There has been rising criticism of YouTube censoring content on its site and today is another example. People posted the video of a mob taunting a man nearly beaten to death at a Fourth of July event. The video has triggered a debate over hate crime investigations as well as the simple lack of humanity found in today’s society. In other words, there is a substantive debate surrounding the videotape. However, YouTube says that it has been taken down for disgusting content. It rekindles the objection that YouTube has become a private censor — rather than a forum that warns of such content but allows people to make their own choices. [UPDATE: The video appears to be going up and coming down on YouTube but appears to be currently available here with a warning. I have not problem as I stated below with the addition of such a warning and wall]
There is no question that there is a lot of disturbing videotapes out there. Another example is ISIS. The Islamic extremists clearly use their horrendous acts to recruit. However, these videotapes also show the vast majority of people — including the vast majority of Muslims — the depth of depravity of this group and the reality of religious extremism in the world. Shielding people from such images (rather than allowing them to decide) is a controversial role.
Critics have said that the most important images on YouTube are often disturbing but that they are the very images that trigger meaningful public debate. Otherwise, YouTube seems catered to videos of cats playing piano. The removal of this videotape is problematic in my view. Yes, there is blood and a terribly injured man. However, most people linking to this video (as on this blog) are engaged in a discussion about our values and more concretely the evidence needed to start a hate crime investigation. Why not but up a wall and allow people to decide for themselves? What do you think should be the standard?
http://jubileedebt.org.uk/reports-briefings/briefing/six-key-points-greek-debt-weeks-election
Karen, some info on the Greek debt crisis.
dutchjim said …
jonathanturley, your blog comments section has been taken over by trolls and right wing crazies.
Troll … One who posts a deliberately provocative message to a newsgroup or message board with the intention of causing maximum disruption and argument.
Interesting & self-fulfilling comments.
Never the less I noticed that you managed to stay and engage people here….so perhaps we’re not all “crazies.” Thanks for that. I’m pretty sure Issac wouldn’t fit the “right wing” aspect either and he’s fairly prolific here and worth reading, even if one disagrees with him. Now Nick and I, well you can be the judge…. 😀
Riesling:
I thought the bailout was orchestrated by the EU governments, itself. I don’t know what deals were struck with private lenders, and would be very interested to find out.
As a fiscal conservative, the whole “free stuff” paradigm always glosses over how the debt is to be paid. There’s never enough money for it in the end.
If they hadn’t been bailed out, Greece would have been forced long ago to change its ways. The EU would have been blamed as heartless for any suffering Greece suffered from its addiction to spending, so very similar to our own. It might also have recovered by now and been a vibrant country again. The “loan” AKA “free money they never intended to repay and it’s rude to ask them to do so” enabled them to elect socialist presidents and continue in their same old ways.
Ken:
““It is also troubling that no one actually did help this man, apparently.”
It is also troubling that you can write something so blatantly disingenuous. Do you think that the man dragged himself to the hospital after being callously left for dead by the “heartless mob”?
It’s as though you aren’t really interested in being taken seriously.”
I am certified in First Aid and CPR. I would not be taking video on my phone of a man beaten, according to Professor Turley, almost to death. I would be rendering first aid, trying to get him to talk, asking him if he had family to call.
What I have read described is a video of a man on the ground, with some people saying someone should call an ambulance, and no one rendering aid. In fact, Professor Turley remarked on his other post that the crowd attacked officers who tried to help the man.
I never said he died on the street. So, obviously, he eventually made it to the hospital. My reaction to these types of videos is to think, “What’s wrong with you? Stop being a spectator, put down the phone, and go actually help!” Our society has become spectators on the periphery when people are in distress.
I find that disturbing, don’t you?
This reminds me of a TV show that outlined how people just don’t get involved anymore. They set up paid white actors to “target” and “beat up” a Latino actor. People just walked on by, a few called the cops, but this one single car screeched to a halt. A tiny little mom jumped out, flung her arms out, stood in front of the “injured” man, and gave the “thugs” such a scolding. It would have been dangerous in real life, but I was cheering for her.
Dutchjim:
Much as it pains me to agree with CAIR on anything but the weather, this sounds like a completely negligent judge. If what the article said is true, this guy is on wiretap planning to destroy a school and a mosque in a terror attack, and he was released into the custody of his family while he awaits sentencing on his plea agreement?
What I was not clear on is if the judge is trying to throw out the whole plea agreement, too, or if he just released him prior to sentencing because he did not agree he was a clear threat?
Scary. His intended targets should get security.
Ken:
“Well, Karen, I see that you’re still into uncritically parroting specious internet gossip. Are you completely oblivious to what such parroting of unsubstantiated gossip does to your credibility?
Can’t you could at least document the source of the gossip, with an accompanying explanation regarding how your gossip sources know the circulating video has been edited as you claim that they claim? Or did the gossip just come to you in a fevered day-dream and therefore requires no documentation?”
Well, there I go making friends again.
I clearly indicated that I cannot watch the videos myself. Your previous comment had remarked that you didn’t understand the claim that a mob was taunting him because you couldn’t hear any comments. I repeated what had been posted on this thread, and clarified that I was merely repeating what had been said, in the hopes that you could research it all by yourself. I obviously can’t as I cannot watch videos with satellite internet.
I think my credibility is intact.
“Nothing gets over my head. My reflexes are too fast. I would catch it.”
Dax the Destroyer
Nick, your assessment of the Greek mentality is for the most part spot on. I worked for a Greek company in the early 90s. They were saying back then that the EU just had to accept them because they needed new roads and new airports, etc. There seemed to be an assumption that it was free money.
Would you loan money to somebody with that attitude?
If I knew back then, 25 years younger than I am today, that the Greeks had absolutely no intention of paying the loans back, shouldn´t the bankers have known that as well?
Could it be that they did know the loans were never going to be paid back – but the most important thing to bankers is to get their bonus and then move on to the next “big deal”? They knew full well that they would not be held accountable when Greece defaulted – the lazy Greeks would be.
Karen,
re: the dignity issue not being brought up. I think this is because people don´t even know the meaning of the word dignity anymore and just want to be “famous”.
Reblogged this on pakweb786.
More on Christopher McKnight’s condition
McKnight was taken to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center with minor injuries, according to the police report. He was released from the hospital Sunday.
On Monday, Neville said McKnight suffered a concussion, broken nose and facial injuries.
Nasty beating? Yes. Nearly to death? No
Chief Consort to the Progressive Grand Inquisitor
1, July 6, 2015 at 8:43 pm
“@Ken Rogers,
“1. You are forbidden to use the Sacred N-word unless you are a proven member of the African race.
No Dolezalling permitted.
Your use is gross misappropriation of black culture and by definition racist.”
Referring to the quoting of someone as “a misappropriation of black culture” is a pathetic ethnocentric stretch.
“2. Why do you say the ‘taunting’ voice was a black person when the speaker was never shown?
Racist.”
I didn’t. You did.
“3. How do you know the voice was ‘taunting’? Is ‘taunt’ the new dog whistle for black?
Racist.”
If the above were any more lame, it would require not one, but two wheelchairs.
“Your remarks have been duly recorded for the Progressive Grand Inquisitor”
If you have one, I urge you to keep your day job, as you assuredly have no future as a satirist or comedian.
If Breitbart said it, it’s sure to be true.
@ Karen S
1, July 6, 2015 at 7:56 pm
“Ken:
“Since I cannot watch videos due to my satellite internet, I will merely repeat what others have said, namely, that the taunting has been edited out of versions of the video circulating so that only the helpful comments were posted.”
Well, Karen, I see that you’re still into uncritically parroting specious internet gossip. Are you completely oblivious to what such parroting of unsubstantiated gossip does to your credibility?
Can’t you could at least document the source of the gossip, with an accompanying explanation regarding how your gossip sources know the circulating video has been edited as you claim that they claim? Or did the gossip just come to you in a fevered day-dream and therefore requires no documentation?
This is at least the second time you’ve cited “invalidating” internet gossip about videos you admit that you have never watched.
“It is also troubling that no one actually did help this man, apparently.”
It is also troubling that you can write something so blatantly disingenuous. Do you think that the man dragged himself to the hospital after being callously left for dead by the “heartless mob”?
It’s as though you aren’t really interested in being taken seriously.
Man Admits To Plotting To Massacre Muslims, Judge Sets Him Free Anyway
“We’re gonna be carrying an M4 with 500 rounds of ammunition, light armor piercing. A pistol with three extra magazines, and a machete. And if it gets down to the machete, we will cut them to shreds,”
http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2015/07/05/3677042/man-admitted-plot-massacre-muslims-set-free-judge-not-convinced-hes-true-threat/
Ah come on you now in your heart of hearts there lurks a Liberal just dyin to get out.
Squeeky, am I right or am I right?
@Karen S
Not me! I want to rush to judgment! I want to be a part of a rabid, drooling mob! As a mostly-Republican, I never get to do that! i want to have fun like the Democrats! Lookit, I can drool too—-dry-drool dry-drool dry-drool. Oh heck, I guess I need some water or something. Plus, I have to practice drooling.
Squeeky Fromm
Girl Reporter
dutchjim:
“I learn as I go on.” Me, too. 🙂
YouTube censored my video because of the accusations I made against the people responsible, even though it was the same video that a news agency had posted.
Through FOIA requests I found out what was really going on and posted about it, and offered the proof to YouTube, but they restricted my version of the video anyway. (Which violated their own rules)
They do more than “regulate hateful content”, they pick & choose I assume by whim….
@Ken Rogers,
1. You are forbidden to use the Sacred N-word unless you are a proven member of the African race.
No Dolezalling permitted.
Your use is gross misappropriation of black culture and by definition racist.
2. Why do you say the ‘taunting’ voice was a black person when the speaker was never shown?
Racist.
3. How do you know the voice was ‘taunting’? Is ‘taunt’ the new dog whistle for black?
Racist.
Your remarks have been duly recorded for the Progressive Grand Inquisitor.
Karen S, yes you’re right. I don’t know if it was or was not racially motivated. It seems that I’m getting caught up in all the commotion.
Thank you for your thoughtful post. I learn as I go on.
Jim