Fight against hate speech begins at home: Thai editorial

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EDITORIAL
Fight against hate speech begins at home
The Nation

The process must begin with oneself if we want to prevent another bloody episode in our history

BANGKOK: -- A lot has been said about "hate speech", but little has been really done about it. And the trickiest thing about "hate speech" is that even its proclaimed staunchest opponents can be drawn into its trap. In other words, haters of hate speech can unknowingly become its advocates.

It is not easy to condemn hate speech without sounding hypocritical. In Thai circumstances, it's even harder. To begin with, one rarely accuses those on "the same side" of resorting to hate speech. If "the same side" is to be criticised, it's usually a slap on the wrist. When "the other side" does it, it's a big, almost unforgivable crime. This is probably the biggest reason why hate speech is flourishing in the country despite criticism from all fronts.

And there are many kinds of hate speech. Using rude language is an obvious one, but equally bad is using normal language to amplify misunderstanding or exaggerate flaws of the other side. Polite generalisation - using words like slaves or elites - can cement resentment, which can easily turn into hatred.

But a major misperception about hate speech is that it does not necessarily provoke outright anger or hatred. Hate speech can cause one to first feel low and sorry for oneself but that self-pity can turn into wrath, and the wrath can fester. So, hate speech can be virtually everywhere - on rally stages, in opinion columns, among Facebook postings condemning political wrongdoings or during seminars held to decry rampant verbal abuses.

On anti-government rally stages, broadcast by Bluesky, caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and her brother Thaksin have been subjected to name-calling on a daily basis. On the other hand, Suthep Thaugsuban and Abhisit Vejjajiva have been treated the same way on the Asia Update channel. It doesn't matter any more as to who did it first. They are hate speeches all the same. Problem is, while they are equally easy to identify, they are not equally easy to condemn, because this is where political leanings come into play.

And there are "hate-speech haters" who do not practice what they preach. On Twitter, some supposed anti-hate-speech crusaders have called those disagreeing with them "stupid". Is "stupid" different from "buffaloes", a word that the anti-hate-speech campaigners are so against? The answer(s) to this question will tell a lot about why the Thai situation is so hard to rectify.

If this is an age of ideological battle, it's impossible to stop opinions from being expressed. Which leads to the most important point: stopping hate speech begins with ourselves, not others. It's difficult to be full of opinions these days without offending others, but it's not impossible. Using pure, sincere reasons is a way to do it. People can be reasonable without insulting others at the same time.

And we must all try - if Thailand's roll toward another nasty, bloody episode of its history is to be prevented, that is.

With its political strife, Thailand is a perfect breeding ground for hate speech, which feeds on the an-eye-for-an-eye mentality. Self-pity can fuel hate speech. Attacking supporters of those who we think are wrong can foster hate speech. Decrying hate speech, if not done carefully, can have an opposite effect. How can we win this battle then? It's easier said than done, of course, but to defeat hate speech, we first must overcome ourselves. Whether we like to do that or not, there is no other way to do it.


-- The Nation 2014-05-19

[Mango Bob]

You got a lot of people on this forum also who throw around a lot of hate just because you don't have the same opinion as them.

[noitom]

The Thai press should examine its own case on this. For years, theThai press has been engendering paranoia, fear and hate of Thaksin and his family. Blaming virtually every problem with Thailand in the last ten years on Thaksin while supporting Suthep and pandering to his sedition. The Thai press should be held accountable for promoting unrest and conflict.

[valvenus]

The Thai press should be held accountable for promoting unrest and conflict.

If only Thaksin could be held accountable for promoting unrest and conflict, there would be a lot less of both.

[love1012]

You got a lot of people on this forum also who throw around a lot of hate just because you don't have the same opinion as them.

THAT is the richest post Ive ever read!!! Mongo Bob - King of Hate speech to anyone not a Shinawatra worshipper!!!!!

[chotthee]

The Thai press should be held accountable for promoting unrest and conflict.

If only Thaksin could be held accountable for promoting unrest and conflict, there would be a lot less of both.

Or Suthep?

[aussieinthailand]

You got a lot of people on this forum also who throw around a lot of hate just because you don't have the same opinion as them.

THAT is the richest post Ive ever read!!! Mongo Bob - King of Hate speech to anyone not a Shinawatra worshipper!!!!!

love1012, there is a certain young woman that just won a beauty pageant that has some serious HATE speech going on,

such as reds are dirty and should be executed.

[ABCer]

The Thai press should examine its own case on this. For years, theThai press has been engendering paranoia, fear and hate of Thaksin and his family. Blaming virtually every problem with Thailand in the last ten years on Thaksin while supporting Suthep and pandering to his sedition. The Thai press should be held accountable for promoting unrest and conflict.

It has been a long time I wanted to point out that 'Thaksins' are being used by many Thais as 'Jews' by many other countries.

Poor Thais have no 'Jews' to blame for whatever is wrong with them, - thus 'Thaksins'.

A good, useful and timely point made by OP.

There is a saying in another language: "If a child shit pants - it is the daughter-in-law's fault"

[ggt]

I just hate it...when people resort to using the word hate...hate it...hate it...hate it...

[h90]

hate speech is the political correct way to ban freedom of speech....

[Rorri]

Mango Bob, on 19 May 2014 - 06:37, said:

You got a lot of people on this forum also who throw around a lot of hate just because you don't have the same opinion as them.

You need to learn the difference between "hate" and "debate," if someone's opinion is NOT that of someone else's does NOT mean they hate the person.

[Mango Bob]

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Mango Bob, on 19 May 2014 - 06:37, said:

You got a lot of people on this forum also who throw around a lot of hate just because you don't have the same opinion as them.

You need to learn the difference between "hate" and "debate," if someone's opinion is NOT that of someone else's does NOT mean they hate the person.

No, you need to learn the between hate and debate. I accept someone else's opinion but it's hate when they call you stupid, moron or degrade you.

[valvenus]

The Thai press should be held accountable for promoting unrest and conflict.

If only Thaksin could be held accountable for promoting unrest and conflict, there would be a lot less of both.

Or Suthep?

It's a matter of chronology.

There'd be no need if Thaksin had been held accountable for his asset lies when first elected.

[valvenus]

You got a lot of people on this forum also who throw around a lot of hate just because you don't have the same opinion as them.

THAT is the richest post Ive ever read!!! Mongo Bob - King of Hate speech to anyone not a Shinawatra worshipper!!!!!

love1012, there is a certain young woman that just won a beauty pageant that has some serious HATE speech going on,

such as reds are dirty and should be executed.

Any corroboration of that beyond the Thaksin paper, Khaosod?