Considering how competitive the acceptance criteria are for Harvard (2,056 out of 39,506 applications), this is just another decision point. Now 10 other people are able to get in, and the entire body of current and prospective students have learned a valuable lesson about privacy and free speech.
Harvard withdraws 10 acceptances for ‘offensive’ memes in private group chat
41–50 of 370 posts
Re: Harvard withdraws 10 acceptances for ‘offensive’ memes in private group chat
#42We'll have to create a public and a second, private, personality just like in the old days of the police state. Society is more open than it probably was ever before but at the same time, if close minded leaders of fascist political or religious color came into power they'd have their tools handed to them to create an oppressive apparatus never seen before.
I don't think it's ever really been okay to say horrible things in public and have no reprecussions. I'm pretty sure that if someone could prove that you had said these things at most points in history the acceptance would be rescinded. I think a lot of it is that with the internet it's much easier for people to find out about these sorts of things.
Re: Harvard withdraws 10 acceptances for ‘offensive’ memes in private group chat
#43Earlier quoted context omitted.
I don't care what they said. If it's against the law, let the law deal with it. If it's covered under freedom of speech, let them speak.
Sure, they can speak. I can then use my right to freedom of association to not associate with them. Is that right not as important?
A different set of ethical/legal calculus comes into play when we're talking about a college that gets federal funds.
Re: Harvard withdraws 10 acceptances for ‘offensive’ memes in private group chat
#44I'm so conflicted right now. On the one hand, yeah, that shit is offensive and I'm not too keen on elevating a person who makes jokes about sexual assault or violence against minorities. On the other hand I'm terrified at the creeping surveillance society that has institutions examining all of our utterances for "wrong speech", which is much too close for comfort to "wrong think", which is much too close for comfort…
If it's of any indication: listen closely how the politicans argue that we always need more surveillance and never less. They seem to have their speeches ready even before the incident happens.
Re: Harvard withdraws 10 acceptances for ‘offensive’ memes in private group chat
#45Earlier quoted context omitted.
People go to the toilet to get the crap out. Same for many online forums.
Most online forums involve the cunning use of pseudonyms so when I say "FYAD bitch" it doesn't come up on my college applications...
Not yet. The data is there to link it to you.
Re: Harvard withdraws 10 acceptances for ‘offensive’ memes in private group chat
#46I'm so conflicted right now. On the one hand, yeah, that shit is offensive and I'm not too keen on elevating a person who makes jokes about sexual assault or violence against minorities. On the other hand I'm terrified at the creeping surveillance society that has institutions examining all of our utterances for "wrong speech", which is much too close for comfort to "wrong think", which is much too close for comfort…
The word you are looking for is thoughtcrime. Thoughtcrime is doubleplusungood.
Re: Harvard withdraws 10 acceptances for ‘offensive’ memes in private group chat
#47another example why shenanigans shouldn't be done on Facebook. if you wanna $#!K around do it on a platform that isn't personal how is this so hard to understand ? (mind you this does seem excessive from what they are reporting)
How is this excessive? They were promoting the sort of hate speech you find in the darker corners of 4chan and /r/The_Donald. Harvard is fully within their rights to require a certain level of civility and maturity of their applicants.
excessive on the posts they posted, not Harvard's actions. I think it isn't enough of a punishment for what they did. It's on a public page representing Harvard I don't expect any less.
Re: Harvard withdraws 10 acceptances for ‘offensive’ memes in private group chat
#48I'm so conflicted right now. On the one hand, yeah, that shit is offensive and I'm not too keen on elevating a person who makes jokes about sexual assault or violence against minorities. On the other hand I'm terrified at the creeping surveillance society that has institutions examining all of our utterances for "wrong speech", which is much too close for comfort to "wrong think", which is much too close for comfort…
I am perfectly fine with private organizations banning whoever they like for posting racist shit. Racist shit is "wrong speech". If I have friends who start uttering racist shit, and I can't talk them out of it, they are no longer my friends. (This has happened precisely once, no regrets. Thanks, Fox News, for poisoning an old man's mind.) Posting racist memes is wrong, saying racist things is wrong, thinking racist…
because free speech is universal. You can't cherry pick what topics/views/opinions are protected based on your world view.
Re: Harvard withdraws 10 acceptances for ‘offensive’ memes in private group chat
#49Earlier quoted context omitted.
I think the concern here is that it was private.
Nothing on FB is private, which these kids just learned the hard way. Can't say I feel too bad for them given the content of their posts.
Kind of scary that nothing on facebook is ever private. High school or parents should start teaching kids about online privacy...and financial literacy.
FB issue aside, I think people should be allowed to joke about whatever they want in private. However some people bring jokes from 4chan and b/ into the workplace. High school and college students probably have a harder time drawing the line between facebook and the classroom.
Re: Harvard withdraws 10 acceptances for ‘offensive’ memes in private group chat
#50I'm so conflicted right now. On the one hand, yeah, that shit is offensive and I'm not too keen on elevating a person who makes jokes about sexual assault or violence against minorities. On the other hand I'm terrified at the creeping surveillance society that has institutions examining all of our utterances for "wrong speech", which is much too close for comfort to "wrong think", which is much too close for comfort…
I am perfectly fine with private organizations banning whoever they like for posting racist shit. Racist shit is "wrong speech". If I have friends who start uttering racist shit, and I can't talk them out of it, they are no longer my friends. (This has happened precisely once, no regrets. Thanks, Fox News, for poisoning an old man's mind.) Posting racist memes is wrong, saying racist things is wrong, thinking racist…
[deleted]