X: Can you believe what happened to Eddie J?
Y: Of course I can, nothing surprises anymore
X: Yeah, but I mean, it was way uncool after his dog died
Y: that doesn’t make him a good person
X: still, it’s about respect
Y: respect for who, Eddie J?
X: For the fact that he’s going through something…I mean, be human is all I’m saying
Y: It’s not all you’re saying. From your post it sounded like you thought people should be fired or even arrested for calling him out
X: Well, yeah. It’s totally inappropriate, don’t you think? It’s not the right time.
Y: Problem is, doesn’t that cut both ways? People who were fans of his had no problem singing his praises, saying what a great guy he is
X: What’s wrong with that?
Y: nothing, except it’s one-sided to say only speak positively, leaving out what’s critical or even insulting, just because it’s “not the right time”. When does it become the right time to accurately speak to a deceased person’s reputation across divides? People have a right to give an opinion
X: So do I and I say IT’S BULLSHIT
Y: actually, you’re shouting that, plus wanting people to be fired or arrested, which is more than giving an opinion
X: It’s my opinion that they should be arrested
Y: Okay, you have a right to say that
X: Well then…
Y: Well what?
X: Then they should be fired and arrested
Y: (laughing) no, there’s a difference between saying that and having the power to put it into effect
X: we can if enough people say so. That’s democracy, the social contract
Y: not really, it’s a matter of law whether someone gets arrested, at least
X: laws are democratic because we vote for people who make the laws
Y: right but we have certain inalienable rights that supersede the kind of legislation you’re talking about—one of them is free speech. People can say what they like about Eddie J as long as it’s not slander, as in factually incorrect, versus an opinion, like calling someone a jerk
X: or calling for violence
Y: nobody called for violence against Eddie J or his dog
X: they did, they used words that led to violence. It was…whaddya call it?
Y: a dog whistle?
X: no, smart ass. It was hate speech
Y: that’s not calling for violence. You’re allowed to hate, otherwise calling me a smart ass would be grounds for you being fired or arrested
X: that’s not what I mean. It was way worse than that, come on. I’m talking about words, certain words, equaling hatred, and therefore violence. Words are violence
Y: last week it was silence equals violence. Make up your mind
X: sometimes silence is violence if you’re not speaking up when you should
Y: should I lose my job or get arrested if I don’t say anything about issues you think are important?
X: No, I’m not saying that
Y: silence is violence, you said, so why wouldn’t it be punished
X: not in that way, I just mean you should be criticized
Y: or yelled at
X: I’M NOT YELLING
Y: I think your voice is hurting my foot
X: whatever, now you’re blaming me, playing the victim. There’s way too much blaming and fingerpointing going on right now. I blame the left for that.
Y: You see me as on the left?
X: No, you’re in the middle, but that’s bad too. Anyway, I’m outa here, not talking to you
Y: Or “liking” my posts anymore, none of which are political
X: That’s right. Maybe you should be fired, or arrested if you think it’s okay to mock someone whose dog just died just because you don’t like them for dissing on your favorite band, whatever they’re called
Y: Thunderbone. Greatest band ever! It should be so declared by the highest authorities, like chatgbt. To suggest anything else is false news, disinformation, or misinformation, whatever the difference between those things is. And it’s the only issue that really matters. It should be illegal to diss on TB, or even fail to invoke their name, like you just did: punishable by job loss, incarceration, public stoning, banishment to a leper colony…like a red state
X: Ugh, I knew it. You said red state, you hater! You’re on the left. Bye
Y: It was a joke. What, are you banning me?
X: yes, and your stupid blog
Graeme Daniels Psychewriter 