Collegiate Times

This is the same guy who wrote how everyone is a racist and a sexist. He then calls for "tolerance."

I guess you are highly offended by comments you don't agree with. All must conform to your warped viewpoint. Lest they face the mighty ban hammer!

We need more censorship and you're just the "man" to do it. Anyone who is too afraid to argue his point or afraid of what people may think has a very weak position. Instead of defending it with logic and debate, you seek to censor your opponents. Disgusting.

No matter how much I may disagree with you or anyone else, I will never deny that you have the right to voice your opinion, and you have the right to do it privately if you wish. I'm not afraid of the opinion of other people. That is why I'm better than you.

Wow John this is the second opinion column you've written at least in partial response to me. I made some of the comments that motivated you to write that Racist article. I'm also one of the main anons that enraged you when we completely disproved that ignorant op ed piece. Well lets get started with this one. Right off the bat I got to say your structure has improved but sadly the content hasn't. "I guess anonymity is preferred so one does not have to pay the piper," what piper should I have to pay John. I should be penalized for disagreeing with you, that's downright un-American. "We hold leaders responsible," yes because they do things that matter and affect lots of people. This is a message board where nothing matters and no one is affected. At the end of the day you want to limit speech because it's easier than admitting your wrong. Which goes against the entire purpose of attending a university. Rather than grow as a person, you would take away someone's right to free speech. I use logic and reason in response to opposing views, you on the other hand insult and oppress. To borrow a phrase from William, That is why I'm better than you.

Do you both hear yourselves? He is not trying to censor people; he is trying to make civil discussions rather than allowing for cowards to post behind a computer screen. He is asking to bring accountability to people's actions. How is there anything un-American about that?

Shoot me an e-mail at brandoncarroll@vt.edu if you want to discuss this issue in a more civil manner. You do have the right to free speech...until it infringes on someone elses. There is no place in the world for hate crimes.

"This isnt just about a poor taste of words or, for that matter, a poor ideology all together..."

He's calling for people to pay for their opinion. He's advocating for limits on discussion in a free forum. Nothing is American about that. "You do have the right to free speech...until it infringes on someone elses," couldn't have said it better myself except John is the one infringing. At no point has anyone in opposition to John even infringed on his right to speak on the CT board. Oh and this Anon 1 donned a new username.

Sorry... fat fingered the Enter key. As I was saying.

"This isnt just about a poor taste of words or, for that matter, a poor ideology all together..."

And who gets to decide which ideologies are poor? You, John? I have a pretty good idea which ones you believe are poor and I'm afraid I probably subscribe to most of them.

I'm a grown man and am not afraid my feelings are going ... sniff ... to get ... sniff ... hurt ... sniff ... because of something I read on a the comments section of an article in a university newspaper. I don't believe in censorship. And that, as William said, is why I'm better than you.

Brandon, you're missing a big point - many people, myself included, are afraid to post under our real names because of the bull PC stuff like the Principles of Community. Since all that stuff came out, we've gotten so much pressure for speaking our minds as individuals that it has become censorship.

Also, you may want to look into the Purdue librarian who got attacked because of his article about gays. See how people treated him, and tell me why you still think anonymity isn't important.

Almost forgot hate crimes are just that, crimes. No hate crimes are committed in the comment section, nice try but you can't cheap shot us.

On a much smaller scale, this reminds me of the "Real ID act" that was supposed to be in effect this month (Google it). It requires that states and individuals verify their birthplace (certificate), social security and residence before issuing a drivers license or state id. After verification, the recipient is then requried to get a barcoded tattoo on their forehead for future identification (only kidding). Needless to say none of the states are in compliance and many have voted just ignore it.

Well said, John, thank you!

You want to know who else supported censoring speech and punishing people for their opinions, Nazis.

lol, wow. That was desperate.

How is asking someone to stand up for what they believe in censorship?


Cowards.

That librarian wrote an article not only implying that gay men are the only one's affected by AIDS but called that the national community no longer attempt to cure or research the disease. No doubt because it hurts a community he cares little for. Too bad heterosexual women and heterosexual men all over the globe are rising fast in HIV infections.

His article was biased, off-based, and founded itself off of stereotypes and no he reaps the consequences of his hateful broadcast. If you think that is acceptable, no different than stereotyping Black people as criminals, then it is little wonder you are so upset.

Hey John, I was wondering when you would start to defend this drivel. We are standing up for what we believe in because we don't allow people like you to threaten and intimidate us. You can throw around all the names you want. You're the coward because you can't face the fact that you're wrong. It's easier for you to attack us than tear down the illusions in your life. You are advocating censorship in the article whether you chose to believe it or not is irrelevant.

"His article was biased, off-based, and founded itself off of stereotypes and no he reaps the consequences of his hateful broadcast." Just like your racist article you wrote about a month ago John.

Oh you missed the joke, try again.

VT Admin perpertrated a cover up and mislead everyone regarding the Mass murder and then gave The VT police chief a $40,000 a year during a budget crisis, where the state eliminated voice mail for state police and closed rest areas putting truck drivers and everyone elses saftey in jeopardy.

Is that the type of comment you are referring to?

And by the way Law Enforcement can identify everyone's computer commenting on CT so don't fret too much.

I am glad they stir you to action.

=)

That is not true - they can see the location, but NOT the person. A person at a crowded library can write anonymously. We should use facebook connect for people to be allowed to comment. That way at least there is protection for slander and libel.

What about this? http://www.collegiatetimes.com/stories/14777/what-is-hokie-respect-again

On the bottom, it reads "The world is a tough place to survive and getting tougher. If you think rough cheering is bad, just wait till a Muslim cuts off your wife and childrens heads......"

That is blatant discrimination. People who hide behind computer screens to spew hate seriously disgust me.

Most people who demand identification of posters want to do so in order to shut down those with whom they disagree. It's much like the speech codes that are proliferating in colleges across the country - poor little students only want to hear complementary points of view.

Incidentally, my three tours in Iraq belie your accusation that I'm a coward. I also notice you didn't exacly identify yourself in any great detail here. There's a word for that. It rhymes with hypocrite.

Muslims do not, as a whole, cut off people's heads. That might be one of the grandest generalizations I have ever seen in writing. Just like Christians do not always murder doctors for performing abortions...like the one this past summer.

Anon at 24 your comment is disturbing and is indicative of what is wrong with this white bread campus.

No one is saying Muslims as whole cut off people's heads but it happens. Once again you have to look at the comment in it's context you ignorant racist.

"I am glad they stir you to action." ????

What caused who to do what?

John Driessnack is smart and wrote a good article. Lets us all strive to be as tolerant and accepting as him.

Hit the enter key by accident I have more to say. He knows that the problem with our society is white men and Christianity. If they were gone all us minorities would ride rainbows to work and sleep with models every night. He's not at all an out of touch ultra liberal reverse racist because he secretly hates minorities but can't admit it to himself so he lashes out at whites so minorities like me won't see him as a racist. Not at all, he's a good person.

I am OUTRAGED that Sean Glennon is not a starting QB somewhere in the NFL. I want to sue the media and sports. Anyone who says otherwise has not seen the Hokies Respect campaign and should be censored. Sueing sports is the answer, censorship is the answer, and I want to ban football until Sean is starting under center.

How's that Basketball team doing?

Hokie Respect!

"the bull PC stuff like the Principles of Community"...I love it. I absolutely love it. It's so fantastic to see that you believe that that's all it is, and not the standard to which everyone at this University should treat each other. But then again, this is Virginia Tech- the Principles of Community were created to finally shut people like me up, not because it was viewed as something that was actually necessary.

Man I wish I could transfer.

I disagree so badly with this comment but can't think of anything to prove it wrong so I will just write an article about how you should have to put a name to your words so that you are accountable for this stupidity!

Oh wait...

"White bread campus"

What are you trying to say?

What are trying to change?

"White brad campus"

Are we at war? With whom are we at war?

http://www.actforamerica.org/index.php/home/10-newsmaster/629-now-this-means-waragainst-islam


And who is it behind the genocide and slavery in Africa's "JIHAD" the last 100 years???????????

And who kills innocents in the name of Alah?

Not that I endorse hate crime, but this is an extremely warped way of thinking. No one's speech can possibly limit anyone else's free speech. So what you are really talking about is speech infringing on someone else's right not to be offended. In the United States, that right DOES NOT EXIST. It is illegal to yell fire in a crowded theater, it is illegal to verbally assault someone, it is illegal to slander someone, it is not illegal to say something offensive to someone. In fact it is constitutionally protected. People like you are the reason everyone gets a trophy in little league. Did you think that was offensive? I don't care.

Did you know?

A Slow-Motion Honor Killing
Seventeen-year-old Rifqa Barry fled her home after telling her parents she converted from Islam to Christianity. Her father, she explains, said he would kill me. Or hed have me sent back to Sri Lanka where theyd put me in the asylum. According to the religion of Islam, apostasy is punishable by death. Now Rifqa is being sent back to Ohio for thirty days of foster care so that her case can be tried in her home state. If she returns to Ohio she will be in danger. Help keep Rifqa Barry in Florida. Governor Charlie Crist of Florida needs to hear from you! Please flood his office with emails, faxes, and phone calls pleading with him to keep Rifqa in Florida. Please call Governor Crist at (850) 488-7146 to demand she be protected.

http://www.stopshariahnow.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=683:a-slow-motion-honor-killing&catid=82:shariah-a-women-and-children&Itemid=106


http://www.actforamerica.org/index.php/home/10-newsmaster/1725-honor-killings-in-usa-raise-concerns

http://www.actforamerica.org/index.php/learn/recent-news/10-newsmaster/1733-somebody-at-fort-hood-should-be-walking-the-plank-prepare-to-be-infuriated

Worse, last evening, Safi was apparently permitted to present a check (evidently on behalf of ISNA) to the families of the victims of last month's Fort Hood massacre. A military source told the blogger Barbarossa at the Jawa Report: "This is nothing short of blood money. This is criminal and the Ft. Hood base commander should be fired right now."

Really, I think you may have something confused.

It's not my comments that are disturbing because they are based in fact.

It is reality and truth that are disturbing to all loyal, patriotic, Christian, Atheist, Jewish, Wicken, Buddhist, Hindu, etc Americans. Or anyone else in the world that cares about their life and freedom.

Now I agree truth is disturbing at present.

Wanda Sykes show this past Sat.

On Obama/Barry

"Remember the chant "yes we can", well Mr. Obama, "I wish you would"

I'm posting anonymously because, like our founding fathers, I'm worried about persecution. Our founding fathers wrote many of their publications under pseudonyms for fear of being persecuted for their ideas of freedom. Posting anonymously is freedom of speech and a fundamental Constitutional right. John is trying to limit our rights and liberties that our founding fathers fought so hard for. I would love to post my name when I write a comment, especially on an article of this sort, but for those of us who have political aspirations, it will come back and bite us in the ass. So whine and moan about people posting their views anonymously. I for one am just happy that everybody can get their views heard without fear of persecution.

And pay no heed to Mr. Brandon he was all for the rule that says the SGA can take away student votes.

He knows all about oppressing rights and freedoms so it figures he is on the side of censorship...its how he got his office!

That's the same douche bag that took away my SGA vote. Screw him!

This is how a Google search works in China. You are not gonna find any criticism of the administration there either so we're ALL HAPPY!

pooping me? pooping me? is that really what you meant to say? pooping me... Jesus...

I mean you responded three times...apparently a nerve was struck somewhere...

http://dext3rity.files.wordpress.com/2008/12/e-thug1.jpg

What all of you are.

I would like the ability to challenge these moderated comments. Some of what has been moderated here shouldn't have been.

I would argue that the first amendment does allow for online anonymity under Freedom of Expression. This does not alleviate the poster of the obligation to substantiate his point. Ignorant posts are usually not taken seriously because there are no substance behind them. People are free to write / post whatever they want pertaining to a relevant topic in a comment forum. Informed readers should be able to form an opinion based on the validity of the arguments. I know this has been said already, but this column seems to be based more on the author's frustration at seeing opposition to his view-points.