12 responses to “New NI online hate group emerges on Facebook”

1. 

   Gavin November 23rd, 2009 at 15:26

   It looks like that group has now been taken off facebook either by the creator or by facebook moderators. Good work Conall

2. 

   Ciaran G November 23rd, 2009 at 15:28

   Enough of your sensationalist garbage!

   This facebook group is meant to be a joke, and the vast majority of the comments are not at all racist. In fact, the only picture uploaded shows someone with their arms around a rose seller.
   The guy who set the group up meant it as a joke, and it is just a pity that others have taken it as an opportunity to express their own individual racist views (most of these ‘racist’ views are sarcastic – it is glaringly obvious that no ill-intent is meant).
   I’m sure the vast majority of those who joined the group saw it as a joke. As for those who used it as an opportunity to express genuinely racist views or in your case a chance to get yourself in a newspaper or on the radio, that’s their problem.
   I accept that it was irresponsible for someone to set this group in light of events earlier in the year – but I am certain that no ill-intent was meant.

3. 

   Conall McDevitt November 23rd, 2009 at 15:35

   Ciaran

   If you think this is a joke then you have a very odd sense of humour.

   The group was closed down by Facebook today because it contained threats of violence. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/8374708.stm

4. 

   Conall McDevitt November 23rd, 2009 at 15:36

   Thanks Gavin. Glad outing this has done some good.

5. Facebook closes down hate page @ O’Conall Street November 23rd, 2009 at 15:41

   [...] Facebook has shut down the hate group we highlighted this morning on O’Conall Street. [...]

6. 

   Ryan November 23rd, 2009 at 15:52

   I make no apologies for stating I already had a fairly low opinion of Northern Ireland to begin with. It’s been pushed even lower now.

7. 

   Ciaran G November 23rd, 2009 at 16:24

   Connall, first of all Facebook did not close the group down those who set up the group closed it down (Facebook representative talking out of his ass).

   I did not see any real ‘threats of violence’, can you elaborate with that or provide a quote? The BBC articles does not make reference to any threats of violence in fact the article makes reference to a *separate* group on bebo who talked about how they had “physically harmed” immigrants.

   Get your facts right first!

8. 

   Fionna November 23rd, 2009 at 17:50

   Ciaran G, It was only a joke has long been the defense of racists, sexists, homophobes, bigots etc. Basically what’s funny about making a group of people feel uncomfortable and especially when there is a real threat of violence. The social acceptance of racist and sexist jokes MAKES it acceptable to abuse people, frighten them and attack them because it emboldens the bullies who pick on the most vulnerable people in society. when Tony Been was asked by a very smug student what he thought of political correctness? He answered with dignity that really all that it meant was politeness and good manners.

   I guess thats why people find Sarah Silverman funny, or Daragh Obrain or most modern comedians and have put Bernard manning behind them.

9. 

   J November 23rd, 2009 at 22:50

   Guessing if selling roses they are likely mainly Roma from Romania who have severe restrictions on working and have very few choices for their livelihood in the UK (and face 95% unemployment in Romania due to institutional racism against Roma there).

   I wonder if some of the people who made their ’sarcastic’ racist comments’ would make the same comments and replace the word immigrant/Romanian/Roma with Pakistani or Chinese? Probably not… Yet the Roma are the largest ethnic minority group in Europe.

   Unfortunately Roma continue to be persecuted in Central Europe today as they have been since the Holocaust called Porajmos -Devouring in Romani when perhaps half were killed on the gas chambers.

   The events in Belfast this summer toward Roma were not funny nor is this group nor are the comments that now seem to have been removed ‘a joke’!. Racism and hate should be combatted in whatever form or level so well done for flagging and doing something about this and shame on the members who joined such a group.

10. 

    Shane C November 25th, 2009 at 00:48

    Conall

    I’ve just started following you, but thanks for the coverage on this today. And for whatever pressure you brought to bear in ending this sorry little episode.

    But to Ciaran G…you should be ashamed of yourslf for even attempting to condone this group or the sentiments expressed. And if an admission that someone “pissed” on a romanian isn’t an actual act of violence never mind a threat of one then you have greater problems than I imagined. Total scum.

    I have no dount you’ll tell me that the guy who called my wife a “black b@stard’ on Botanic Avenue or the girl who told me a joke about “Why black people’s lips are so large” when she learned who my wife was (I could go on here..) were “joking” and “no ill-intent was meant”. Try telling that to my Eritrean born, Canadian wife who will now never move back to Belfast or Northern Ireland for that matter. Or the many people she tells of her experiences (however isolated) in my home land. It’s shameful and we should all be embarassed by our insularity and xenophobia evidenced in “trivial” events like this.

    At a time whe as a small island eonomy we need all the friends (tourists, investors, advocates) we can make we should never underetsimate – particularly in the age of socal media – how stories like this play out across the globe and influence perception.

    There is plenty to joke about in this sad day and age without spouting “ironic” vitriol at the expense of some of our society’s most vulnerable members.

11. Embarassed, NI « A Life in Beta November 25th, 2009 at 01:54

    [...] Thanks to Conall McDevitt for bringing to may attention the unfortunate and unsavoury actions of a few mindless NI Facebookers. [...]

12. 

    polly pineapple December 1st, 2009 at 15:57

    ooooo please!!!!!!! sad sad sad get a proper job, those kids were obvioulsy joking!!!