patrick.net

tatupu70 says

There is a HUGE difference between threatening a person and threatening to hurt a laptop computer. True, it could be a crime as I noted earlier:

So you would be fine if a loon notices you having a Hillary sticker on your car and tweets a picture of your car and you on the web and threatens to destroy your car if it gets retweeted a certain number of times? The black lives movement is probably preparing another riot to honor the "victim".

lostand confused says

So you would be fine if a loon notices you having a Hillary sticker on your car and tweets a picture of your car and you on the web and threatens to destroy your car if it gets retweeted a certain number of times? The black lives movement is probably preparing another riot to honor the "victim".

Well, I'd never have a Hillary sticker on my car so the question is moot, but of course I wouldn't like it. That's not the question, however. There are a lot of things I don't like--doesn't make them a crime.

Okay so a guy said something on social media that was unwise, although certainly not a real threat.

Then the girl confronts him and throws a hot beverage at him ?

What was the point of this thread again ?

Dude posted a photo of someone on social media and made a stupid comment. If this were illegal, there would be no social media. The entire internet exists because of stupid people videos, cat videos, people of Walmart, candid photos...

I can see where she might be upset - although she wanted to draw attention to herself by displaying a campaign sticker across her laptop. What I can't understand is why she assaulted him with her hot water.

She hit him first! His was self-defense.

Let's clarify this synopsis.
Dude notices a Trump! sticker on girl's laptop, then goes to social media to posture, threaten, and engage in general political-minded jackassery. Girl finds out about the threat and throws beverage on said jackass. Jackass turns threat into action and hits the girl. Mutual assault at this point?
The guy did start things with his asshat post and his threats. I'd say he was the most at fault, but what concerns me is the WHY that he felt socially justified in his actions. I surmise that the prevailing social climate of his (black, liberal) community asserts that those with conservative positions are worthy of contempt and possibly assault if they express those opinions.
This stance is unacceptable and completely unAmerican. In America we realize that we are stronger for having lively debate on issues, and while ideas aren't necessarily equal in value, they should be tolerated to the point where their implementation directly violates another person's rights. And also that free speech is valued.
This African needs an immediate reeducation on how to be an American.

Quigley says

Jackass turns threat into action and hits the girl

If jackass turned threat into action, he would have trashed the computer. So, jackass didn't turn threat into action at all. He responded to being assaulted.

Quigley says

The guy did start things with his asshat post and his threats. I'd say he was the most at fault, but what concerns me is the WHY that he felt socially justified in his actions. I surmise that the prevailing social climate of his (black, liberal) community asserts that those with conservative positions are worthy of contempt and possibly assault if they express those opinions.

This stance is unacceptable and completely unAmerican. In America we realize that we are stronger for having lively debate on issues, and while ideas aren't necessarily equal in value, they should be tolerated to the point where their implementation directly violates another person's rights. And also that free speech is valued.

This African needs an immediate reeducation on how to be an American.

The guy made a bad joke. Please spare me with the un-American nonsense.

tatupu70 says

The guy made a bad joke. Please spare me with the un-American nonsense.

Is that what you Kids call hate crimes now?

Tenpoundbass says

Is that what you Kids call hate crimes now?

Sorry, being a Trump supporter isn't a protected class.

"A hate crime is usually defined by state law as one that involves threats, harassment, or physical harm and is motivated by prejudice against someone's race, color, religion, national origin, ethnicity, sexual orientation or physical or mental disability."

I don't see anything about political affiliation in there.

Here is a liberal's racist rant:

tatupu70 says

I don't see anything about political affiliation in there.

OK well then let's just say all bigotry is political and call it day asshole.

Thanks for wrapping up the debate for us all.