Unit 4, Issue 12, pg. 256

Is Hate Speech in the media directly affecting our culture?
Once again, I thought that the author of our textbook did not find adequate articles to explain whether hate speech is affecting our culture.  For example, the "yes" article does not use his target audience effectively.  Instead, he alienates certain people and does not use convincing main points to argue that hate speech is affecting our culture.  He cites the usage of videogames as an agent that promotes the usage of hate speech.  For example, the player becomes the violent hero.  He further questions how and why our culture has become so mean spirited, and as a result, he explores the culture of our society's addiction to violent video games.  In addition he analyzes how modern day politics uses hate speech in debates and presidential elections as a way to exercise power over the opponent, and to display his superiority to the other canidate. I completely agree with this statement.  For example, when Senator Barbra Boxter went up against her fellow Republican Canidate Carly Fiona, both sides used hate speech to try to gain control of the debate.  I think I can say with confidence, that most of the audience was tired of using slanderous hate speech in the debates, and instead, just wanted to hear the facts.  The "no" article examined the content of web pages of 4 extremist groups that use persuasive techniques to gain acceptance on their stance, and that these websites fall back on old laurels instead of using out right hate speech, while downplaying the message of hate in their main messages.  The author goes further to even question if hate speech should be legal.  The article really does not thoroughly discuss this question, but kind of discusses the question in a half hearted manner.  I personally noticed irony in the "no" article with his "black sheep comment" in the concluding paragraph, while he was discussing white supremacist hate groups.  I think that hate speech defiinitely affects our culture, and is displayed in the media, whether it be on television, radio, or online.