Essay about Philosophy Class
Section 1: Introduction
In this paper I will show that when hate speech is allowed to flourish on the internet, real
harm is done to people and cultures. I will provide specific, timely examples to show how harm
is done, as well as a counter view arguing that hate speech is in the eye of the reader and is not
only harmless but would be impossible to completely police. I will close showcasing the #metoo
movement and how it is pushing our society to be kinder and more inclusive to all.
Section 2: Present and Explain
P1. If hate speech is allowed to flourish on the internet, people and cultures will be damaged in
the long term
P2. Hate speech has been allowed to flourish on the internet.
C. People and cultures are being damaged.
Hate speech has always existed, but as the Internet has become more and more open and
accessible, the damage it can cause has become more widespread. Today we see hate speech on
many social media platforms, written by everyone from the high school bully on up to the
President of the United States. It has blossomed and bloomed into a horrible monster from which
no one is safe.
One of the clearest ways to see the damage it can cause is the cases of (mostly) teenagers
who commit suicide after being bullied online. Teenages have an inherant meanstreak, yes, but
on the internet they can hide behind the anonymity of a screen name, ending in a situation where
nothing is held back. This allows things to escalate beyond the bullying of yesteryear. There
have been cases brought to trial of kids repeatedly encouraging other kids to kill themselves. The
use of instant messaging allows the bully to say things repeatedly until it sticks. “You’re
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worthless. No one cares about you. Just kill yourself. I bet you’re too chicken to do it.” An
emotionally charged teenager can only hear those words so many times before they are going to
act on it.
Another big problem today is slut shaming. This is another issue that has always existed –
especially directed at women – but that has grown exponentially with the popularity of the
internet. The ability to post photos, texts, and stories publicly has made women vulnerable
targets, and once it has been posted to the internet there is often no way to fully get it back.
Revenge porn is a huge example. Sites exist where spurned men can post compromising photos
and videos, given to them in confidence, to the internet for all to see. Often, their full names and
other personal information are also included. One anonymous victim is quoted as saying, "I
describe it [as] similar to maybe the feeling of getting raped -- you feel like you're that exposed"
(Fink and Segall). Victims often have trouble finding resources to help, and end up feeling
helpless, worthless, and with their reputation irreversibly in tatters.
Section 3: One Criticism
The biggest criticism to this is that hate speech is often taken the wrong way, and is only
intended as a joke. Victims are often told to toughen up, don’t be so serious. And that may be
partially true, we are becoming more aware and critical of each other’s actions in this millenium
– another side effect of the internet. People claim it’s just a harmless bullying that all kids go
through, and I have admitted before that that teenagers have always had a mean streak and a
penchant for picking on each other. Carrying it over to the internet seems like the most logical
evolution, and isn’t inherently more dangerous than the bullying our parents dealt with. What is
different now? Surely it is that our society has grown overly sensitive.
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Another criticism is that hate speech is still free speech, and is thus protected by the First
Amendment. If any speech is to be protected, it must all be protected. We cannot pick and
choose what is fit to be protected. This will lead to censorship the likes of which have never been
seen. Just as hate speech is in the eye of the reader, so would be the appropriateness of all
speech. Long and short, this would mean the complete end to all free speech as we know it. In
addition to it being harmful to everything our Constitution stands for, it would also be impossible
to police the sheer volume of speech available on the internet and beyond. This would tax our
resources beyond what should be expected.
Section 4: Response
In response you need only look at the changes the #metoo movement has brought in just
the last year. The effects can be seen in the equality of women and beyond to the way we react to
other forms of hate speech. Long time abusers and rapists have started to be called out and
brought to trial, whereas in the past their behavior would have been allowed to continue. Women
are feeling more empowered and as though they have a support group in other victims. In turn,
industries, celebrities, and the general public have begun seeing the abusive actions as much
more important a problem to tackle. A recent example, outside of the women’s right issues, is
that of Roseanne Barr. Last month, she went on a tirade on Twitter comparing former Obama
aide Valerie Jarrett to the “Muslim brotherhood & planet of the apes” (Pallotta and Stelter). She
also attacked other liberal figures including Chelsea Clinton. The reaction to her tweets was swift
and damning: her ABC sitcom was cancelled and her talent agency dropped her. The problem
wasn’t with who she attacked, it was the needless perpetuation of hate speech against African
Americans. ABC’s parent company, Disney, said her tweets were “abhorrent, repugnant and
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inconsistent with [their] values” (Pallotta and Stelter), and, frankly, they are inconsistent with
American values, especially in 2018. It is time for speech like that to disappear and only be a
memory we are glad to leave behind. America is a country to freedom and equality, and this
cannot happen when hateful speech is allowed to flourish online.
Section 5: Conclusion
As you can see, hate speech only serves to hurt those that are victimized by it. The fact
that harm is caused makes the speech abuse that is not protected by the First Amendment. In the
last year there have been many instances of women and other minorities stepping up to show the
harm that is being done, resulting in swift action being taken against the abusers. This is bringing
our country into a new age where we expect our peers to treat everyone fairly, which is
ultimately what the American Constitution stands for.
WC: 1119
Sources
Fink, E., & Segall, L. (2016, March 7). Revenge porn victim: My naked photos were everywhere. Retrieved from http://money.cnn.com/2015/04/26/technology/revenge-porn-victim/index.html Pallotta, F., & Stelter, B. (2018, May 29). 'Roseanne' canceled after star's racist Twitter rant. Retrieved from http://money.cnn.com/2018/05/29/media/roseanne-twitter-chelsea-clinton/index.html
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