Since I brought up the whole issue of freedom of speech and how far people can push their right to speak on the Divorce in Connecticut website, I thought I'd give another example where I struggled with whether or not to publish a comment. As you may know, the DIC policy in regard to comments is as follows:
'This blog is a bigotry free zone open to all persons, regardless of age, race, religion, color, national origin, sex, political affiliations, marital status, physical or mental disability, age, or sexual orientation. Further, this blog is open to the broad variety of opinions out there and will not delete any comments based upon point of view. However, comments will be deleted if they are worded in an abusive manner and show disrespect for the intellectual process."
The prime focus of this policy, in my view, is the prohibition against abuse. On February 16, 2018, there were judiciary committee hearings where Rep. William Tong told activists that they were not allowed to wear T shirts with a protest message if they wished to give testimony before the Committee. The Divorce in Connecticut website, among others, challenged that stand as a violation of the Constitutional Right to Freedom of Speech. Thus, the following video appeared on the Divorce in Connecticut website:
After this video was posted on the website, I received the following comment:
"The only one who showed disrespect was you and your band of "victims".. Maybe it's time you move on with your life and become productive members of society."
So, what do you think? Does this qualify under the definition of commenting in "an abusive manner" as I've laid out in the policy in regard to commenting on this website? My first reaction was that this comment was abuse and I was very reluctant to allow it to be posted. For a while, I was going back and forth with it. Then, I said to myself, it doesn't use bad language and while it is mildly insulting it isn't full fledged abuse. But does it have to reach the level of full fledged abuse for me to reject it? How far is too far? To a certain extent, family court victims have suffered to much and don't deserve even the slightest disrespect. Yet, we live in the real world and need to toughen up; there is no doubt about it.
So, what do you think? Does this qualify under the definition of commenting in "an abusive manner" as I've laid out in the policy in regard to commenting on this website? My first reaction was that this comment was abuse and I was very reluctant to allow it to be posted. For a while, I was going back and forth with it. Then, I said to myself, it doesn't use bad language and while it is mildly insulting it isn't full fledged abuse. But does it have to reach the level of full fledged abuse for me to reject it? How far is too far? To a certain extent, family court victims have suffered to much and don't deserve even the slightest disrespect. Yet, we live in the real world and need to toughen up; there is no doubt about it.
In the end, I did publish this comment, albeit with some pretty serious reservations. Still, I was pretty relieved when someone responded to it correctively a few days later. What do you think? Would you have published this remark? I'd love to hear your views!
