Back in June, in a story about Bethlehem City Council, someone anonymously published this comment: "FUCK 'EM ALL I HAVE A REAL SURPRISE FOR THEM AT MUSUCKFEST...JUST WAIT AN SEE!!!!!" When a reader brought it to my attention, I decided to let it stand. It makes no threat.
In view of the weekend's mass shootings and a recent Morning Call story indicating police and FBI are investigating several social media posts concerning Bethlehem and these mass shootings, the reader contacted me again.
I have forwarded the comment to police.
This comment makes no specific threat, and a "surprise" can mean many things. I still feel there is no cause for concern, but will let police make that call.
23 comments:
You did the right thing
I went back to the original post to review the context of the comment above. The comment was on an article about Bethlehem City Council restricting the First Amendment rights of people.
In that context, the comment could be meant (and interpreted) in a different way than it might be viewed in the context of this weekend's shootings. I think we go down a slippery slope when we start applying different contexts to comments than the context in which they were made.
In addition, it lacks the specificity to be a real threat of violence, at least to me.
That said, I also don't think it's a bad thing to have passed it along to the police, as long as the original context was supplied as well. The police are looking at the bigger picture, and can see if it fits into whatever else they're hearing.
The police are often putting puzzle pieces together. One comment may not mean much, but if it is connected to other info, it becomes significant. I think the police would prefer that any threat of potential violence be forwarded to them.
It was. My email to the Chief was rejected because it contained banned content, which was probably my name, lol. So I contacted the Mayor and asked him to forward it. His email was rejected, too, lol. Pretty diffcult to contact BPD if everything you send is rejected. That is one department that should have no content filters.
If I can take things one step further, and put the comment from June into the context of this weekends shootings, I think it does illustrate part of the problem we face in today's society.
We are more connected, yet further apart, than ever.
With the rise of the internet and social media, comments like the one you note above can be made without fear of reprisal. I don't have a problem with that, but I don't think the person who wrote it would make the same comment in public. I would also hope, that with a bit of reflection, the person writing it would realize that it probably wasn't the best way of expressing their position.
As an adult, I can understand that. But would a teenager or a person with mental issues realize the same thing? Or would any positive or negative response they receive only harden and embolden them to the next (not so good) level?
In general, I don't think social media and many blogs have served our world well, particularly our youth, and it's part of the problem that manifested itself this weekend. Instead of bringing out our best, it more often plays to our worst. And the irrational comments of our politicians before and after such tragic events have more to do with promoting their self-serving political narratives than actually solving our problems, and only add fuel to the fire.
If the question in yesterday's post was "How Would You Stop Mass Shootings?", I would say we should all take a good look in the mirror. Think before you post something. Don't take comments out of context and extrapolate them. Don't jump to conclusions. Remember that what you write today will be readable for eternity. Above all, remember that what you write might be misinterpreted or twisted by someone, and then someone else, and then still others, ultimately ending up with the worst outcome to our fellow human beings.
We need to set the standards, starting today, and not wait for others to do it for us. Instead of falling to the lowest level possible, raise the level of discourse to what it could and should be.
@9:23 - A very sane, cogent and rational comment. We need more people like you in this digital world and in real life too. Frankly I'm surprised you're here!
9:23PM
I understand your positive message.
Do you see any problems with self censorship and the concept of freedom of speech?
To what degree is freedom of speech realized when we all exercise our right to remain silent.
Christine Blasey Ford...
...taught us all. If you see something...shut your pie hole.
To answer your question, yes. It seems to very obviously be a threat. I'm glad it was forwarded to the police. While it may lack specificity, it sure has anger, evil intent and craziness all over it.
Police have contacted me. It is not, by itself, actionable. It might or might not fit into patterns they have seen. I probably should have noted the IP and ISP of the commenter, and will do so if I see a similar comment.
It sounds like something someone would say if there was a "Battle of the Bands" event.
Sports fans should watch their tongues....
Reminds me of the story of the guy at wal-marts talking to a friend about buying a car, he told his friend he "couldn't pull the trigger" and someone overheard "pull the trigger" and reported it...he never did buy that car but he did have a strange two years.
Context matters and there is none here. I think the police got this right and no action be taken. However considering the media/political distortion of events they chose to report this weekend I understand your sensitivity.
Oh no! I’m scared to go to Musicfest now! I think I’ll stay home with my curtains drawn.... just like you Ohare.
12:00 -
I don't think anyone needs to be silent. I just think that we could all be more civil when communicating our thoughts, particularly online.
I look to blogs as one way of discussing ideas and perspectives. I don't think anyone or any party has a lock on good ideas, and I think we could get further by having actual conversations with each other, even difficult or uncomfortable ones.
I view the blogs and social media as a supplement to real contact and dialogue, not as a substitute for it. I also realize that what I'm writing today might be read days, weeks or months later, by a person who I might not even intend to be a part of the original conversation. They might be a troubled teen or someone else who might read something and take it in an entirely different way than I intend, or apply it to a context that I'd never want it applied to.
So when we do interact online, we should try to do with the same civility as when we're talking to an actual person. Because we are.
I realize that's a lot of responsibility to put on ourselves and I'm not trying to absolve anyone of the blame for their own actions. But I think in general we could all do a little better.
I'll be the first to admit that I don't always live up to that ideal, but it doesn't mean I shouldn't try.
So I'm not allowed to say Hi to my friend Jack when I see him on the plane to nowhere?
"I also realize that what I'm writing today might be read days, weeks or months later, by a person who I might not even intend to be a part of the original conversation. They might be a troubled teen or someone else who might read something and take it in an entirely different way than I intend, or apply it to a context that I'd never want it applied to."
Like the artist painting or a song writers song?...I hope being conscience of all possible interpretations doesn't effect it's original content, message or whether it's said or created at all.
It's nice to know you are out there...
August 6, 2019 at 1:56 PM
Have you read or are you familiar with, Areopagitica by John Milton?
The importance of free speech goes deep.
everyone should go to the Gadflys blog and listen to his audio file where the Ridge St Stunner verbally humiliates Edgar exercising her 1st ammendment rights in order to take a stand against the rabid jackals of our blogosphere like Deeznutz and Edgar. little golem has his panties bunched up because someone has a surprise for the fascists to be unveiled at Fest.
his gun grabbing latent tendencies are on display, id rather be judged by 12 than carried by 6.
Tricia Mezzacappa, you should be careful about using MOLON LOBE as a moniker bc I did just that in my defamation suit and the psp is doing it now.
Ridge St Stunner. Lol. Always wondered what became of that little pig.
Bernie, I am still waiting with pins and needles in anticipation of this dasauckfest act to take place? I had also remember reading that statement put to print and thinking WTF does this person have irratating there hemrodes?
https://ujsportal.pacourts.us/DocketSheets/MDJReport.ashx?docketNumber=MJ-03208-TR-0002900-2019&dnh=D5l%2fM7N%2bgk8bgQDj%2f1VBZg%3d%3d
That's not me. Nice try.
Well, Bernie, Muskfest “arrestingly “ well manored. Bethlehem was controllable and the results are apparently very commendable. BPD ,and Other city leadership must have been on the ball. Management of this whole thing seems incredibly well done. Good for them .
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