OPINION & EDITORIAL
Shout outs harbor hatred
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Also by Rob Rossmeissl:
- Trolley proposal deserves thought (May 1, 2007)
- U.S. should re-evaluate free trade agreements to improve economy (April 24, 2007)
- High quality city inspires progress (April 17, 2007)
- Comic relief important in movies (April 9, 2007)
- Shout outs harbor hatred (March 26, 2007)
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- Cell phone etiquette checkup (April 26, 2005)
- Riot act (October 27, 2005)
- Sprint cell-phone service appalling (September 13, 2001)
by Rob Rossmeissl
Monday, March 26, 2007
Have you ever wondered what makes for the civility (or at least quasi-civility) with which we interact in our everyday lives?
Why, for instance, do we refrain from punching someone who has bumped into us on the street? Why don't we walk up and scold somebody who is yelling into a cell phone at the library? Basically, why do we so often refrain from confrontation when we feel we've been wronged?
Some would point out that we try to coexist peaceably for the sake of making our own lives easier. Others would argue that some sort of divine power sees to our wellbeing by ensuring that we do not harm others. And yet another group might believe that, for some inexplicable reason, humans are inherently good.
To those of the latter creed: I challenge you to read The Badger Herald shout-outs and maintain your present disposition.
If you're not familiar with this newspaper's shout-outs feature, all you really need to know is that it is an online forum to which, if approved by a moderator, people's comments are posted. And, once a week, a handful of said comments make it to print in the Herald.
The subject matter of shout-outs varies widely. In a single edition, for instance, one might see comments ranging from a condemnation of a particular professor, to a nonsensical ramble, to an inquiry about the identity of an unknown person with whom the commenter made eye contact on the street (there's a common shout-out term for this that I've chosen to omit due to its extreme overuse).
But, as much as the shout-outs differ from week to week, there seems to be one recurring theme: Comments made via this forum are often more hateful and venomous than anything to be found in normal public discourse.
Consider the following comments posted on the shout-out forum over the past week.
Some posts were just generally harsh:
"[Shout-out] to the girls who ride the ellipticals at the Serf and think they are such fitness gurus. You better ride that thing all month, sweetheart."
Some were bigoted:
"Does UW get any of the smart coasties, or do the smart ones go to school on the coast? are there smart coasties???"
And some were so chauvinistic, barbaric and preposterous that it's difficult to believe they were intended to be taken seriously:
"Shout-out to the bouncer at Mondays. Apparently having huge bitch tits gives you the right to take away people's IDs. I hope (and know) that you will burn in hell a desperate and lonely soul."
Or maybe I just don't know what "bitch tits" are.
So what explains how our level of discourse sinks to such depths when we are granted anonymity?
One can only wonder whether — if it were possible to simply turn on some sort of anonymity shield — we might interact on the streets the same way we interact in the shout-outs.
It's tempting to have faith in the inherent good of humanity, and I do believe that a minority of people are responsible for a majority of the more reprehensible shout-outs. Nevertheless, when considering both the quantity and extremism of negative shout-outs, it is impossible to avoid speculation about how much animosity and resentment simmer below the neat and tidy surface of our society.
So, to those lobbing attacks from behind this veil of secrecy: Shout-out to mustering up a little courage and letting us know who you are.
Rob Rossmeissl (rrossmeissl@badgerherald.com) is a senior majoring in journalism and political science.
Anonymous (March 26, 2007 @ 1:30am):
Yeah, Ross doesn't know what "bitch tits" are. Bitch tits are when a man's pecs look like breasts for one reason or another. The phrase was popularized by "Fight Club": "Bob had bitch tits."
So while still cruel, it wasn't really chauvinistic.
Anonymous (March 26, 2007 @ 6:59am):
The use of the phrase "anti-shout out" is incorrect. The antithesis of a shout out is a "shout in".
Starting immediately, all anti-shout outs are disallowed for the preferred shout in. Please make these changes accordingly.
Anonymous (March 26, 2007 @ 7:37am):
This is one of the stupidest stories I have ever read.
-Anonymous
Anonymous (March 26, 2007 @ 8:19am):
I find it fun to laugh at other's misfortunes, and will continue to do so.
Anonymous (March 26, 2007 @ 9:21am):
While before I used to use the shout-out column, I will now confront my nemeses directly and make them cry!
Anonymous (March 26, 2007 @ 9:30am):
"I find it fun to laugh at other's misfortunes, and will continue to do so."
So these are the kind of graduates coming out of Wisconsin these days, huh? Glad I go to school in Minnesota.
Anonymous (March 26, 2007 @ 9:30am):
Actually, a whisper-in is totally opposite of a shout out.
Anonymous (March 26, 2007 @ 10:45am):
Schadenfreude - it isnt just for breakfast anymore.
Anonymous (March 26, 2007 @ 11:34am):
I will consider "whisper in" as an alternative to the shout in, but until a final decision please use shout in
Anonymous (March 26, 2007 @ 12:30pm):
Shout out to whisper in
Anonymous (March 26, 2007 @ 1:16pm):
Ok. whiseper in. Twist my arm. Whisper in to those posting "anti shout out"
Anonymous (March 26, 2007 @ 1:17pm):
Wait, so this article says that the funny things people say aren't actually funny?
Whisper in to this article.
Anonymous (March 26, 2007 @ 3:15pm):
"So these are the kind of graduates coming out of Wisconsin these days, huh? Glad I go to school in Minnesota."
And I'm going to continue to laugh at YOUR misfortune.
Anonymous (March 26, 2007 @ 5:40pm):
Minnesota-- You'll still be working for me one day.
-Any UW Graduate
Anonymous (March 26, 2007 @ 6:57pm):
grow a pair rob
Anonymous (March 26, 2007 @ 8:10pm):
Isn't it better that we say all those things we think as we walk down the street each day anonymously than out loud?
Everyone needs to vent.
Anonymous (March 26, 2007 @ 11:36pm):
"Minnesota-- You'll still be working for me one day."
First, you'll have to move to Minnesota...and become a Vikings/Twins fan. Bwahhahahaha!
Anonymous (March 29, 2007 @ 11:05am):
We are bigoted against coasties because coasties are bigoted against us. What's that expression, "treat others as you want to be treated"? Yeah, that's what I thought.
Anonymous (December 7, 2007 @ 10:58pm):
Bravo for a well-written article! I love reading the shout-outs for the same reasons I love watching Family Guy, The Simpsons, The Office, etc., but I generally assume people are just joking. But you're right that the shout-outs make UW students look like ignorant bigots and are a poor reflection on our campus. Then again, they're so damn funny....
Anonymous (March 13, 2008 @ 11:54am):
To me, there's no difference in belittling one through the shoutouts then there is in, say, watching the Daily Show or the Colbert Report. Their job is to make fun of people. Its Hilarious! Yeah, it can be offensive, but frankly I dont care.
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