“We’ve lived through two or three years of divisiveness throughout the whole world, and especially in America, but around the world, and during lockdown, we’ve seen social media being used to abuse people racially. Not just being gay, but racially as well. People are so cruel to each other and it’s because they hide behind their social messaging or whatever they do. If they had to write their names on it, they wouldn’t do it. And I just think it’s just awful that people can write anonymous things about people being gay, being of another political persuasion, religious persuasion, or just plain racial [harassment]. I just think that we have to ask ourselves at this time that it’s not good enough for people to be able to post anonymous things online. They have to be accountable for what they say. It’s making the world really divided and it’s really cruel. People in America are being abused for being Asian because of the Covid thing, and it’s like, ‘Oh, come on.’ And it’s all down to the hateful messaging that people are putting on their social network. And we have to do something about it.”–Icon Sir Elton John, discussing the thriving culture of online anonymity and hate. In an interview with Zane Lowe of Apple Music, the “Rocketman” singer called for ending online anonymity as a means to curb hate speech and harassment.
In Quotes
Sir Elton John blasts internet trolls; calls for online accountability
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Here here Sir Elton. I am against censorship as people should be allowed to say whatever stupid things they want because free speech means nothing if it is limited to only what we agree with or what we think is smart.
Gadfeal
True, but make your speech nominative and attributable. If your “speech” has consequences, own it. In some countries, speech that is done maliciously in a way that can lead to physical, social, professional or emotional damage, is, rightly, considered infringing on people’s right to live in peach, not attacked for something over which they have no control.
I just wonder if this generation, and those future, realize that EVERYTHING ONLINE IS CAPTURED FOREVER. There may not be reason, resources, or software to sift through the data, TODAY, but it will be soon available. Every second, billions of sound bytes are being recorded by “smart talking apps”, and it will get to a point that you can be tracked just by that.
graphicjack
One the one hand, yes, you’re not wrong. On the other hand, this coming from one of the most bitter, shady queens out there is pretty hypocritical. Elton is an enigma to me… someone I can admire for his philanthropy but I don’t think I could stand him on a personal level. Maybe not the best person to be talking about being a miserable so-and-so.
Ambonec
Nice Shoot the Messenger.
Didn’t an ancient Jew say “we’re all hypocrites”?
(think that’s mentioned in other olde texts too)
Ronbo
THIS is the same Elton John who cancelled scheduled events to sing at Rush Limbaugh’s wedding… I think it was the third one, maybe his blessed fourth wedding.
Money, wealth and power seems a bond stronger than humanity.
Ambonec
If one is (allowed) to post anonymously, enable many to be downright venomous (and possibly affecting their targets’ PTSD [or worse], which may be their intent).
Don’t like, but maybe some legislation to hold those who post poison be held accountable or have negligent moderation sanctioned on All platforms. With Homeland Insecurity being decades old, wouldn’t there be banks of servers monitoring mst of the traffic?
CurtisIsTheOne
I ABHOR censorship in any form and would protect anyone’s right to say anything about anybody so long as its not likely to cause physical injury. That said, I think we ALL need a little more MUSIC in our lives. Hum these songs and expel hatred from your heart: “All You Need is Love”, “What The World Needs Now, is Love, Sweet Love’ & “One Love” by Bob Marley & The Wailers”. Pearce Snarkey & The Deprived Doo Dahs! /|\ /|\
Leo
To hold people accountable for what they say on line is not censorship. People can still say what they want they should just have to back it up with their identity. If that forces them to be silenced, that is on them.
Heywood Jablowme
We’re all “anonymous” here so does that mean we can’t say anything bad about Elton?
Fahd
Not being able to speak anonymously would have a very chilling effect on free speech. For example, I wouldn’t criticize the government if I thought they might come and arrest me and put me in a camp for a long time if I did – Ask a North Korean or even a Russian. On the other hand even the US first amendment doesn’t allow calls to violence (ask Supreme Court – see recent impeachment). Private platform providers through their TOS could do much more in eliminating or tempering hate speech in social media, but moderating posts is a lot of work and would cut into profits; still it will have to happen. …it’s the only way to restore decency and civil debate. Finally, reading stuff on the internet is no excuse, those people who commit hate crimes have to pay the consequences.
Leo
Again, it does not silence free speech just ends anonymity. If you can’t say it with your name then perhaps you should keep your mouth shut.
Heywood Jablowme
@Leo: Really? You probably haven’t thought that through, since you’re not using your surname.
Heywood Jablowme
I’m all for moderation by website administrators. Queerty for instance could benefit from more of it.
But Elton is being awfully vague here: “it’s not good enough for people to be able to post anonymous things online. They have to be accountable for what they say.” Accountable how? What exactly does he have in mind?
On the site of my local weekly paper I recently got into a dispute with some Trumpers. The WORST Trumpers use their real names already! Since I had a pseudonym, one asked what I was afraid of. I replied that I was afraid of harassment and even death threats from hateful insane Trumpers.
Another local site I’m familiar with thought they could solve the problem of online civility by switching to Facebook comments, i.e. (supposedly) real names. But it didn’t work. The Trumpers and racists and homophobes used their real names, and everyone else was afraid to post at all.
If we had to use our real names HERE on Queerty, any random homophobe could use Google to harass and threaten us.
Cam
Of COURSE Elton doesn’t like Trolls. “Trolls” to him were the people calling out his hypocrisy when he spoke out saying we didn’t need same sex marriage because civil unions were the same thing, then he became furious because he was denied a foreign adoption because the other country stated that he had to be “Married” to adopt.
Suddenly Miss Elton became a passionate advocate for marriage. It didn’t matter when it effected only other people.
Also “Trolls” called him out for performing at Rush Limbaugh’s wedding.
Those “Trolls” don’t need a bunch of crazy Elton John fans harassing them in real life