Language and the Media

Group Information:

Recorder: Tanji Reed Marshall

Criteria Selector: Lynne Wiesecke

Site Selector: Victoria James

Site Reviewer: Chris McLaughlin

Background Knowledge: Based upon our prior knowledge, we believe hate on the internet includes the following topics:

· Anti: ethnicities (all)

· Sexual orientation

· Religious affiliation

· Gender bias

· Lifestyle choice

· Language groups

· Nationalities

· Ideologies

· Political groups

In order to present the “hate”, we have chosen the following methods by which the “hate” will be shown:

· Graphic representations

· Violence against prescribed group

· Vulgar representations

· Use of obscenities, nudity

· Use of statistics (evidence)

Purpose of Hate on the internet:

· Persuade

· Evoke emotional reaction

· Spread propaganda

· Incite violence

· Hurt others

· Push an agenda

· Sell products (advertising)

· Indoctrinate and manipulate

Hate speech reveals the following about its creator/s:

· Ignorance

· Intolerance

· Insecurity

· Fear/s

· Self promotion and/or enhancement – based on unknown deficiencies

· Possible educational level

· Limited exposure to world

· Possible unresolved historical issues/tensions

· Narrow mindedness

· Religious and political ideologies

Evaluative Features

· Intentionality (misleading)

· Source

· Degrees of methods (see above)

o Rating scale: 1 (mild) – 5 (extreme)

· Degrees to which purpose is accomplished (see above)

o Rating scale: 1 (low) – 5 (high)

Site Name	Source	Intention	Degree of Method	Degree of Purpose
www.priestsrapeboys.com	Unknown – anonymous	Defame Catholic Church, instill fear about priests	3 – based on images and language	3 – based on mild graphics & generalities, lack of statistics
www.godhatesfags.com	Westboro Baptist Church	Incite violence and fear, create self-hatred, religious superiority	4-based on images, language, religious references, and violence	5 – based on group’s activities and the extent of its advertising & connection to other sites
www.christianparty.net/aids.htm	Christian Party	Intensify fear about AIDS. Create racial division & intensify racial bigotry, raise white supremacy and deepen dominant culture perspectives	4 – based on use of statistics and official language (eloquent)	4 – based on layout of site – reads like a government report – sounds true and accurate
http://jihadwatch.org	Robert Spencer & Hugh Fitzgerald	Violence against Muslims, Fear, substantiate governmental use of violence against in the Middle East, justify the war	4 – based on use of cartoons, mild images, rhetorical language, limited use of statistics and propaganda	4 – based propaganda, additional links, visuals, quotes, support from privileged group, cartoons, and language