Forum General Racism in Comments

Hello Writers Cafe Moderators,

I posted a comment on the poem by Cole Skies "Obsidian" and got racist comments from another "poet" who called me names (narcissist,  selfish,  stupid) which is uncalled-for.  Can you do something about this person who is bordering on cyber-bullying?

Cynthia

The account name is John Calopsita using an avatar photo.

i checked out the exchange you had with john over the poem obsidian. while i can see why you may be upset, i don't think he's solely to blame. you engaged him in the argument and it escalated. i don't know why you came to the conclusion his comments were racist. i must have missed that part. you should be able to handle this without calling for help. simply block the person you don't like and you will never have to deal with him again.
there is a verse from the bible which shows great wisdom for when you get in similar situation: proverbs 26:4 " Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him."

Below is the post of made by a certain John Calopsito on my review of Cole Skies' "Obsidian"
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Again, you've used a couple of hundred words to say absolutely nothing. You fail to make a point, other than moaning like a child.

Your review was exactly as I said it to be, it's not an opinion, it's a fact. I made no opinionated remark, I just said exactly what the content of your review was and why it was how I said it to be.

There is no prejudice or judgement and I certainly did not say because you don't think like I do you should change how you think, I simply said you trivialised the poem.

Was that inflection on poets aimed at me? Where do I claim to be a poet? I'm being the exact opposite in this instance, I'm reviewing. And I've never claimed to be a poet on this website. I'd love you to find an example of that because I am most certainly not a poet. I focus more on my prose and novel writing to be honest, and do not consider myself to be a poet nor will I ever.

You are the judgemental person in this instance and have taken everything too personally. It is odd that by your picture you seem to be a mature lady, and yet have written such a worryingly naive, immature reply to my comment.

"I think there is more to your comment than what you pretend to say - selfish." How is that not judgemental and reading between the lines? I didn't focus on what I "assumed" or "thought" I commented on what you chose to say and what it actually meant, rather than just nodding along like one of those plastic dogs on the backseat of station wagons, jumping at traffic lights so the kids behind can see its head almost go all the way round completely.

I did not attack you. At all. And I wasn't leaving a review, again you mix what is fact and what is your own misconceptions. I was commenting on your review. Your review itself was almost about nothing at all, very loosely about the poem at best.

I simply disagreed with what you said and voiced that opinion. Is that not allowed? Have we all really reverted back to the days of when we were 5 and couldn't take anybody saying our pretty little tower made of bricks wasn't exactly that fantastic?

Please learn to understand the point of someones comment. I stand by my comment about you trivialising his poetry. It was a selfish thing for you to do. Can I not think that? Should be restricted from thinking and saying that?

How about you go to f*****g North Korea and live there, maybe then when no-one bothers to tell you how f*****g stupid you are because of their social code, maybe then you'll feel a bit better, because make sure whatever comment you make, if I see it, I'll definitely voice my opinion on it. Just because I can.

And I encourage you lambast me too. I'd enjoy nothing more than your attention.

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As you say "you missed that part" so here it is.  I am Asian but I am not from North Korea.  Most Westerners view us Asians as all the same with the same "social code" (whatever that means).   The fact that this person posted this "review" on my review saying I trivialized the poet's writing,  a  selfishness in my part - is UNKIND UNTRUE and uncalled for.  It was  totally inappropriate for a poetry site supposed to be about poetry.  As I said and my stand remains:  review must be about the poem,  not on the review of other writers who may think differently.  That kind of practice of commenting on what others think of will create conflict and arguments and does not help any of us in writing. 

This site proliferates in this kind of "bashing breed" with all its filthy vulgar language,  a decay of the English language actually,  and yet nothing is being done.  Instead it is tolerated and accepted.  Your own admission that it was I who started the engagement shows the inclination this site has to favor these kind of vexatious writers that stifle others with their virulent comments bordering on cyber bullying.

Shouldn't there be some line drawn to correct this abuse?  You even say because I initiated the exchange,  I should not be "running for help" to the moderators of this site,  if any.  I am not running for help - I am speaking out  so this can be corrected and stopped.  The point I'm making here is - this practice (of making comments on comments) is wrong and the site would do well to implement some rules/limits to this practice.  This is the second time I have encountered such horrible kind of writers.  Your post explains why they proliferate on this site,  and it is a sad state for serious writers like me.

To close one's eyes to wrong is also SIN.
"Open rebuke is better than hidden love." 

Sincerely,

Cynthia

i did not say you initiated the exchange or that you were to blame for it, i said you engaged in an argument. there is a difference. you merely perpetuated and escalated the argument, and continue to do so. i can't speak to the issue of racism because i don't know his motives or your experience with prejudice. i think his statements can be explained in ways other than racism. but that is my reading and obviously yours differs from mine.
it seems to me from this exchange and from one you previously had with a young woman, your problem is more with language and manners more than anything else. people do not always meet the standards we would like, but we can't try to banish everyone who offends us. i prefer freedom of speech to restricting it, so if that is construed to be defending bad manners, so be it. revolutions have been fought for such rights, even if they're used in ways we don't like.
 

Hello again... Yes I think you are right and made a valid point.  People of different cultures interpret differently and that's why I hope some comments center only on the poem and not on the reviewer's comments as there will always be differences.  Thank you for taking time to clarify things.  Cynthia