How Would You React?

[SalixIncendium]

Last evening, my daughter began screenshotting me messages from both one her Facebook posts that contained a photo of her and my granddaughter and on Facebook messenger from some random racist that contained some very hateful comments about her and my granddaughter. I won't repeat them here, but in summary, they attacked my daughter for having a child with a man of a different race and contained some choice opinions about how my granddaughter should die.

I've already taken steps with advising her on contacting local law enforcement and to disengage and block him, and also advised her to update her privacy and security settings to private. I also dropped the hateful fellow a message letting him know, in so many words, that she has a protective father who is monitoring the exchange.

How would you have reacted in such a situation?

 

[Debater Slayer]

Exactly as you reacted, except that, due to regional differences in law enforcement, my daughter and I probably wouldn't have the option of legal recourse. I would suggest blocking him and reporting him to Facebook instead, in light of that, while keeping a keen eye out for any further threats.

I'm sorry your daughter and you went through this.

 

[SalixIncendium]

Exactly as you reacted, except that, due to regional differences in law enforcement, my daughter and I probably wouldn't have the option of legal recourse. I would suggest blocking him and reporting him to Facebook instead, in light of that, while keeping a keen eye out for any further threats.

The police came to her house, but said there was nothing they could do aside from if someone came to her door to call them. Fortunately, it's a small town with a fairly good police response time.

She did block him and both she and I (along with some others we know) reported him to Facebook. I'm going to hold off on blocking him, primarily because I want to monitor the situation and ascertain if there is any viable threat, or if it's some hateful troll. The guy is clever enough, though, to not post any actual threats. Just a litany of hateful rants.

I'm sorry your daughter and you went through this.

Thank you.

 

[Debater Slayer]

The police came to her house, but said there was nothing they could do aside from if someone came to her door to call them. Fortunately, it's a small town with a fairly good police response time.

She did block him and both she and I (along with some others we know) reported him to Facebook. I'm going to hold off on blocking him, primarily because I want to monitor the situation and ascertain if there is any viable threat, or if it's some hateful troll. The guy is clever enough, though, to not post any actual threats. Just a litany of hateful rants.


Thank you.

I think it's wise of you not to block him. He sounds unhinged and in need of monitoring as a potential danger to others.

 

[Eddi]

Last evening, my daughter began screenshotting me messages from both one her Facebook posts that contained a photo of her and my granddaughter and on Facebook messenger from some random racist that contained some very hateful comments about her and my granddaughter. I won't repeat them here, but in summary, they attacked my daughter for having a child with a man of a different race and contained some choice opinions about how my granddaughter should die.

I've already taken steps with advising her on contacting local law enforcement and to disengage and block him, and also advised her to update her privacy and security settings to private. I also dropped the hateful fellow a message letting him know, in so many words, that she has a protective father who is monitoring the exchange.

How would you have reacted in such a situation?

That's scary

I have no idea what I'd do in that situation

I hope you manage to sort this problem out

He sounds like a real scumbag

 

[ChristineM]

How would you have reacted in such a situation?

Pretty much the same way as you.
I would report the posts to Facebook too.

I am sorry your daughter had to face this ****.

 

[We Never Know]

Last evening, my daughter began screenshotting me messages from both one her Facebook posts that contained a photo of her and my granddaughter and on Facebook messenger from some random racist that contained some very hateful comments about her and my granddaughter. I won't repeat them here, but in summary, they attacked my daughter for having a child with a man of a different race and contained some choice opinions about how my granddaughter should die.

I've already taken steps with advising her on contacting local law enforcement and to disengage and block him, and also advised her to update her privacy and security settings to private. I also dropped the hateful fellow a message letting him know, in so many words, that she has a protective father who is monitoring the exchange.

How would you have reacted in such a situation?

Facebook is full of idiots. That's one reason I don't have it any longer.
However if youns make all of your posts to where only friends can see and comment on them(instead of public), that would stop that nonsense.

 

[Stevicus]

Last evening, my daughter began screenshotting me messages from both one her Facebook posts that contained a photo of her and my granddaughter and on Facebook messenger from some random racist that contained some very hateful comments about her and my granddaughter. I won't repeat them here, but in summary, they attacked my daughter for having a child with a man of a different race and contained some choice opinions about how my granddaughter should die.

I've already taken steps with advising her on contacting local law enforcement and to disengage and block him, and also advised her to update her privacy and security settings to private. I also dropped the hateful fellow a message letting him know, in so many words, that she has a protective father who is monitoring the exchange.

How would you have reacted in such a situation?

My reaction would largely depend on whether this was someone previously known or not. Does this person live in the same town, or is this someone far away? Personal safety would be my immediate concern, so I would need to assess the level of threat.

 

[SalixIncendium]

My reaction would largely depend on whether this was someone previously known or not. Does this person live in the same town, or is this someone far away? Personal safety would be my immediate concern, so I would need to assess the level of threat.

We have no idea who this might be or where they live at this point. I'm confident the name they're using is fake.

 

[Stevicus]

We have no idea who this might be or where they live at this point. I'm confident the name they're using is fake.

My sense is that most of the time, such things are just empty threats from sick individuals, but there will always be a few that might be genuine. I would be more concerned about someone with a personal vendetta than random trolls without any other connection.

 

[SalixIncendium]

My sense is that most of the time, such things are just empty threats from sick individuals, but there will always be a few that might be genuine. I would be more concerned about someone with a personal vendetta than random trolls without any other connection.

These are my sentiments as well, but I think it's always better to err on the side of caution.

 

[Eddi]

My sense is that most of the time, such things are just empty threats from sick individuals, but there will always be a few that might be genuine. I would be more concerned about someone with a personal vendetta than random trolls without any other connection.

I agree

It is highly likely it is just some useless slob living in his mother's basement with an Internet connection

 

[Revoltingest]

How would you have reacted in such a situation?

Counsel family about how to deal with hate
without enduring harm, whether using a certain
social medium is good or not, ensuring one's
privacy, & by not involving cops. (They can do
nothing useful, but can make things worse for
everyone involved.)

 

[SalixIncendium]

Counsel family about how to deal with hate
without enduring harm, whether using a certain
social medium is good or not, ensuring one's
privacy, & by not involving cops. (They can do
nothing useful, but can make things worse for
everyone involved.)

In what ways would involving cops make things worse?

 

[Revoltingest]

In what ways would involving cops make things worse?

I notice that you post from USA, so the cops have
no legal power to address hate speech. If the cops
contact you or the one speaking hate, there's the
risk that cops could escalate the encounter due to
their own prejudice, anger, error, or other factor.

 

[SalixIncendium]

I notice that you post from USA, so the cops have
no legal power to address hate speech. If the cops
contact you or the one speaking hate, there's the
risk that cops could escalate the encounter due to
their own prejudice, anger, error, or other factor.

So you're of the opinion that even though my daughter fears for my granddaughter's safety, she shouldn't at the very least, make local law enforcement aware of the situation? This does not, at all, seem prudent to me.

 

[Revoltingest]

So you're of the opinion that even though my daughter fears for my granddaughter's safety, she shouldn't at the very least, make local law enforcement aware of the situation?

Correct.

This does not, at all, seem prudent to me.

Calling the cops regarding something they
have no legal authority nor training, to
handle seems an imprudent risk.

 

[PureX]

You should be proud that this fine American is exercising his right to free speech, and tell your daughter to buck up and stop being such a snowflake.

This was certainly the consensus on that other thread about free/hate speech ... by some of the same people complaining about it, here.

 

[SalixIncendium]

As it turns out after digging further that this guy is a troll that does this to random women on Facebook. I found other posts where the guy did the same thing recently to a young lady 4 states away.

It's a bit of a relief that it doesn't appear that my kin aren't in any danger, but it's sad that some people get their rocks off doing this crap.

 

[MikeF]

So you're of the opinion that even though my daughter fears for my granddaughter's safety, she shouldn't at the very least, make local law enforcement aware of the situation? This does not, at all, seem prudent to me.

I agree that it should be reported to the police. You want to fully document the incident. In addition, it would be helpful to print out the posts and stick them in a file. If harassment continues, you want to be able to establish a clear pattern of behavior over time. This would facilitate getting a restraining order in the future, for example, if that were to become necessary.