Allegation of Racism Sparks Massive Online Debate
Allegations from Manitoba aboriginal leaders that the CBC has provided a forum for hatred and racism on it’s web site have grown into a full scale debate between hate speech on one hand and freedom of speech and censorship on the other.
The leaders, which represent dozens of aboriginal bands, made the allegations after a year-long study of several news sites. One of the comments which they documented read: “Native people do not have the knowledge to look after a house. Build them a teepee seeing they were better off 300 years ago.”
When CBC News posted the story on its web site headlined: “First Nations chiefs say comments on CBC website forum for hate,” hundreds of comments started appearing on the page debating the merits of the accusations. On Thursday night the story had over 200 comments and was the most commented story on cbc.ca.
Many of the comments echoed the thought that the aboriginal leaders were blurring the lines between criticism and hatred. “I don’t think people’s opinions should be counted as racist because they may be negative in nature,” MikeNike wrote in what was the most recommended comment on the story. “This sounds like intimidation to me… Dissenting points of view are not hate speech,” another commentator GlobalWarmingNews.ca added. I should add that the CBC story did not contain the comments that sparked the allegations.
Nevertheless the story illustrates a problem that many media outlets are struggling with – sometimes the online comments become the story. And when that happens it introduces some thorny legal questions.
A media law professor told the Globe said that the CBC could be liable for the comments: “If you are screening the comments, you are responsible,” said Dean Jobb, assistant professor of Journalism at King’s College. But others disagree wether the CBC would be on the hook and most agree that the issue lies in a legal grey area than has not been mapped.
The problem becomes even more acute for the CBC because part of it’s mandate is to promote discussion among Canadians, and comments on news stories are a extremely effective way to do that.
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Comment boards are not “an extremely effective way” for the CBC to carry out its mandate. They are a cop-out and a sign that the CBC does not hold its online service to the same standards it holds TV and radio to. Don’t give me this crap. Nobody calling himself MikeNike would ever make it to any newscast.
Online comments are a way to start discussions – as you and I are doing now. TV and radio both solicit comments from viewers and listeners – both on and off line. The National frequently does the “Your Turn” segments where viewers submit questions on air. Cross Country Check Up takes calls directly from viewers. And most all CBC shows have comment capabilities on their web sites.
I don’t see different standards, except it’s much easier and more immediate online.
For my own spiritual well-being, I have stopped reading most reader comments on CBC News’ website. The moderators there have allowed ignorant, intolerant rightwing cranks to bully their way into taking over that forum. These people don’t know how to discuss or empathize, only to insult and rant. The CBC is so sensitive about being labelled “left-lib” and “PC” that it fails to maintain even the most basic standards of civil discourse, let alone screen posters for basic signs of intelligence and literacy.
To paraphrase songwriter Joe Keithley, the Ignoroids have Triumphed.
There’s a fine line between criticism and hate speech. The problem with the anonymity of the Internet is that people express opinions a lot . You really need to develop a thick skin when on the Internet.
If they do have problems with comments, they can always flag it with the “Report abuse” link. I’ve unfortunately felt the need to use it before, and the comment was removed.
I still think the comment system used by the CBC is archaic. No threading, really? I don’t know how far my suggestion will reach, but I really think the CBC should be looking at a more up-to-date comment system. From what I’ve seen, I like IntenseDebate best. It was used by Obama’s change.gov transition site. It has threading, a reputation system, and a bunch of other features. Plus, it’s free.
Hard to gauge it comments are racists, ignorant or just stupid. Comments are moderated so hopefully posts containing pejorative posts are tossed. Hopefully the politically correct police will not squash debate.
Just on a side note,I have often been taken aback by many of the comments ,whether on the CBC or other MSM sites,when it comes to articles on First Nations peoples.
The common sentiment on so ,so many are just mind numbingly racist and intolerant.
The ignorance never fails to astound me,sure racism directed at First Nations peoples exists as my many native friends can attest to,how ever I never would have expected or anticipated the displays of racism that I often encounters when reading the comment section(on MSM sites ).
Indeed my sense and belief of the basic goodness of ordinary Canadians is often shaken.Not only by the number of these outrages comments,they seem to go on and on, but also by the near absence of rebuttals & or condemnations of this trash.
I have always thought that if many of the same types of intolerant and racist comments,that get directed at F.N peoples on sites such as the CBC & others, were said about any other people(s) or ethnicity there would be far less tolerance and or sympathy/understanding expressed by other commentators.
The delete button and or complaint function would be used much more frequently .
When David Ahenakew made an anti-semitic remark, his Order of Canada was taken away. Didn’t matter what he had done to deserve the Order or that he publicly apologised.
Yet, anti-First Nations sentiments are routinely posted and, therefore, condoned by media blogs.
Universities, which should be bastions of free speech, seem to be hotbeds of intolerance.
Something is seriously askew. Fubar, in fact.
Im an American witnessing true racism in progress.
Since the election Ive seen the advent of more crime in the black communities and violence in America and America is surely polorized
With the new President hopefully we can estabish a point where some of these divisions can be desolved
As to the crime issue I just wish that Obama had more money for Police
Its a sad day when media outlets hide behind blogs that spew pure racism and allows for no resonable explanation why. I wonder how the two Aboriginal reporters feel about their employer colluding with racists to stir the hatred pot against their relatives and people? Perhaps a public forum where the CBC partners up with other media outlets, who also allow the same views to be sprayed across their blogs, would better serve. I mean its whats left unsaid in the media that hurts us all and allows racism to grow and fester.
JC, the allegedly racist remarks were not in blogs. They were in reader comments. The CBC did not “collude with racists to stir hatred.” The CBC moderated reader comments, and some of the comments that passed moderation where found to objectionable.
I think the real issue is that we have been avoiding dealing with Canada’s & Canadian’s history of aboriginal abuses, we learn more about Britain & France…countries our ancestors had to leave because the living conditions were so horrible then the actual people who inhabited & made Canada what it is
…then we learn about false market economics in the new world, no wonder everyone’s head is screwed loose.
My grandmother went through residential schooling, asides from one course that lightly touched on it, my entire school education avoided the issue like the plague (and my high school was right beside an original residential school from the 70s-80s). It is no wonder my grandmother still refuses to accept her aboriginal identity,
This is a healing process that has yet to be started…you don’t throw money at family to make them feel better, you hug them and you show them you love them.
Until aboriginals & francophones are fully a part of Canada’s government & decision making processes (without having to bow to English interpretation of society & law), Canada and Canadians will always fail as a whole.
We are not a culture of Anglos, look south to what one race & one dream can do to a society & a nation. We are one of the most diverse nations in the world, it is time that it’s promise of a brighter future ring true…for we are all immigrants searching for food, shelter, warmth & happiness
Some of you folks need to spend a couple of months on a reserve. Observe and record what actually goes on there.
It would absolutely shock you. The truth is you would flee before the first night was over. It can be that bad. Racism has absolutely nothing to do with it. It is a matter of character.
There is a portion of the Canadian Indian population who are doing a tremendously good job of raising good families and being responsible. If you look closely , they never get much help , let alone funding for their good works. They never have the microphone.
We must stand by these decent folks , we must expose the corruption and waste. We must judge on character and responsibility. Race has absolutely nothing to do with it. Never has.