Someone please shoot me [Detroit thread on the Huffington Post]

lilpup · January-27-11, 12:30 AM

I made the mistake of looking at a Detroit thread on the Huffington Post. There are some real morons who comment over there.

**Gistok** · January-27-11, 01:42 AM

While trying to find what you were looking at... I came across this.....
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/0..._n_812934.html

NorthEndere · January-27-11, 04:25 AM

It's called the internet. The comments on anything when attached to a newspaper site are just downright nasty, regardless of the subject.

**East Detroit** · January-27-11, 09:10 AM

Originally Posted by NorthEnder

It's called the internet.

The internet doesn't embarrass humanity, people embarrass humanity.

**Johnlodge** · January-27-11, 10:34 AM

Originally Posted by NorthEnder

It's called the internet. The comments on anything when attached to a newspaper site are just downright nasty, regardless of the subject.

Same with youtube. Want to listen to a Cat Stevens song? Surprise! You are now embroiled in a vitriolic battle on the nature of Islam.

**ja!mz** · January-30-11, 08:06 AM

Originally Posted by Johnlodge

Same with youtube. Want to listen to a Cat Stevens song? Surprise! You are now embroiled in a vitriolic battle on the nature of Islam.

thats why I use Rhapsody...allthe Cat Stevens albums are there with no commentary

**LeannaM** · January-27-11, 11:52 PM

Originally Posted by NorthEnder

It's called the internet. The comments on anything when attached to a newspaper site are just downright nasty, regardless of the subject.

Any time the St. Louis Post-Dispatch has an article about St. Louis City, either positive or negative, you end up with a bunch of suburbanites complaining about how awful the city is.

Same goes for political articles. You have Republicans complaining about Democrats and vise versa.

The internet tends to bring out the people who are most extreme.

**BrushStart** · January-27-11, 09:16 AM

I cannot read the comments on Freep.com anymore. I lose all faith in humanity.

**Wintersmommy** · January-27-11, 09:54 AM

Originally Posted by BrushStart

I cannot read the comments on Freep.com anymore. I lose all faith in humanity.

Ditto..its so sad and It makes me scared that some of those people might live next door to me

**drjeff** · January-27-11, 10:53 AM

Originally Posted by Wintersmommy

Ditto..its so sad and It makes me scared that some of those people might live next door to me

I don't think there's a single commenter on the Freep site who actually lives in the city of Detroit.

bartock · January-27-11, 11:01 AM

Originally Posted by drjeff

I don't think there's a single commenter on the Freep site who actually lives in the city of Detroit.

Sure there are. The racism on those boards goes in every direction and, in fairness, seem to come from the same few loonies.

**Wintersmommy** · January-27-11, 12:08 PM

Originally Posted by drjeff

I don't think there's a single commenter on the Freep site who actually lives in the city of Detroit.

I dont live in the city and thats why it scares me..there is a solid chance i live next to some of these small minded bigoted freaks who have so little going on in their lives they find pleasure in spewing insainty on message boards

**slick** · January-27-11, 02:05 PM

http://www.detnews.com/article/20110...y-car-you-can’

I thought this thread was more suicide by cop.
Why why why, just one bullet to your own head.

fubarnation · January-27-11, 02:46 PM

Originally Posted by Wintersmommy

I dont live in the city and thats why it scares me..there is a solid chance i live next to some of these small minded bigoted freaks who have so little going on in their lives they find pleasure in spewing insainty on message boards

Please give some examples.

Just because someone comments on Detroit in a negative fashion doesn't mean they don't know what they are talking about. You don't have to live there to know what's going on. What's reported in the papers and on TV is usually pretty accurate. Usually one trip into town will show you what 30 plus years of governmental incompetence and neglect will do to a once great city.

Anyone in Michigan who pays taxes has an investment in the city of Detroit whether they like it or not. The city is not self sustaining. Therefore, they have a right and really, an obligation to complain when their money is being wasted.

If any of you can make a case for Detroit as a fiscally responsible, well run, low crime place where K-12 education is the best available and city services a second to none, I for one, would like to see it.

**Magnatomicflux** · January-27-11, 05:50 PM

Originally Posted by BrushStart

I cannot read the comments on Freep.com anymore. I lose all faith in humanity.

Same goes for me and the Windsor Star. Sometimes I just wish they would disable the comments section all together because people always ruin the good news. Nothing is ever good enough. Like this CS Wind/Samsung wind turbine plant coming to the city......they just crap all over it.

**Carey** · January-27-11, 03:03 PM

I've read, watched and listened to much of the national and international media coverage of Detroit that has gushed forth over the past 2 1/2 years. On the whole, I think the majority has been well done, sophisticated and sympathetic to Detroit's plight. Stressing "on the whole." Some stories have been stupid and innacurate. But media coverage, whether local or out-of-town, is the least of Detroit's problems.

**Parkguy** · January-27-11, 05:01 PM

I have convinced myself that the comment posters on Freep and Detnews add up to three or four guys with a lot of user IDs living in their parents' basement.

**Motor City Sam** · January-27-11, 05:44 PM

Originally Posted by Parkguy

I have convinced myself that the comment posters on Freep and Detnews add up to three or four guys with a lot of user IDs living in their parents' basement.

If only that were true.

**mwilbert** · January-27-11, 06:56 PM

Originally Posted by Parkguy

I have convinced myself that the comment posters on Freep and Detnews add up to three or four guys with a lot of user IDs living in their parents' basement.

I have convinced myself not to read the comments on the Freep or Detnews. It wasn't hard.

NorthEndere · January-27-11, 09:31 PM

To its credit, the Detroit News changed it's format so that the comments are detached from the article. My local paper just recently did this for particular articles. I understand why papers still leave the comments below the articles. It gets them more clicks and thus more ad revenue, but it's not worth it in the end, if you ask me.

fubarnation, nice handle. It tells me all I need to know about you. That you're the only one trying to hedge and defend newspaper comments is proof enough that you're probably one of the more prolific trolls on the local internet. There is no excusing the vitriol that occurs online. These newspaper messageboards are a pitiful, filthy den of sexist, racist, bigoted, homophobic, religiously intolerant, etc. vipers.

**hudkina** · January-28-11, 01:59 AM

So you think slamming a city, will get people to do something? Really? Here's an idea! If it's that big of a deal, why not volunteer? Why not do something to actively change things? Mentor a student. Volunteer at a shelter. Help clean up litter in a park. There are countless ways to constructively change the status quo, but attacking the city from a suburban outpost isn't one of them...

Also, as far as taxes, I was referring to per capita spending at the state level, which is not the data that you've provided.

fubarnation · January-28-11, 10:20 AM

You guys win.

I am now convinced that when someone makes the case that outsiders complaining about Detroit are just engaging in mindless bashing and racism is never inferred by the accuser.

Detroit is a well run city that should not be critiqued. Any problem Detroit has is caused by white flight and the car companies crashing. For the past 30 plus years, the leadership of Detroit has done its level best to provide the best school system, public services and to attract new business to employ its citizens.

Yep, we sure do get value for our tax dollar when we invest it in Detroit.

Que the Twilight Zone theme.

**Crumbled_pavement** · January-28-11, 10:36 AM

Originally Posted by fubarnation

You guys win.

I am now convinced that when someone makes the case that outsiders complaining about Detroit are just engaging in mindless bashing and racism is never inferred by the accuser.

Detroit is a well run city that should not be critiqued. Any problem Detroit has is caused by white flight and the car companies crashing. For the past 30 plus years, the leadership of Detroit has done its level best to provide the best school system, public services and to attract new business to employ its citizens.

Yep, we sure do get value for our tax dollar when we invest it in Detroit.

Que the Twilight Zone theme.

Here's a perfect example of why I don't debate people like this. To them there is black and white, there's no gray, blue, or orange. Everything is either this or it's that. They must fit everything into one box or the other box. You either love Detroit with all your heart and see not a flaw in the world in her, or you hate her because she is the most failed city ever in the history of mankind. In fubarnation's eyes, there is no other way you can see the city. Although, I'm still trying to figure out where someone accused anyone of racism besides fubarnation's posts. Seems he's really telling us something about himself.

People like fubarnation must assign blame to one group and one group only, in this case that group would be Detroiters. It's not possible in his mind that more than one group of people could contribute to a problem. Two people can't be wrong. If one person is wrong, the other person is automatically right. However, based on his own argument, exactly what defines Detroiters? Today's Detroiters, people that once were Detroit residents, all of the above? It's senseless to debate close minded people.

fubarnation · January-28-11, 12:04 PM

Originally Posted by Crumbled_pavement

Here's a perfect example of why I don't debate people like this. To them there is black and white, there's no gray, blue, or orange. Everything is either this or it's that. They must fit everything into one box or the other box. You either love Detroit with all your heart and see not a flaw in the world in her, or you hate her because she is the most failed city ever in the history of mankind. In fubarnation's eyes, there is no other way you can see the city. Although, I'm still trying to figure out where someone accused anyone of racism besides fubarnation's posts. Seems he's really telling us something about himself.

People like fubarnation must assign blame to one group and one group only, in this case that group would be Detroiters. It's not possible in his mind that more than one group of people could contribute to a problem. Two people can't be wrong. If one person is wrong, the other person is automatically right. However, based on his own argument, exactly what defines Detroiters? Today's Detroiters, people that once were Detroit residents, all of the above? It's senseless to debate close minded people.

You're bouncing around all over the place with this post. This indicates to me you don't take the time to digest or understand anything I have said. You have preconceived notions you rely on to try and browbeat me into submission. Failing that, you come up with a rambling post attacking the messenger.

Most of the country views the city of Detroit as a joke. Late night talk guys laugh at Detroit on national TV when they need an easy laugh. The jokes, unfortunately, reflect the reality that is Detroit. People that invest in this joke are not happy with the return on their money. They have a right and an obligation to see things improved by any means necessary. BAMN!!!!

The fact you cannot relate certain phrases expressed here as substitutes for "racists" makes me wonder how long you have lived around here. Bartock picked up on it, why can't you?

If I tell you the sun is going to rise in the east tomorrow morning, do you believe it will happen or must I provide proof with several examples? If I tell you Detroit is not run well, do I have to provide proof and tip toe around the fact that race may be a contributing factor?

You can ignore the obvious all you want, it doesn't change the reality.

**Crumbled_pavement** · January-28-11, 12:23 PM

Originally Posted by fubarnation

They have a right and an obligation to see things improved by any means necessary. BAMN!!!!

Some of the worst offenders in history thought just like this too, by ANY means necessary. Not most effective, just any method that suits their means to an end.

Originally Posted by fubarnation

You can ignore the obvious all you want, it doesn't change the reality.

Who is ignoring reality? PLEASE, AND I DO MEAN P L E A S E ... quote for me just who in this thread said Detroit was well run, had A+ schools, and gives the best return on investment. I missed that post along with the one blaming racism for all of Detroit's problems.

Originally Posted by Rolfsy

Oh! I get it. It is literally like a card game, first person to say the word 'race' loses a turn.