Thread by @coopesdetat

We'll be hearing from @kgelber next on hate speech and its consequences. A problem she says is increasing in prominence and scope #RANZCP2021

Gelber talks about the mainstreaming in modern politics of hate speech and its threat to democracy
#RANZCP2021. Political leaders including Trump engaging directly in these discourses. Australia not immune. Scale of problem is huge

Hate or the presence of hate or dislike is not the key determinant of hate speech - discrimination is, says @kgelber. Hate speech is an act of discrimination that you carry out with your words. Doesn't have to be vituperative or epithet-laden #RANZCP2021

Important here says @kgelber is that hate speech is rooted in the experience of the recipient. It is not an objective assessment - if someone receives something as hate speech it is hate speech #RANZCP2021

We can do things with our words. Words can enact harm causally - leading to an act of discrimination, fear, loss of liberty, violence. We see this in Gaza, the dehumanisation of Palestinians says @kgelber #RANZCP2021

Words can also harm constitutively, more subtle but can harm just by being said. Not just having your feelings hurt, but an act of discrimination in and of itself in context of stigmatised populations says @kgelber #RANZCP2021

@kgelber on empirical evidence of hate speech harms. 100% reported being targeted or knowing someone who had. Doesn't matter if they are directly targeted, they experience it the same. At school, uni, sports, supermarkets, at work, at home via phone & internet #RANZCP2021

Scares & disempowers, says @KGelber. Parallels w women experiencing violence. Laws are toothless, do not address all the offenders - the media perpetrates these tropes without remedy. Leads to withdrawal. Long, slow cumulative effect on ability to express & be heard #RANZCP2021

Hate speech leads to exclusion and a loss of core liberties says @KGelber. Can be debilitating in the same way as agoraphobia. Media has a huge role, planting seeds, fueling stereotypes. The psychological sequelae are obvious #RANZCP2021

Hate speech is experienced as a violation of human rights, & is a trap for those who experience it - they cannot respond without consequences; repressing it also has consequences, in the home, for families. Alienates people from their culture, language, says @kgelber #RANZCP2021

These are non-trivial harms, these are really significant harms experienced by the targets of hate speech says @KGelber. Normalises and drives discrimination, subordination, silencing, victimisation, restricting freedom & harming dignity. These are difficult to shake #RANZCP2021

Hate speech harms individuals and communities but there are also broader harms - it harms our democracy, prevents participation of whole groups. It resets the implied rules by which public discourse happens - the more there is hate speech, the more it is accepted #RANZCP2021

Gelber says public norms, what is acceptable to say, have been markedly eroded in the past 5 years - but this shows we can also reset them in the other direction #RANZCP2021

Questions for @kgelber now, let me know if you have any! #RANZCP2021

How do we tackle the idea that hate speech does not equal having your feelings hurt? Gelber says it is important to focus on the harms and on the notion of discrimination/legally protected groups. Threshold of incitement of hatred, serious contempt or ridicule #RANZCP2021

Question on trans rights and LGBTQI discrimination. Gelber says lots of research on this. Misgendering is existentially felt pain and discrimination, increasingly accepted as a form of hate speech, part of a global movement to denigrate and degrade #RANZCP2021

Effect of hate speech by politicians as social role models? Gelber says free speech is a fundamental human right and carries the responsibility not to harm others - more powerful your voice the heavier this burden is. Unfortunately very significant number eschew this #RANZCP2021

Politicians prioritise short term electoral gain, says Gelber. Many have decided that hate speech is acceptable because it gives them good electoral fortunes, to the detriment of our public discourse. Costs disproportionately borne by minorities #RANZCP2021

How do we counter hate speech without fueling it further? Gelber says social platforms have a huge responsibility here, business model premised on clickbait - content likely to arouse negative emotions. Increasingly legal regulation has a role. Statutory duty of care #RANZCP2021

As individuals we have to start at the ground level. Humanising targets. When somebody tells a joke, speaking up against it. Gently, carefully, in a way not putting yourself at risk. Organisations, institutions must advocate. Target advertisers #RANZCP2021

What role does govt have w pro-social campaigns? Gelber says speech-based counter-remedies are really important. Campaigns matter. Reminder of what the agreed standards of community conduct are. Education matters #RANZCP2021

Social media & incitement of hate speech - greater scope for targets to feel repercussions. Anonymity, speed. No doubt whatsoever that online environment facilitates, allows networks and communities to form, echo chambers says Gelber #RANZCP2021

While platforms are nominally taking action to moderate hate speech one of the main problems is it is driven by algorithms, overlooks local context which is 100% of whether something is hate speech. Algorithms doomed to fail, says Gelber #RANZCP2021

Facebook has just 30,000 moderators globally, using a manual to adjudicate. Only way this problem can be addressed is to break down into locally responsive entities says Gelber #RANZCP2021

What about hate speech directed against mental health consumers, esp by other health professionals? Gelber says it's a very significant problem. Destigmatisation matters #RANZCP2021

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