I think this device is pretty cool. I’m all about individuals making things harder for scammers to do what they do. But my points are:
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1 million of the total 2.3 million people locked up in the USA are African American, incarcerated at the rate of six times that of white people in the country. Some of the behaviors/crimes of these individual ‘criminals’ are undeniably deplorable. So then is it acceptable to refer to this group of people as scum? I did not seek to absolve anyone of taking personal accountability for their actions. I only wished to point out that there are larger structural components to these problems. Given the content I have read on this site over the years, I would not have thought such an argument would have needed such literal articulation. As an aside, I did initially understate the level of damage caused by scammers, for this mistake I took responsibility and apologized.
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In fact, rather than argue against personal accountability as folks seem to think, I came here to make an argument for personal accountability. The global far right has mobilized to raid the economy, militarize borders, and strip away the rights of free peoples. They have used hateful rhetoric as a primary tool in this endeavor. When others adopt this tactic of dismissing entire groups of people with words like “scum”, it legitimizes what the right is doing. I do believe that referring to any group of humans as scum, dehumanizes in a way that left unchecked can have barbarous consequences. I am arguing for us, to take responsibility for our language and our characterizations.
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I have always admired the boingboing community for its unique flavor, rational arguments, and compassionate political stances. I really did not expect to see the language in the original post, I really did not expect the response I have received here.
To: LeopardSeal I am unsure what I have done to arouse your snark and sarcasm. I have attempted to post with respect. I have learned my lesson and will not return to disturb your space again.
To: Lolipop_jones No I am not okay with any group of humans being characterized as scum.
To: RickyMycroft: when I say it is up to us to maintain civil discourse, I mean that it is up to people with values to stand by those values even when it may not be the societal norm. I was referring to the political climate of left/right and not first world/third with this statement. I suppose it might be patronizing to the right.
To mcv: It is the rhetoric, not the tool that I object to.
