[NEohioPAL]Is it free speech or hate speech on the DJs that phrank called a restaurant

[Johnny K. Wu]

As an artist, I would never censor anyone but I do stand in a very neutral
position, I was even an actor playing a stereotypical Chinese chef in a
comedy piece.

I would suggest, if you want to provide your point of view, study the matter
first, because I've realized many times, we tend to jump ahead and make
statements because of how we feel, which is great, and this is freedom of
speech and expression...

However, if you have listened to the segment that we are fighting against
for, you would understand, not only it was hurtful to Asian Americans, it
was very sexist... Here are some facts I know about...

1. This is not about free speech, but about hate speech.

Also The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution establishes freedom of
speech in the USA. There are several major limitations on this freedom: 

- Only the government is prohibited from restricting speech. Private
corporations are free to censor speech of their employees. 

- Freedom of speech is not absolute, even when government regulation or law
is concerned. For example, freedom of speech does not give one the right to
commit perjury. See the beginning of my essay on infotorts for more
examples. 

That said, if an employee uses their company time to hurt other peoples,
especially bystanders that didn't know their conversation was aired to radio
listener without them agreed upon, phrank call or not, and if the company
gets complains, the employeed would be liable. This is about protecting the
company's best interest. And this is not about free speech but a liability
issue. 


2. The two DJs are not comedians, but what among the radio talk shows
considered "shock jocks" meaning, they would go to the extreme to attract
listeners and to be edgy.  This particular incident was one that really tips
off a lot more anger people than previous, in March 31, they attacked an
invited unsigned band, calling one of the members a "FAGGOT", and continued
to insult them. The radio station didn't suspend them nor they were advised
not to do it anymore, in fact, the radio station stood behind them and
protected them. But not this time... Which means, the segment must contain
very hateful messages that was sent across and this time, it was way
overboard that not even their employer wants to side with them. Or perhaps
because the station had gotten so many complains in the past that they
decided that this one is really went too far... So they were suspended until
further notice.


3. This is not about censorship as the DJs claim, if you go to their website
blog, they can still do whatever they want, but guess what, they were also
censoring people, they only allow certain comments to be posted, If this is
about free speech issue or censorship, they should've allow ANY post to be
commented. However, why would they censor it out? 


4. Those that are in the media must exercise more responsibility when talks
to the crowd, because they can easily influence the people they spread their
words to. How many times, do you read any news publication and you would
think the news is right and you already pre-judge the person? Or rather how
many times you know for a fact that the published piece is incorrect and it
can hurt you? 

So, let's turn the table around. What if you were the recipient of this
phrank call:

Let say, you are at work, busy, and suddenly there's a phone call, the
caller started to call you "son of a bitch" or "you sexy xxxx ass" or "I
want to tap you" etc. Would you feel offended? Now what if this actual
recording was aired to thousands of people for them to laugh at your
expense? 

Fast forward, to you on the street, walking, and talking to your friends,
and you mentioned that you received a phrank call, and suddenly one of your
friends made that same joke on you as well, how would you feel? Would you
say "that's not nice" or you would laugh it off?

Let's fast forward a bit more, now, you are at a party, you met a few people
that your other friends introduces you to, and they started to make the same
joke as your friend and the radio hosts did to you and suddenly your kids
are doing the same... how would you feel?

My point is media plays a lot in stereotyping for making it 'OK' for people
to act in a certain way when there isn't any complains, and believe me, that
has happened to me, I am sure many of women would also experience such of
demeaning comments, would also gay or lesbians.

And I'm not talking about you should stop joking, we all make jokes, but be
responsible when you are airing to the masses,  because you would never know
who out there think it's so funny that it is ok to do it to their peers as
well.

Make jokes away, make it fun but be responsible on not to use hurtful jokes.

Freedom of speech comes with responsibility