo” is not bashing or hating. It is simply a dismissing of what you believe. We neither bash, nor hate it, we simply check it, find it failing, and then do not regard it, at all. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2010, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-hate-speech/543714/273 "2010-06-24T03:08:32Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > I think it is time to put this thread where it belongs; in the sceptic tank. I think you’re right. It’s clear that Cecil Adams, Bill Clinton, Ronald Reagan’s ghost, and God Almighty could hold a joint press conference on NBC, Fox, and CNN announcing that **Peter Morris** is wrong, and **Peter** would dismiss it out of hand. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2010, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-hate-speech/543714/274 "2010-06-24T03:22:19Z")
[quote=“Gary “Wombat” Robson, post:273, topic:543714”] I think you’re right. It’s clear that Cecil Adams, Bill Clinton, Ronald Reagan’s ghost, and God Almighty could hold a joint press conference on NBC, Fox, and CNN announcing that **Peter Morris** is wrong, and **Peter** would dismiss it out of hand. [/QUOTE] In that case, I hope Fenris gets an official apology before this thread is closed. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2010, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-hate-speech/543714/275 "2010-06-24T03:39:17Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > That is correct. Was that so hard? ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2010, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-hate-speech/543714/276 "2010-06-24T05:03:53Z")
Hey, it’s not easy being God disguised as a penguin in a pink tutu. Especially when everyone around you is saying, “Last year’s Mardi Gras was better.” ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2010, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-hate-speech/543714/277 "2010-06-24T14:21:20Z")
**Loach** said: > [@](#): > > Was that so hard? Did you read post 3? What are you complaining about? The third post is a moderator giving the exact same answer. The fourth post is a second moderator confirming and elaborating on that answer. What are you complaining about? That the OP didn’t agree with the answer, so doesn’t want to accept it? Don’t blame the mods for that. ---
**Author:** ![Zaphod\_Beeblebrox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/0ea827/32.png) [@Zaphod\_Beeblebrox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zaphod_Beeblebrox)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2010, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-hate-speech/543714/278 "2010-06-24T18:34:55Z")
I’m not adding anything of substance here, but I do love this thread. If I’d known earlier that ATMB contained threads with this level of entertainment, I probably wouldn’t have discovered the other parts of the board. Heartfelt thanks to all participants. I think I’ve learned enough from this thread to know that if my marriage ever fails, I’ll have no problems scorin’ me some new woo-woo, since I understand that it falls like rain here and on Randi’s board. Sweet. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2010, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-hate-speech/543714/279 "2010-06-27T16:54:01Z")
[quote=“Gary “Wombat” Robson, post:259, topic:543714”] What you describe as “less good skeptics” aren’t skeptics at all. They’re just pushing a different belief system. [/QUOTE] Thank you for admitting that. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2010, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-hate-speech/543714/280 "2010-06-27T17:03:34Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > Gary, I think he means “self-identified skeptics”. Basically, anyone can claim to be a skeptic. Look in this thread, Peter himself has already claimed to be a skeptic. Or “sceptic” if you’re from the UK. > > His criticism is that not all self-identified skeptics are actually being skeptical, but rather refusing to consider the possibility. They’re not just asking for evidence, they’re unwilling to consider the evidence presented and dismissing the claimants out of hand. Mainly, my definition of “less good skeptic” is the ones who tell lies in order to support their position. And sadly, is board is infested with them. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-hate-speech/543714.md?page=13) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-hate-speech/543714.md?page=15)