NYT article on LCPS high school re: racism

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:“ You must have missed some posts and deleted posts. There were several posts claiming if rappers use the word then it’s fine to use. Posters claimed that since Mimi didn’t mean it to be derogatory then she was fine to use it. Someone even posted that they would happily use the word.”

I’ve read most of the thread.
The posts about rappers I saw mostly were pointing out the hypocrisy of them using it regularly and thereby influencing what kids soak up, but it being WW3 if a white kid mimics that.

The vast majority of posters defending mini have said she should not have said it but also pointed out she did not call a person the N word and her punishment is wildly disproportionate to her intent/“crime.

I did not see any poster say they would happily use it but perhaps those were deleted. Definitely they were the exception though compared to virtually everyone else agreeing it should not be used - but disagreeing about whether the consequences fit the situation here.

Did anyone actually say that the consequences fit the crime?

I didn’t see any posts saying the consequences fit the crime. Where are they? There is a consensus the university is probably doing this as a CYA exercise or to prevent further scrutiny.

There are posters saying that sometimes people face consequences disproportionate to their actions, and that it is not, in fact, the end of the world. Poor people and black people face consequences disproportionate to their actions all the time, and no one on this forum seems so frantic about that. There are posters who seem pretty thirsty for Jimmy’s blood who don’t seem to recognize that he grew up in a hostile environment and should have some empathy too.

That’s it.

Up until the article, Jimmy received no consequences. He's at college and even a discriminatory one at that. Newsflash. Everyone has some hostility in their lives. I can feel some empathy for him while realizing that what he and the college did wasn't acceptable.

[Anonymous]

I'm the person who posted that the discussion that will come out of this is how damaging that word really is in our society today. It's not that I think the word can't be damaging or a even a good word to use. It's not. It's slang and often used as a hate word. I just think it's hypocrisy to use it in a black culture particularly in a homie sort of way or even in a hate way and not call that out and then act like when someone else uses the word they are issuing the equivalent of a death threat. I think this opinion is nuanced enough for most people to realize I'm not "pro" using the word, but there are obviously a lot of black and white thinking folk that can't see that this opinion isn't saying the word is a good one to use. If I had my way, after this cultural discussion was had, rappers and others would actually start curtailing their use of the word in addition to other races. So I'm actually "pro" using the word less in society.

[Anonymous]

"Did anyone actually say that the consequences fit the crime?

I didn’t see any posts saying the consequences fit the crime. Where are they? "

Have we read the same thread?? There are TONS of posters saying basically "sucks to be her but if she didn't want this to happen she shouldn't have said it". So they're saying that the consequences she's suffered seem about right for what she did.

Yes, some PPs have said it's unfair but life's unfair to lots of people so this one unfair situation shouldn't be one people get riled up about. Frankly I don't find that at all a convincing argument since people DO try to argue for addressing unfairness in many aspects. There are rarely people on the other side of them shouting them down saying that wildly disproportinate punishments are actually exactly what's needed and right.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"Did anyone actually say that the consequences fit the crime?

I didn’t see any posts saying the consequences fit the crime. Where are they? "

Have we read the same thread?? There are TONS of posters saying basically "sucks to be her but if she didn't want this to happen she shouldn't have said it". So they're saying that the consequences she's suffered seem about right for what she did.

Yes, some PPs have said it's unfair but life's unfair to lots of people so this one unfair situation shouldn't be one people get riled up about. Frankly I don't find that at all a convincing argument since people DO try to argue for addressing unfairness in many aspects. There are rarely people on the other side of them shouting them down saying that wildly disproportinate punishments are actually exactly what's needed and right.

Where are people saying a wildly disproportionate punishment was needed? Those posts don’t exist. I think there’s some bemusement that there is so much panic over this girl facing ANY consequences.

My reaction is basically “sucks to be her,” but I do recognize that the consequence for what she did at 15 is wildly disproportionate. It’s really unfortunate but sometimes you can’t put the genie back in the bottle. Sometimes kids do something stupid and minor that ruins their lives because life is unfair.

And no, I don’t think this is some great injustice that needs to be remedied. That’s where we disagree.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"Did anyone actually say that the consequences fit the crime?

I didn’t see any posts saying the consequences fit the crime. Where are they? "

Have we read the same thread?? There are TONS of posters saying basically "sucks to be her but if she didn't want this to happen she shouldn't have said it". So they're saying that the consequences she's suffered seem about right for what she did.

Yes, some PPs have said it's unfair but life's unfair to lots of people so this one unfair situation shouldn't be one people get riled up about. Frankly I don't find that at all a convincing argument since people DO try to argue for addressing unfairness in many aspects. There are rarely people on the other side of them shouting them down saying that wildly disproportinate punishments are actually exactly what's needed and right.

Where are people saying a wildly disproportionate punishment was needed? Those posts don’t exist. I think there’s some bemusement that there is so much panic over this girl facing ANY consequences.

My reaction is basically “sucks to be her,” but I do recognize that the consequence for what she did at 15 is wildly disproportionate. It’s really unfortunate but sometimes you can’t put the genie back in the bottle. Sometimes kids do something stupid and minor that ruins their lives because life is unfair.

And no, I don’t think this is some great injustice that needs to be remedied. That’s where we disagree.

I agree that it’s not a huge tragedy (though I do think it’s disproportional) but there are clearly people (many of them!) who think getting booted from her sport and team years later are exactly right (because it will give her “time to make amends”) as well as people who can’t get it through their thick skulls that some Black kids (and musicians) can and do say the n-word and that is not remotely the same or any excuse for a white kid doing so.

Just as there are people who think the boy (who has chosen to attend an anti-gay college) is some kind of freedom fighter as well as those who think he’s a terrible monster whose life should be ruined at age 18.

In summary, people are f&@led up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"Did anyone actually say that the consequences fit the crime?

I didn’t see any posts saying the consequences fit the crime. Where are they? "

Have we read the same thread?? There are TONS of posters saying basically "sucks to be her but if she didn't want this to happen she shouldn't have said it". So they're saying that the consequences she's suffered seem about right for what she did.

Yes, some PPs have said it's unfair but life's unfair to lots of people so this one unfair situation shouldn't be one people get riled up about. Frankly I don't find that at all a convincing argument since people DO try to argue for addressing unfairness in many aspects. There are rarely people on the other side of them shouting them down saying that wildly disproportinate punishments are actually exactly what's needed and right.

Where are people saying a wildly disproportionate punishment was needed? Those posts don’t exist. I think there’s some bemusement that there is so much panic over this girl facing ANY consequences.

My reaction is basically “sucks to be her,” but I do recognize that the consequence for what she did at 15 is wildly disproportionate. It’s really unfortunate but sometimes you can’t put the genie back in the bottle. Sometimes kids do something stupid and minor that ruins their lives because life is unfair.

And no, I don’t think this is some great injustice that needs to be remedied. That’s where we disagree.

I don't think she should have had any consequences. Basically I don't think she did anything wrong. Now if something came out that she was actually mean to this person and caused him harm directly, sure I would change my mind. But that hasn't come out. She was mimicking a culture not putting anyone down and that was all it was. Sorry. It's true. We disagree and you are right to catch this. I think the boy and UT were wrong, but it's their right to have a different opinion to and same for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"Did anyone actually say that the consequences fit the crime?

I didn’t see any posts saying the consequences fit the crime. Where are they? "

Have we read the same thread?? There are TONS of posters saying basically "sucks to be her but if she didn't want this to happen she shouldn't have said it". So they're saying that the consequences she's suffered seem about right for what she did.

Yes, some PPs have said it's unfair but life's unfair to lots of people so this one unfair situation shouldn't be one people get riled up about. Frankly I don't find that at all a convincing argument since people DO try to argue for addressing unfairness in many aspects. There are rarely people on the other side of them shouting them down saying that wildly disproportinate punishments are actually exactly what's needed and right.

Where are people saying a wildly disproportionate punishment was needed? Those posts don’t exist. I think there’s some bemusement that there is so much panic over this girl facing ANY consequences.

My reaction is basically “sucks to be her,” but I do recognize that the consequence for what she did at 15 is wildly disproportionate. It’s really unfortunate but sometimes you can’t put the genie back in the bottle. Sometimes kids do something stupid and minor that ruins their lives because life is unfair.

And no, I don’t think this is some great injustice that needs to be remedied. That’s where we disagree.

I don't think she should have had any consequences. Basically I don't think she did anything wrong. Now if something came out that she was actually mean to this person and caused him harm directly, sure I would change my mind. But that hasn't come out. She was mimicking a culture not putting anyone down and that was all it was. Sorry. It's true. We disagree and you are right to catch this. I think the boy and UT were wrong, but it's their right to have a different opinion to and same for you.

A comparison I thought about from this time period was watching "A Christmas Story" where the kid uses a curse word that yes isn't a good word to use, but the dad uses it all the time and the parents are all in a flutter about it because it was a kid using it when they all use it themselves and don't police their own behavior. It's not a good word to use, but people in America even go around wearing t-shirts with the word and there are articles that say people who swear are smarter encouraging the behavior. If we don't police ourselves, why wouldn't our kids mimic us? Similarly, if the black community doesn't police themselves with the word, stop acting like it's a sin if someone else uses it especially in a non-threatening manner.

[Anonymous]

One thing that’s critical to remember is Galligan didn’t do this to just one girl. He kept posting videos calling out about a dozen Loudoun County kids for similar behavior. And he was inciting “black Twitter — do your thang”

I remember when this happened. It was at the peak of the BLM protests this summer.

He would post it, it would get taken down. And he would post over and over again.

[Anonymous]

"Where are people saying a wildly disproportionate punishment was needed? Those posts don’t exist."

You're right. Because the people saying it was needed don't view what happened as wildly disproportionate. They think what happened to the girl was about fitting for what she did - and yes, there are many posts to that effect. Some of us think it's crazy-town that a consequence this outsized was applied to what she did given the usage context (i.e. not hurling it AT another person) and at the age she did it (i.e. while a freshman in HS).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One thing that’s critical to remember is Galligan didn’t do this to just one girl. He kept posting videos calling out about a dozen Loudoun County kids for similar behavior. And he was inciting “black Twitter — do your thang”

I remember when this happened. It was at the peak of the BLM protests this summer.

He would post it, it would get taken down. And he would post over and over again.

Not surprised, but this wasn't in the article. Hearsay without proof.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One thing that’s critical to remember is Galligan didn’t do this to just one girl. He kept posting videos calling out about a dozen Loudoun County kids for similar behavior. And he was inciting “black Twitter — do your thang”

I remember when this happened. It was at the peak of the BLM protests this summer.

He would post it, it would get taken down. And he would post over and over again.

Seems like that demonstrates his penchant for drama and snitching more than a desire for social justice. I have a hard time believing a committed young social activist then heads off to an anti-LBGTQ university in California.

But, of course, the root cause of this is a popular culture that desensitized young teens of all colors to a historically loaded and discriminatory word. People don’t want to address that because they relish the power dynamics created when certain terms are only off-limits to certain groups. Freedom of expression for me, land mines for thee.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One thing that’s critical to remember is Galligan didn’t do this to just one girl. He kept posting videos calling out about a dozen Loudoun County kids for similar behavior. And he was inciting “black Twitter — do your thang”

I remember when this happened. It was at the peak of the BLM protests this summer.

He would post it, it would get taken down. And he would post over and over again.

Not surprised, but this wasn't in the article. Hearsay without proof.

Well, I saw it and there were Facebook posts about it in Loudoun when it happened.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One thing that’s critical to remember is Galligan didn’t do this to just one girl. He kept posting videos calling out about a dozen Loudoun County kids for similar behavior. And he was inciting “black Twitter — do your thang”

I remember when this happened. It was at the peak of the BLM protests this summer.

He would post it, it would get taken down. And he would post over and over again.

Not surprised, but this wasn't in the article. Hearsay without proof.

Well, I saw it and there were Facebook posts about it in Loudoun when it happened.

Similar behavior as in video of them using the word?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One thing that’s critical to remember is Galligan didn’t do this to just one girl. He kept posting videos calling out about a dozen Loudoun County kids for similar behavior. And he was inciting “black Twitter — do your thang”

I remember when this happened. It was at the peak of the BLM protests this summer.

He would post it, it would get taken down. And he would post over and over again.

Seems like that demonstrates his penchant for drama and snitching more than a desire for social justice. I have a hard time believing a committed young social activist then heads off to an anti-LBGTQ university in California.

But, of course, the root cause of this is a popular culture that desensitized young teens of all colors to a historically loaded and discriminatory word. People don’t want to address that because they relish the power dynamics created when certain terms are only off-limits to certain groups. Freedom of expression for me, land mines for thee.

Freedom of expression for me, land mines for thee. Definitely a quote for the times. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One thing that’s critical to remember is Galligan didn’t do this to just one girl. He kept posting videos calling out about a dozen Loudoun County kids for similar behavior. And he was inciting “black Twitter — do your thang”

I remember when this happened. It was at the peak of the BLM protests this summer.

He would post it, it would get taken down. And he would post over and over again.

Not surprised, but this wasn't in the article. Hearsay without proof.

Well, I saw it and there were Facebook posts about it in Loudoun when it happened.

The Instagram handle he used to name and shame and post his videos was @exposingracist2020lol. No, it doesn’t exist anymore. This happened in June.