Fighting Hate - A Dance for Many Partners

Hate and abuse has been the over-arching focus of my work. Ultimately, we have not been fighting hate. We have been fighting fear. Hate, directed against people, creates fear - the weapon haters exploit. Fear is used to intimidate, marginalize, disenfranchise, and isolate. Fear creates doubt, paranoia, mistrust, and suspicion. The human predisposition to fear is deeply ingrained. It is part of our survival instincts.  It is not so amazing that the oldest darkest enemy of our species has followed us into the digital age.

For better or worse, fear is an inseparable part of many of our social ills, and yet has driven many of our greatest achievements. Fear of death and disease has fueled great medical knowledge and research. Fear of violence and mayhem has motivated a social order and justice system. Fear of hunger is responsible for an extensive food production and distribution industry. Fear of the right things is not a bad thing.

Hate speech itself is not always intended to cause fear. It can be an expression of anger or frustration. However ill-considered words often have a problem with how they are perceived. There is also the reality that true hate, intended to have destructive consequences, when outed, is often attributed to “poor judgement” rather than the true intent of what is said. There is no question that hooded KKK robes were intended to instill fear.  Other symbols, words, phrases, and images, although not originally conceived to express hate became just that over time through association and use. Equally, the ability for iconography and language to trigger fear is learned.

People cannot always know what will elicit a fear inducing reaction. Not all items or statements create the same reaction. The Confederate Battle Flag is one example. As a symbol of historic bravery in the Civil War. It symbolizes the battle for State’s Rights to some, other see it as a symbol of oppression. That the issue of State’s Rights also included the right own continue slavery and own slaves and the subsequent use of the Battle Flag by hate groups has clearly negated any historic context which might have been redeeming. Individuals flying “the stars and bars” know full well that it is a tainted symbol. It is therefore incumbent on people, as in many other situations, to use appropriate consideration in its use or the use of other potentially troubling symbols.

Yet among those people offended by particular hate content, reactions can be quite different.  Some studies indicate that younger social media audiences are far more likely to dismiss hateful material as not a significant problem. In failing to react or rise-to-the-bait, younger audiences rob the hate of any impact. Even content with the most malicious intent. Within these less reactive groups, haters will probe them for an emotional, social, or topical vulnerability and then exploit it mercilessly. It is not about the hate. It is about the motivation of the hater and the need to create fear, intimidation, and insecurity in others.

Those members of the internet community who are not phased by hate must band together and share their strength with those who feel victimized.

Those people who feel fearful, targeted, or victimized must have a coordinated place to turn for expert, consistent information on their options for protecting themselves, responding and how to stay safely engaged in their online lives.

The internet industry must develop unified, uniform baseline standards for unacceptable user behavior including incitement, targeting, abuse and coordinated information manipulation across all platform types, no matter who is responsible, and stand behind them.

Reducing the activities of those who intentionally create, profit, and perpetuate harm online, is not a choice, it is an obligation.