Owner of Florida Creamery goes on racist rampage. Hilarity ensues.

[johnnyliar]

I didn't see the original discussion, I just shared the imgur link on MJ because it was already going viral on Facebook.

I think comments like "go watch beheadings by your people" and "All the christians have been wiped out in the middle east, Europe is next" definitely seem hateful and islamophobic to me. Not to mention the ridiculous way she mocks and bullies people on the status for being "LIBERALS" who are obsessed "with their own twats."

Is it racist? eh, I feel like islamophobic maybe would have been a better title, but either way, the bit about the band names is hilarious.

[peestandingup]

I didn't see the original discussion, I just shared the imgur link on MJ because it was already going viral on Facebook.

I think comments like "go watch beheadings by your people" and "All the christians have been wiped out in the middle east, Europe is next" definitely seem hateful and islamophobic to me. Not to mention the ridiculous way she mocks and bullies people on the status for being "LIBERALS" who are obsessed "with their own twats."

Is it racist? eh, I feel like islamophobic maybe would have been a better title, but either way, the bit about the band names is hilarious.

Well, the part about Christians being killed for their beliefs in the Middle East ain't wrong, but still there's a way to say that without coming off as a crazy person. And the grammar wasn't helping her case much either.

And true, Islam = not a race.

[Adam White]

I didn't see the original discussion, I just shared the imgur link on MJ because it was already going viral on Facebook.

I think comments like "go watch beheadings by your people" and "All the christians have been wiped out in the middle east, Europe is next" definitely seem hateful and islamophobic to me. Not to mention the ridiculous way she mocks and bullies people on the status for being "LIBERALS" who are obsessed "with their own twats."

Is it racist? eh, I feel like islamophobic maybe would have been a better title, but either way, the bit about the band names is hilarious.

Racism, islamophobia - same difference. It's the same sort of thing, regardless.

By "your people" I got the impression she was saying the liberals were terrorist sympathisers (or enablers). And Islamic terrorism is certainly a concern in Europe at the moment - though it's not only Christians that are being killed. Of course, a lot of conservatives kind of miss that point.

But without more evidence, I'd hesitate to call her a racist or islamophobe.

[UNFurbanist]

Drunk words are sober thoughts... Funny she is so anti liberal and anti millennial operating in the Riverside area. Cut them out and you've lost 50+% of your customers. Obviously she has a keen conservative mind for business! MAKE ICE CREAM GREAT AGAIN!

[johnnyliar]

She has since deleted her facebook, and the facebook page for the business.

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

"Is you employing anyone?" "how mannies checks do you sign"

I don't know this woman, but if she's a business owner, how can she be this stupid?? It almost sounds made up, or like someone got her account. Or maybe she really is just a dumb bigot.

I'm pretty sure this was tongue firmly planted in cheek.  I can see how you can miss it while her head was firmly planted up ass.

[Adam White]

She has since deleted her facebook, and the facebook page for the business.

I saw that. Apparently people are now attacking her on Yelp.

I don't like what she posted, but I think this whole situation has got way out of hand and has turned into bullying. To say the response has been disproportionate is an understatement.

She insulted "liberals" but didn't actually post anything that was overtly racist. Yes, we can try to read between the lines and assume that her motivations might be Islamophobic, but her comments simply attacked extremists. She might be a bit unsavoury, but she doesn't deserve to be hounded out of business for one unfortunate Facebook post (or series of posts).

If people don't want to patronise her business, fine. I probably won't. But they need to grow up and stop harassing her. This is typical "mob mentality" stuff. Social media bullying. The response is far worse than the original offence.

(Lisa Thomas has every reason to have a personal issue with this woman, of course).

[Gunnar]

I find that sad, too - the internet lynch mob is at it again.

The saddest thing this is that they are trying to destroy the person economically for saying something they do not agree with. So much for freedom of speech (which also includes the right to say something others may find offensive and stupid and / or goes against the mainstream opinion).

[coredumped]

Who is taking away anyone's free speech? She has a right to say whatever she wants, as you can see, and people have a right to shop there or boycott it.
They might even pick up support from like minded customers, look at chik-fil-a.

[Adam White]

Who is taking away anyone's free speech? She has a right to say whatever she wants, as you can see, and people have a right to shop there or boycott it.
They might even pick up support from like minded customers, look at chik-fil-a.

I don't think anyone's arguing her right to free speech is being curtailed - but you could argue that reactions like this could have a chilling effect on free speech. People might be less inclined to say something if they are worried about being lynched by the mob.

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

Putting the bullying aspect aside (which was a great point to make BTW), I have to question the Freedom of Speech angle.

People are always free to speak their mind.  That doesn't mean there won't be repercussions from what was said.  And we all know that because interwebs, things usually trend towards the absurd level quite quickly.

I have no real issue with what she said, she's free to have her own opinion whether or not I agree with it.  But certain topics should not be aired out in a public forum.  That was an extremely poor decision on her part and she's feeling the effects.  Will it ultimately affect her business?  Probably not as much you'd think because I'm sure there are plenty of people who agreed with every word she said, they just had the sense to not get in a shouting match.

[acme54321]

We were just talking yesterday about the affect of social media on situations like this.  Social media makes it so easy for stupid stuff like this to snowball into ridiculousness so fast it's unreal.  Most of the time it just turns to bullying on a mass scale, I guess people think it's ok because everyone is doing it.  Bring out the pitchforks. 

[Gunnar]

Putting the bullying aspect aside (which was a great point to make BTW), I have to question the Freedom of Speech angle.

People are always free to speak their mind.  That doesn't mean there won't be repercussions from what was said.  And we all know that because interwebs, things usually trend towards the absurd level quite quickly.

I have no real issue with what she said, she's free to have her own opinion whether or not I agree with it.  But certain topics should not be aired out in a public forum.  That was an extremely poor decision on her part and she's feeling the effects.  Will it ultimately affect her business?  Probably not as much you'd think because I'm sure there are plenty of people who agreed with every word she said, they just had the sense to not get in a shouting match.

What I dislike about this is that this will effectively bring us to a mob rule with no place for dissenting opinions and the apparent will to physically destroy a person over their opinion.

Add to this is the cowardice involved. You have one known person with a know place of business versus - I would assume - faceless members of a mob bent to destroy her.
-> Now, if the mob members were not faceless and would be willing to accept similar repercussions for their stand, i.e. be let go by their employers, denied a bank loan, etc. that would be altogether different.

Let's just assume that the mob was successful and drove that person out of business. She probably could not re-open another place in the same area so she would be forced to move somewhere else. Is this the kind of society we like to have?

[Adam White]

Who is taking away anyone's free speech? She has a right to say whatever she wants, as you can see, and people have a right to shop there or boycott it.
They might even pick up support from like minded customers, look at chik-fil-a.

I don't think anyone's arguing her right to free speech is being curtailed - but you could argue that reactions like this could have a chilling effect on free speech. People might be less inclined to say something if they are worried about being lynched by the mob.

This is exactly how good manners have always worked.

One wonders sometimes if you haven't ever been to any kind of church Adam.

No one is publicly polite or controlled in public because that is their natural instinct.

Do I really come across as that rude? I know I can be a bit difficult at times.

I did grow up in the Catholic church. Very religious household. I was an altar boy for years, too!

[Adam White]

No, I dont think you come across as rude at all. The comment wasn't aimed at you in any way.

Just constantly surprised at all the tech fear. Fear of social reprisals (and parental slaps, restrictions, beatings, corrections) have always been partially how public civility and good manners are enforced.

After all what are good manners except for a 'chilling effect' on how people express themselves.  For 6 thousand years we've lived in small enough gatherings that once you got a reputation for a lout or a rude person, an entire segment of society disapproved of you.

Social Media just turns giant cities into small towns, in effect.

I'd like to believe at least part of the motivation is the 'golden rule' or whatever.

I see your point, though. I think, in this case (and many others), the cure has turned out to be worse than the malady. Part of the problem with social media is that it allows things like this to escalate immediately. And the effects can be much more widespread. Things happen so quick that no one really takes the time to reflect. I know I am completely guilty of that.

It's not like we found out that this woman is the local Klan leader or something. I think Brian G's approach was best - have fun at the woman's expense and defeat her by not taking her seriously.