Group 6: Stephanie Cooper, Jessica Milicevic, Melanie
Runser,
Small Groups—Group 6, scribe: Melanie Runser
Prior knowledge—what my group members
wrote:
a.
Hate-demeaning to
someone else, any public forum used as a means to bully another person
(myspacecomment/blog)
b.
Hate websites
contain information intended to demoralize, dehumanize, & degrade any
groups that do not fit into the ideologies of the given websites
c.
Hate websites are
directed to specific groups to be targeted by comments. Those websites are normally stereotypical,
and emotionally insensitive towards the targeted group of people.
d.
I do not have
prior knowledge of hate websites; however, hate to me is being demeaning to
certain groups of people, ie. Blacks, Latinos, gays/lesbians, etc.
e.
I have no
personal knowledge of hate groups. I am
intolerant of the intolerant. -MR
What we think is important:
1) Authenticity
a. Check site host
b. Look for author
c.
Another
source to back up ideas
d. In URL- “red flag”
e. Use whois.net to get host info
f.
Find
other linked websites
2) Accuracy
a. Opinion or evidence as factual
3) Currency
a. Up to date
4) Objectivity
a. Bias or one-sided propaganda
Websites
Reviewed
I
examined the " Stop Bullying Now" website which I found not to
be a hate website. This website provides helpful information, and instruction
on how to handle, and identify bullying. The information is not biased or
stereotypical. This website can be used for any child that may encounter
bullying. This website is also trustworthy and authentic because there is an
author identified and there are also workshops and conferences. The source is
credible. Site also discusses causes, reasons and the negative effects of
bullying. There are intervention methods provided to handle bullying in
schools. A very detailed description of bullying such as the categories that
range from verbal to physical bullying. All of the information and statistics
show that this website is more helpful and instructional towards
the management of bullying. This website does not incite hate but it does
incite empathy towards those who are bullied and hope that bullying can be
reduced through successful intervention methods.
The
web-site I reviewed is stopbullyingnow.hrsa.gov. This is not a hate
site. It is an anti-bullying web site that discusses what bullying is and
what your role would be to help stop bullying. The message is to
"Take A Stand. Lend A Hand. Stop Bullying Now!"
This a very cool webstie written by HRSA (Health Resources and Services
Administration)- U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services. This is a great
site and it gives a lot of detailed information about bullying,
including what bullying is, the signs of bullying and what adults can
do. It is amazing how many sites are available on this subject. A
new type of bullying is now coming on the rise - Cyber Bullying. Cyber
bullying includes text, e-mail, or instant messaging. This is now
being talked about nationally and this type of bullying is very difficult
to control with the new age of the internet.
I enjoyed
reading this site.
Stormfront.org
·
Listed as a “White Nationalist Community”
·
Listed on Wikipedia as “holocaust denial website”
·
It’s a forum, where if you register you can blog about your white supremacy
ideals
·
No site host or specific author
·
List 2008 meeting in
·
Opinion- based
·
One-sided to those of that opinion
·
Listed on whois.net as a public interest registry
·
Seems as though they hate everyone, except “white” supremacist
The site I reviews was
thechristianparty.net/holocaust.htm, a site whose website URL is extremely
deceptive. When one reads the URL “The Christian Party” one automatically
assumes that it’s a religious website and therefore would be safe. The website,
when opened, uses light and pastel colors which give off an atmosphere of
cleanliness and safety. But then, in bold, large letters, is the statement,
“The ‘Holocaust’ of 6 million Jews during World War II is an immensely
successful and profitable hoax!” It also misuses quotes from
American icons such as Thomas Jefferson, taking the quotes out of context to
fit their agenda. It claims to be a factual website with truthful information,
but when reading further, it’s very apparent that the website is in fact, a
hate website. It clearly rises up white, gentile men and dehumanizes and
discredits Jewish accounts of the Holocaust. It’s also very one sided and
biased, using graphics, language and articles that promote their ideology.
According to the checklist I found, the website does not have a specific
author, does not have any websites to back up their specific claims, and has
linked websites that only promote their ideologies; all things which indicate a
website that should not be trusted.