[net.social] On Words versus Actions

cbostrum (02/09/83)

Brad Templeton claims that we should only care about what people
do, and not what they post or say. That is silly. Saying and posting
are just a subset of total action; verbal behavior is behavior. I think
it is totally legitimate to be upset about what "offensive" pictures
people post on their walls. For one thing, it does serve to indicate their
attitudes about things and one can justly be upset to see certain attitudes.

For example, if it is clear that a person hates Jews and portrays the
Holocaust in a favorable light on his walls, but exhibits none of what
Brad calls "actions" that suggests he hates Jews (eg, beating them, 
i suppose), it is entirely reasonable to be upset.

However, it is another thing to expect to be able to outlaw such picture
posting. Perhaps that is what Brad is getting at.