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Mr G

South Africa
News24 User

'Stop the verbal tirades'

by Mr G
2009-10-30 15:15

Dear Editor,

Why is it that almost all of these letters and their subsequent comments turn into these verbal tirades?

It's time to drop the chip on our shoulders and grow up a little bit. Does responding to this drivel in a racist tone make you feel any more important or secure on your drive home from work at night?

All South Africans need to learn to face up to reality. I don't believe for one second that any of these people who shoot their mouths off during the day on these comments blogs, are mentally incapable. They are caught up in the moment, all too ready to cry foul and pull out the racism card.

Whenever there is disagreement, it's because of racism. C'mon, you know better. Stop for a second. Get out of the eye of the storm and ask yourself the obvious.

I hate to break it to some, but whites also have disagreements among themselves, as do blacks... what is it then? Racism? Obviously not unless you consider the colour moods they are in at that time.

So grow up people, cut the racist comments, sure by all means voice you opinion, disagree if you must and see it necessary, but don't play the race card. It serves no purpose to actually solving any problem; all it does is stoke the fire.

Mr G

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Koochie 10/30/2009 3:22:54 PM
Totally agreed !

Biza 10/30/2009 3:29:36 PM
So this letter is supposed to change the people here or what?? I stopped reading comments here when I found other sites full of intelligent people

Don 10/30/2009 3:38:30 PM
I agree and could News24 get on board and not print the mudslinging emails..we have enough of that from ALL our politicians who do nothing but divide the rest of us who would like to lead normal peaceful lives without drama!

nigel 10/30/2009 3:43:15 PM
Agree fully, just as some blacks are go on with verbal abuse, so do some whites on this forum. I'm proud to say that I don't. We are frustrated with things but lets try & debate & try to be constructive rather than rant & rave, which just makes things worse. Try to ignore the odd irritating post that normally gets the whole blog going with intolerance. Also try & be reasonable & open to new or different ideas, lets try to understand our differences rather than generalise & sterotype. Maybe then one day we can sit around a braai & agree on the way forward.

Sarah 10/30/2009 3:43:21 PM
It's like asking pre-schoolers to keep their hands out the sweetie jar.

fish 10/30/2009 3:57:14 PM
I agree 100%. The racist way people carry on here is PATHETIC! Black, white, its just plain pathetic! Do us all a favour, if you going to resort to racist drivel, STUFF OFF!

Gotcha 10/30/2009 3:57:55 PM
Yeah Right Biza!!! Strange that you making a comment on a sight with less intelligent people than yourself??? I guess not cos you made a comment right here so i guess you not that intelligent then huh???

Molantoa 10/30/2009 3:58:09 PM
Agreed! How I wish those with verbal diarrhea could go to the nearest clinic for obsevation! South Africa needs healthy and intelligent debates over issues and not the colour of one's skin! Remember the late Rev Martin Luther King Jnr? - I had a Dream .....

Telstar 10/30/2009 4:05:59 PM
Not many comments on a Friday. People too busy with themselves today to care. Come Monday and its back to the snapping.

RQd2 10/30/2009 4:43:38 PM
Agreed,and personally, on other side of that particular coin... People need to stop being so sensitive... people seem to take offense so easily, mate, somebody elses negative opinion of you is their issue, not yours...

Graham 10/30/2009 4:53:54 PM
News24 should really do something about the hate speech people post on here!

Al 10/30/2009 5:00:38 PM
You are singing to the choir china!

@Biza 10/30/2009 5:47:39 PM
Did you even read what you wrote?

Biza @Gocha 10/30/2009 6:00:32 PM
Why take personal offense? Do u feel a personal connection to the idea of being unintelligent? PS: compare the comments here to those in a letter written in M&G's Thought Leader or P de Vos' site. Perhaps if u got out a little more u'd realize u're surrounded by stupid morons

The Dude 10/30/2009 7:19:42 PM
I agree some people take things to far, however. The true reality is in these comments, for the most part they are not censorred. So to answer your question, yes most people do feel better when they vent their frustrations, especially when it feels no one is listening. I think that if you want this to stop, then dont read the comments, simple. At least it is not as bad as say JMalema shooting his mouth off on TV. Everyone is just following our great future leaders example. JZ sais he is our future, so these comments must be also.

Bonzi 10/30/2009 7:59:38 PM
We live in a racialised society, a product of a racialised past - unavoidable in our generation, and perhaps the next. Yet, in open interaction, in the public spheres, and even private to a certain degree, we maintain all kinds of restraint. This restraint has become part of our culture, a culture of diverse people living in a democratic state. The problem with these forums is the anonimity they allow, it allows people to express their inner-most thoughts, which are often suppressed in the non-cyber realm. I understand that what I am saying is that we are all prejudiced to a certain degree, however, it seems it is on these forums, where anonimity afords people to show their worst side, even if it is their most extreme side, and not representative of their normal actions and conduct. Thus we are all racist/prejudiced/sexist/classist, but we control these things under normal circumstances. A forum such as this affords the opportunity for the dark side to come out - and is often not an aggeragate of the persons normal conduct, or even beliefs, regardless of whether they are black, white, coloured or Indian.

CAM 10/30/2009 8:01:18 PM
Well said.......lets engage, differ and debate. Do it constructively, enlighten us and make the difference!

Vrystaat! 10/30/2009 8:31:51 PM
@Biza, so why were reading this article if you've got other sites with intelligent people? I agree 100% with the writer!

fitbot 10/30/2009 10:22:55 PM
@Bonzi - Stop blaming the past my friend, young people are racist today becuase of what is happening to them TODAY! OF what the government is doing to do TODAY! Nothing to do with the past. There is a whole new young racist generation that knows nothing about the past but that has become like that becuase of what is happening right now to them. Young white people cant find jobs, get proper eduction etc becuase of the color of thier skin! You want to get rid of racism, then give us REAL equal rights! Until that day there will always be tention!

ZION@MR G 10/31/2009 7:08:38 AM
Mr G come on now, surely you realize that while we, ie, most of use are throwing racist remarks slurs epithets bad language etal, the blogg carries on but as soon as we start adressing each othe as MY dear Sir I hereby wish to inform YOU or My DEarest Madam then all or most participants will lose interest and page to the comic section. Sensation drives this vehicle. I dont necessarily support it but it is here to stay.

DS 10/31/2009 7:39:35 AM
We are far too focused on race and politics in SA, I have been saying that for years. Lets focus on our wonderful country and enjoying life, forget race, there are idiots in all walks of life and it will never change.

Pleb 10/31/2009 7:44:32 AM
Freedom of speech!

AlmostExpat 10/31/2009 8:22:15 AM
So do what south africans do best - Stick your heads in the sand, ignore that there IS a racial problem, ignore the fact that people in this country have suppressed and vicious anger and just live your lives in your perceived 'Rainbow nation lalaland' Bye bye SA, do what you do best - Rot rot rot away

G Funk 10/31/2009 10:19:24 AM
if a topic is a racial topic, like the Reitz 4, what are we supposed to talk about? if the topic is about past white rugby getting the hignhest recognition and non-whites are totally marginilised, what are suppose to talk about. if people critize Pieter de Villiers before the boks have played 1 game, (who turned out to be the best bok coach of all time!!!) what are we suppose to talk about? most articles on this site have a racial connotation, hence the racist comments! whites don't want to admit their wrongs and are very quick to criticize anything that's non-white! and remember which predominant race group access this site. I'm a non-white, and i call it as i see it. Which racial group has changed their attitude most since 1992? pls don't tell me whites!

Jim 10/31/2009 2:22:10 PM
"Racial slurs"? What is 'racist' about the following sentence; "The vast majority of black people are dumb". Given SCIENTIFIC FACTS (i.e IQ tests) to back up this axiom/statement, I will definitely not let any PC-feel-good waffling about 'hate speech' INTIMIDATE me into LYING.....just to make blacks feel good about themselves!

Karen 10/31/2009 4:03:08 PM
We need to vent our anger ad frustrations somewhere!!!!!!!!! Besides where else in society can one utter ones's non-politically correct ideas and values...Tee hee.....

Foreign Legion 10/31/2009 4:31:51 PM
It's called the INTERNET stupid!

yellow 10/31/2009 5:56:18 PM
Its business as usual logging all responses, rasicm will always be alive, not only in SA but in all other nations, get over it and start standing together, the average whites are so busy trying to apologize for the past instead of standing together. When you are been attacked your attacker only sees black or white.

Bohica 11/1/2009 12:19:23 PM
The other question of course is why there are an average of 1000000 cowards and sheep to every courageous lone voice such as that of Mr G? Is it the crowd mentality, the anonymity of the net or what?

Joe 11/1/2009 2:49:24 PM
"All South Africans need to learn to face up to reality."

All SAffos have. It's the government that hasn't, old boy...

GeorGe 11/2/2009 8:04:04 AM
The problem is that the like of poliodonkey et al make rash statements and do not back them up with facts. They just stir the racial pot without giving constructive evidence to back up the drivel they spew forth. This will cause division as it were because they are plonkers to say the least.

nicci@zion 11/2/2009 11:33:46 AM
i fully agree... i read more comments than actual news these days. i laugh,agree or i disagree or shake my head. meaning... i'm entertained by the bickering, not the racial slurs though. @ pleb yes we are lucky to have that freedom!!! enjoy everyone!!!

Lee 11/2/2009 11:43:04 AM
Thank you Mr G.....as much as there is no running away from the fact that we are a racial country because of our history but it doesnt help pointing fingers and accusing each other of being racist....what r we doing about it? come on people, its childish and immature!!!! It is such a beautiful scene seeing young kids who go to creche embracing each other's colour...they dont c colour at all and that shows ukuthi we also were not brought up with so much hatred for other people....ITS SAD

BLACKsoWHAT!@Jim 11/2/2009 1:13:50 PM
Good one mate!...I guess this is the type of reaction you want right, and the editor because this shit will probably be posted.

@Jim and Gf Funk 11/2/2009 2:22:02 PM
Todays winners you guys take the prize

shaheda 11/2/2009 2:31:54 PM
I agree with author, the intolerance levels are very high and unaccepatble of south african society... how do we hope to achieve peace and progress

JayH 11/2/2009 3:45:09 PM
I seriously believe if we can all begin to look PAST COLOUR as being an issue at all, we may just begin to see that we are ALL human beings - with different ATTITUDES, different BELIEF SYSTEMS. In order to enjoy our RIGHTS we first need to be responsible and accountable for how we live our ATTITUDES & BELIEFS. Skin colour doesnt make choices and decisions, mind sets and attitudes definitely do!!! Let's CHANGE THE RHETORIC how we talk about one another. Skin colour has NOTHING WHATSOEVER to do with anything!!! The rewards will follow ...

Pleb 11/3/2009 6:25:29 AM
A revolting nation of imbeciles to say the least
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