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Saturn In Virgo: Hate Hotline Puts Speech On Hold In Boulder Colorado
Astrology in real life
Saturn (restricts) speech (Virgo). This is pretty much incomprehensible to me but it’s passed in Boulder, CO.
Hate hotline puts speech on hold
David Harsanyi writes:
“There’s a famous joke that goes like this:
What’s the difference between a Rottweiler and a Jewish mother? Eventually, the Rottweiler lets go.
Now, some Jews may find that joke offensive. I don’t. But if you’re insulted, and you live in Boulder, you’re in luck. Soon enough, you may be able to report me to the authorities.
Tuesday, the Boulder City Council will take up the matter of allocating public funding for a “hate hotline,” which would give residents an opportunity to report incidents in which Boulderites use tactless language…”
Read the rest in the Denver Post
What do you think of this?
25 Responses to “Saturn In Virgo: Hate Hotline Puts Speech On Hold In Boulder Colorado”
“would give residents an opportunity to report incidents in which Boulderites use tactless language
shit. all you need is tactlessness? take me to jail now, ok? my capacity for tact is extremely limited, and i’ve lost my patience with shutting up all the time…
good thing i don’t live there.
Speaking as a Saturn in Virgo, I have to say that I don’t think this’s all together a bad idea. (Sorry to say this sort of thing, but at least what I’m saying is not hateful. Ducking).
Thing is, the apparatus in Boulder, whatever it is, probably lacks any power of enforcement. It would probably serve (if it serves at all), as a forum to report something publicly, that is, as a way of providing a sense of some recourse when somebody uses words rather than sticks and stones. The theory is, of course, that the perpetrator escalates in may cases, from words to sticks and stones. At least this way, there’s a record that helps establish the hate-yness of the eventual crime. Yeah, I know this is stupid, but . . . here’s my little anecdote from personal experience below, and, as it were, I generally avoid situations like this. My personal freedom is thereby impinged upon:
About 35 years ago, on a visit to Southern California, to Zuma beach to be exact. I decided to wear my little speedos to the beach. While walking along the parking lot access road, virtually the first passing car rolled down its windows and uttered the word “faggot” at me in a cursing tone. Now, one realizes that the fashion police in LA have more actual power than they do just about anywhere else, but seriously, “faggot” simply because I refused to cover my thighs? How would you feel?
The upstart of this? If you’ve never been hated by the (thinking or unthinking) majority, you probably don’t get this thing in Boulder.
Well if this takes hold (and God help us, it probably will)… I am going to have to leave this country for sure because I offend the living shit out of people on a daily basis.
Elsa, that’s pretty much the way I feel about a lot of things that go down in these here United States (and I’ve lived abroad before, for more than a decade).
Robot calls come to mind. Anonymous ones (as they all are), “do not call” list notwithstanding (talk about lack of enforcemnent power!) You mean, I can’t call these companies back even if I pay for caller ID? What the hell government ever allowed this to happen? Oh yeah, the Telecom government!
I like this new slogan I’ve seen around “America, love it or fix it.”
In remembering a conversation with an old man many years ago. One comment remained with me through the years: “in grade school I was told at some point the government might urge the people to report and tattle on each other” As a teenager, the statement held no immediate impact or import to me. However, over time the truth and importance has become apparent.
Well the next step is we round people up who say things the government doesn’t like and then do what with them? Put them in concentration camps maybe? Flog them in public?
I live down the street from Boulder CO and won’t be stepping foot in the city again.
A truly slippery slope, indeed.
Yes, Dan. I have written several thousands pieces on this blog and virtually every single one of them would offend *someone. For that matter - this is astrology, the work of the devil. How long is it going to take someone like me to go down?
How about organized groups targeting someone? Good God, it’s a horror. In the name of good, my ass! Why don’t we get rid of all the dark haired people too? Fuck it! I am offended by them. I’m calling the hotline. Smokers and fat people too! People with bad manners who don’t wipe their mouth when they eat. People who fart!!!!!!!!
Come on man, I am offended!!
I think people should be offended at the fact I am so easily offended!!
I think they’re going to attract aberrant behavior. people will act out because of this. in fact, I bet people will specifically GO to Boulder to act out.
I farted. I think it may have been a hateful fart.
::holdsoutwristsforthebracelets::
Oh my God, this is ridiculous. I generally prefer that slurs get settled in the people’s court by what I mean that if you call someone a “nigger,” you may or may not get the shit kicked out of you. I hope this thing doesn’t get passed, Elsa. Boulder seems like a fun city.
hahahaha satori!
What. The. Holy, ever-lovin’ hell?
People have lost their minds. *shakes head* I can’t believe this actually passed and that people think it’s a good idea. I can see the ACLU taking this up. . ..
People need to be nice. Why can’t we all just get along? Why people gotta be hateful?
We’ve got Big problems on our hands when trying to control speech.
http://bp2.blogger.com/_FLocQfE7s80/SIGKN_qg56I/AAAAAAAAALU/b4UkcyMZgD4/s1600-h/poster.jpg
so what the hell do they propose to do when somebody talks smack? you going to jail? what about when your angry ex calls the hatehotline to make up stuff? the thought police are coming.
i’ve seen this kind of thing with langauage before. people try to stamp out certain words, thinking that if the eliminate the speech, it somehow transforms the thoughts behind it. all that happens is that the new term for the group gets the same meanings attached over time.
and how on earth do you legislate attacks to “personal beliefs and values”? you can get in trouble now for calling somebody else an idiot? i am as against hateful remarks as anybody else, but this totally makes my hair hurt.
egads.
Hmm, what happens if I speak in a self-derogatory manner? I mean…self-murder is suicide, so what is self-insult? And if I don’t report myself, can I still get in trouble in Boulder, CO?
We need another George Carlin, man. Time for the pendulum to swing.
“We need another George Carlin, man. Time for the pendulum to swing.”
Carielle - I wish, but I think it is going to get so much worse. There are people who think this is cool, you know. They don’t realize it can be turned on them faster than they can spin.
Damnit, I want my freedom to speak!
Yeah, THAT’S gonna work. You can’t force people to respect you. You can force them to tailor their behavior to the law or suffer the consequences. But I am categorically against unenforceable laws. And, as far as attacks on personal beliefs and values, that’s just ridiculous. You can regulate the BEHAVIOR, but personal beliefs and values exist in people’s heads!
I don’t think someone should have to deal with being called a faggot in public (or private). But, logistically, how can that be stopped?
This seems to be going in the direction that it would ultimately be ok to drag someone to court for pushing your buttons!?! Uhm…:P
I wonder if the Boulder witch trials will be broadcast live like the O.J. Simpson trial? LOL
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I laughed at the remark, “Coloradans don’t always consider Boulder a reality-based community.” I was thinking much the same before I went to read the article.
I don’t think tact can be legislated.