Facebook refuses to take down rape joke pages

[G_j]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2011/sep/30/facebook-refuses-pull-rape-jokepages

Facebook refuses to take down rape joke pages

Campaigners' petition dismissed by social network on grounds that material is opinion, 'no matter how offensive'


Lizzy Davies guardian.co.uk, Friday 30 September 2011 11.20 EDT

Women's rights activists in Britain and the US have accused Facebook of promoting rape and "rape culture" after the social networking site refused to take down pages on which users made jokes and apparent confessions about sexual assault.

Petitions urging the site to remove pages such as "You know she's playing hard to get when your chasing her down an alley" have been signed by more than 3,600 people in the UK and 175,000 people on the US website Change.org.

They say the material found on the pages is a clear violation of Facebook's terms and conditions, which bar hateful or threatening content. "This is hate speech," said Jane Osmond, who has campaigned on behalf of the UK petition. "I find it very disturbing that Facebook don't appear to see the connection between pages such as this and the prevailing rape culture we have in our society."

Facebook has refused to take the offending pages down, insisting they are intended to be "a place where people can openly discuss issues and express their views".

"Direct statements of hate against particular communities violate our statement of rights and responsibilities and are removed when reported to us," Facebook said. "However, groups that express an opinion on a state, institution, or set of beliefs – even if that opinion is outrageous or offensive to some – do not by themselves violate our policies."

..more..

[USA_1]

1. Very Difficult to Believe Some Find Rape to be Funny

Yet, if you watch the Comedy Channel there are jokes about prison gang rape every week. In fact a few months ago there was an entire week of prison comedy and each show dealt with gang rape as if it was the funniest thing in the world. What manner of idiocy it takes to laugh at trash like that! The victims of rape (whether male or female) and their families certainly do not find it funny. It is time for society to change its warped view on this subject and to put a stop to this offending nonsense. Facebook should honor that petition.

[I Have A Dream]

5. I absolutely agree.

I posted something about this on my Facebook page, and I also mentioned men being raped. It happens much more often than people think.

It sickens my stomach anytime someone (especially here) celebrates prison rape. I don't care who the person is, and I don't care what that person has done; the celebration of any type of rape or use of rape as a method of punishment is never acceptable.

[-..__...]

2. Looks like the work of a /b/tard, Anon, 4Chan

Not much activity since August, so what does someone do?

Write an article about it so that it gets more attention, only it's probably a sure fire guarantee it's not going to get the type of attention the author or petition creators have in mind.

193,784 "Likes" on one of the Facebook sites... http://www.facebook.com/pages/You-know-shes-playing-hard-to-get-when-your-chasing-her-down-an-alleyway/227051983998683?sk=info#!/pages/You-know-shes-playing-hard-to-get-when-your-chasing-her-down-an-alleyway/227051983998683?sk=wall

But only 3,633 signatures on one petition to have taken it down, and 175,166 on another.

Take a guess who wins?

[I Have A Dream]

4. I'm not sure what /b/tard, Anon, 4Chan is.

Anyway, at least it's getting coverage in the press, and the article is from today. Maybe more people will now take action.

I wasn't aware of the issue before now, and I suspect that many others weren't either.

This is not the kind of publicity Facebook would want, I'd think, so maybe they'll now do something.

(On edit: I searched the Internet and now know what they mean. Thanks!)

[-..__...]

6. You've heard of them...

just probably not aware that you have...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4chan

[I Have A Dream]

8. Yes. Thank you! There is another petition that has many more signatures.

http://www.change.org/petitions/demand-facebook-remove-pages-that-promote-sexual-violence.html

I encourage everyone to sign them both.

Here's the other one: http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/petition-facebook-to-remove-material-that-promotes-rape.html

[I Have A Dream]

3. Thank you so much for bringing this here, G_j.

I have posted it on my Facebook page and have encouraged my friends to take action as well.

[G_j]

13. thanks

[Doctor_J]

7. I don't think they should take it down

I'm sorry, but every group in the world of more than 3 people has a web site. There's skinheads, fascists, "minutemen", glbt, fetishists, dog lovers, dog haters, porn, crime scene photos, gun enthusiasts, and on and on. There are pages of jokes about blacks, whites, jews, muslims, poles, irish, men, women,... - something for everyone to love and/or be appalled by. I won't be going to this page, but don't see why it should be taken down.

[Lorien]

10. My guess is that you're a white guy who has never been raped

perhaps if the pages were called "It would be f*cking hilarious to sodomize them beat the shit out of Doctor_J" after someone had sodomized and beaten the shit out of you, you might feel a bit differently.

[Doctor_J]

15. Good guess, but irrelvant

I also have never been a slave, but would find a page of slave jokes offensive. Therefore I wouldn't go to it and expect to be amused. OTOH I do find ethnic humor quite hilarious for the most part, regardless of the ethnic group being targeted. For instance, I have also never been a sheep, but find jokes about Scotsmen's abnormal attraction to their flocks quite entertaining. And I would prefer that those who don't simply don't partake, and not try to rid the internet of Scotsmen jokes.

[LanternWaste]

12. Because it most probably violates the terms of service on Facebook...?

"but don't see why it should be taken down..."

Because it most probably violates the terms of service on Facebook...? :shrug:

Wanna start a "funny" rape page? Go ahead. Simply do not violate the TOS of the hosting company.

[Doctor_J]

14. OK, but it's facebook's call

those who find it offensive can petition, cancel their accounts, start an anti-page and what have you. I say go for it!

[Logical]

17. I can tell I would not enjoy your company.

[Odin2005]

9. This makes me sick, what a bunch of assholes!

:grr:

[Desertrose]

11. Disgusting and disheartening.

So rape is an opinion or a set of beliefs now?

Shame on you Facebook.


:hi:G_j :hug: thx for bringing this to our attention

[G_j]

16. --

:hi: :loveya:

[seabeyond]

18. ah, that puritanical u.s. with 175k to sexually evolved europe of 4k. when will we find rape funny

like the much more sophisticated europe.

rape is entertainment in todays word. it is that simple. and if you dont find rape entertaining, just must clutch your pearls.

buck up girls... literally. it is da mans world