Hate Speech against teenagers

I_love_rain_hugs_and_you · 04-23-2005, 09:32 PM

I recently read in the editorial page of a new paper a letter that compared teenagers to dogs. The author wrote that teenagers "should be put on a leash" and made other remarks that compared teenagers to dogs. This shocked and disgusted me. This is hate speech. What if I compared Jews to dogs, or compared homosexuals to rats, or compared Catholics to cokcroaches? If the same things said against teenagers were said against any other minority group, then we weould call it hate speech. I want to write a letter to the editorial about this. ALso, is there anyway you could sue the woman who wrote this letter? Is promoting hate a grounds for a lawsuit?

**annie24** · 04-23-2005, 09:34 PM

Can you give us the link to this article? I would be interested to read it.

DN · 04-23-2005, 09:41 PM

I doubt you could sue but you can defintely write a letter and you should. Don't get angry though - just hold the author up to ridicule - much more effective.

playfull06 · 04-23-2005, 09:43 PM

I would love to read this article. Being a teenager I would like to know how I am a dog.

I_love_rain_hugs_and_you · 04-23-2005, 09:43 PM

The title of the article was "Teens scarier that dogs"

"I am far more afraid of some people's teens and pre-teens than I am of the dogs I encounter.

Perhaps we should put them on a leash and make their parents accountable.

These kids have no respect for anything other than their own virtual-reality world.

Jordan Brookes"

ayekasong · 04-23-2005, 09:54 PM

I think you should write a response to that. Like DN said, don't get angry though. Unfortunately, every generation of teens gets accused of this idea that "they have no respect," etc. It happened in the 1950's, it is still happening today. Actually, it has probably happened since the dawn of time. Teens tend to represent the changing world, and many people don't like change and insist that the "old ways" are best.

It doesn't make it right, but don't take it personally. The writer is probably extremely set in his or her ways.

I_love_rain_hugs_and_you · 04-23-2005, 09:55 PM

This is how the article would be if it were written about blacks:

AFRICAN AMERICANS ARE SCARIER THAN DOGS

"I am far more afraid of African Americans than I am of the dogs I encounter.

Perhaps we should put them on a leash and make their leaders accountable.

These African Americans have no respect for anything other than their rap music.

Jordan Brookes"

whatfor · 04-23-2005, 09:55 PM

Um.. i think she said - scarier than dogs, - but not - are dogs.

Sure i agree with her... not all teenagers, but some, just like some adults are crazy people and should be put on a leash. Some teenagers dont know any morals and are rude and crazy and its hard to use any law against them.

Santa · 04-24-2005, 06:48 PM

I agree totally with Sheyda.

Also, I agree with the article kind of aswell, about some teenagers being scarier than dogs. If a dog bites me, I can kick it or something (and get it put down), however if a drugged up 16 year old shoots me with some gun, well then theres not much I can do.

Everyone's entitled to their own opinions, so suggesting you sue the writer for expressing their freedom of speach, well I think thats wrong. Also, I'm sure the writer didn't really want people to be put on leashes, the writer was just empathising a point, perhaps through metaphore, especialy with the way the writer suggests teenagers parent(s) should be acountable, just like dog owners are.

If your that offended by this person opinion, why don't you volunteer to do osme charity work or somehting, and show the writer that not all teenagers are bad, and inform her that she shouldn't use a minority to represent the majority. Thanks.

**annie24** · 04-24-2005, 07:19 PM

Why don't you write a rebuttal article, discussing all the good things that teenagers are up to? You know - teens that are volunteering, helping the poor, doing interesting work, winning science competitions, etc etc etc. Every group has a few bad apples and that shouldn't give everyone else a bad name.

Plus, this argument has always been around. This is nothing new. there have always been rebellious teens, no matter what decade it is.

04-23-2005, 09:32 PM	#1
I_love_rain_hugs_and_you Offline Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Age: 26 Posts: 588	Hate Speech against teenagers I recently read in the editorial page of a new paper a letter that compared teenagers to dogs. The author wrote that teenagers "should be put on a leash" and made other remarks that compared teenagers to dogs. This shocked and disgusted me. This is hate speech. What if I compared Jews to dogs, or compared homosexuals to rats, or compared Catholics to cokcroaches? If the same things said against teenagers were said against any other minority group, then we weould call it hate speech. I want to write a letter to the editorial about this. ALso, is there anyway you could sue the woman who wrote this letter? Is promoting hate a grounds for a lawsuit? __________________ "If you drive a car, I'll tax the street, If you try to sit, I'll tax your seat. If you get too cold I'll tax the heat, If you take a walk, I'll tax your feet." --The Beatles

04-23-2005, 09:41 PM	#3
DN Online Super Moderator Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Ontario, Canada Gender: Male Posts: 23,437	I doubt you could sue but you can defintely write a letter and you should. Don't get angry though - just hold the author up to ridicule - much more effective. __________________ Immaturity is not defined by him not doing what you want him to do. Hartman's Law of Prescriptivist Retaliation: "any article or statement about correct grammar, punctuation, or spelling is bound to contain at least one eror".

04-23-2005, 09:43 PM	#4
playfull06 Offline Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Texas Age: 22 Posts: 92	I would love to read this article. Being a teenager I would like to know how I am a dog. __________________ Don't settle on the one you can live with. Settle on the one you can't live without!- Meg

04-23-2005, 09:43 PM	#5
I_love_rain_hugs_and_you Offline Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Age: 26 Posts: 588	The title of the article was "Teens scarier that dogs" "I am far more afraid of some people's teens and pre-teens than I am of the dogs I encounter. Perhaps we should put them on a leash and make their parents accountable. These kids have no respect for anything other than their own virtual-reality world. Jordan Brookes" __________________ "If you drive a car, I'll tax the street, If you try to sit, I'll tax your seat. If you get too cold I'll tax the heat, If you take a walk, I'll tax your feet." --The Beatles

04-23-2005, 09:54 PM	#6
ayekasong Offline Silver Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Wisconsin Age: 27 Posts: 564	I think you should write a response to that. Like DN said, don't get angry though. Unfortunately, every generation of teens gets accused of this idea that "they have no respect," etc. It happened in the 1950's, it is still happening today. Actually, it has probably happened since the dawn of time. Teens tend to represent the changing world, and many people don't like change and insist that the "old ways" are best. It doesn't make it right, but don't take it personally. The writer is probably extremely set in his or her ways. __________________ Those things in life that are worth doing are never easy.

04-23-2005, 09:34 PM	#2
annie24 Offline Super Moderator Join Date: Oct 2004 Age: 29 Posts: 26,812	Can you give us the link to this article? I would be interested to read it.

04-23-2005, 09:55 PM	#7
I_love_rain_hugs_and_you Offline Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Age: 26 Posts: 588	This is how the article would be if it were written about blacks: AFRICAN AMERICANS ARE SCARIER THAN DOGS "I am far more afraid of African Americans than I am of the dogs I encounter. Perhaps we should put them on a leash and make their leaders accountable. These African Americans have no respect for anything other than their rap music. Jordan Brookes" __________________ "If you drive a car, I'll tax the street, If you try to sit, I'll tax your seat. If you get too cold I'll tax the heat, If you take a walk, I'll tax your feet." --The Beatles

04-23-2005, 09:55 PM	#8
whatfor Offline Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Gender: Female Posts: 249	Um.. i think she said - scarier than dogs, - but not - are dogs. Sure i agree with her... not all teenagers, but some, just like some adults are crazy people and should be put on a leash. Some teenagers dont know any morals and are rude and crazy and its hard to use any law against them. __________________ if u look at things differently - they will look different How Do You Wake Up From A Nightmare If You're Not Asleep? Dream what you want to dream; go where you want to go; be what you want to be, because you have only one life and one chance to do all the things you want to do.

04-24-2005, 06:48 PM	#9
Santa Offline Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 493	I agree totally with Sheyda. Also, I agree with the article kind of aswell, about some teenagers being scarier than dogs. If a dog bites me, I can kick it or something (and get it put down), however if a drugged up 16 year old shoots me with some gun, well then theres not much I can do. Everyone's entitled to their own opinions, so suggesting you sue the writer for expressing their freedom of speach, well I think thats wrong. Also, I'm sure the writer didn't really want people to be put on leashes, the writer was just empathising a point, perhaps through metaphore, especialy with the way the writer suggests teenagers parent(s) should be acountable, just like dog owners are. If your that offended by this person opinion, why don't you volunteer to do osme charity work or somehting, and show the writer that not all teenagers are bad, and inform her that she shouldn't use a minority to represent the majority. Thanks.

04-24-2005, 07:19 PM	#10
annie24 Offline Super Moderator Join Date: Oct 2004 Age: 29 Posts: 26,812	Why don't you write a rebuttal article, discussing all the good things that teenagers are up to? You know - teens that are volunteering, helping the poor, doing interesting work, winning science competitions, etc etc etc. Every group has a few bad apples and that shouldn't give everyone else a bad name. Plus, this argument has always been around. This is nothing new. there have always been rebellious teens, no matter what decade it is.