How morally wrong is this?

[mrbassman03]

Alright, for the past two days an anti-choice group has posted HUGE abortion photos in the center of campus at my university comparing abortion to genocide. They have set up metal barricades around these photos so no one can go tear them down. The organizers (99% men) hide behind these barricades to spout their crap. Anyway, it is right in the center of campus, and causes a huge disturbance. Thanks to the magic of Facebook, I got the name, cell phone number, e-mail address, and IM screen name of the student organizing it. I printed off about 100 little sheets saying:

This anti-choice rally was organized by: HIS NAME
Here is his cell number: NUMBER
Here is his e-mail: E-MAIL
Here is his screen name: SN
Let him know how you feel.

I'm just wondering if you think this stoops too low, or if you think this is an effective method for dealing with these types of people.

[Mutley]

1. I don't think giving out someone's personal information without permission

is right. On the other hand, this person did post their own personal information on the internet for all to see. But still. I personally don't think it's right.

[seemunkee]

2. I would do it.

Do you think for one minute that they wouldn't use this tactic on you if the shoe were on the other foot. Hell no.

[kay1864]

3. What did you do with the 100 sheets?

[mrbassman03]

4. I have yet to distribute them...

I am still debating whether or not to give them out... I am leaning towards no, though it depends on what they do on campus today.

[Misunderestimator]

6. I would just put his name, then let the students research for themselves

to get the other info. Someone who does that kind of crap should at least stand behind it (and *not* literally).

[taterguy]

5. You were wrong, according to my interpretation of the Golden Rule

[mrbassman03]

8. Yeah, I haven't given them out yet...

I was just REALLY frustrated at the extent to which they set up this demonstration. They had huge signs saying "Warning: Genocide Photos Ahead" all over campus. I probably will not end up giving them out, I was just wondering what you all thought.

[TheFriendlyAnarchist]

17. Out of curiosity, to which golden rule are you refering?

Although, rules are all the same to me; complete bullshit :shrug:

[LeftyMom]

7. I would go for it.

Anti-abortion people don't respect a woman's right to privacy, after all.

[Oeditpus Rex]

9. You aren't going to like my answer

I consider this a form of terrorism.

You may have meant no real harm to the guy, only to expose and intimidate him. But you can't tell what someone else might do, armed with the information you provided. There are some sick people out there, even on college campuses — and you can't guarantee that the information stayed on campus.

This is to say nothing of the guy's First Amendment rights. What happened to "I may not agree with what you say, but..."?

I left DU for several months some time ago over an issue very much like this one. Someone in GD didn't like something some school officials had done, and dug up and published their phone numbers and e-mail addresses.

That's Freeper shit, man.

Edit: I just saw that you haven't yet distributed the information. That doesn't change my response, but it does tell me you're having second thoughts, which is good.

[6th Borough]

10. Display his screen name, leave the rest out.

That is my opinion. His IM name is public domain; if he has a problem with that, he shouldn't use instant messaging and also consider using an anonymity utility (psst...if anyone here wants a good one, google Tor...partially developed by DARPA, now open source and recommended by EFF ((Electronic Frontier Foundation)).

Email? Is it public? Probably...your call, though I wouldn't. Stay outta the mud I say, you don't know who else is wallowing in it.

Name? No.

Cell #? Hell no. How would you feel if your cell # was released to the world...nay, the internet world?
See, I disagree with his opinion, but he's entitled to it, all the more so at a university, which thrives on free speech. If people do not agree with him at your school, I expect the student body will give him a hint.

/lived in Gainesville for a year.
//Honk for Jesus vs. Hari Hari Krishna on the corners of University and Main every Friday...wonder if they're still truckin'?

[NoPasaran]

11. Fuck 'em and feed 'em fish heads!

We are at war with these creeps. It's impossible to stoop too low dealing with them.

[leftofthedial]

12. good job

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

13. Was this the Genocide Awareness Project?

They display pictures of abortions along side pictures of the holocaust and black people being lynched?

I say do it. I don't see anything immoral about it. In fact, I'd say it's immoral not to go through with it.

[mrbassman03]

14. Yes, it is...

Another student actually tore down their signs yesterday... he jumped over the barriers and ripped down the PVC piping holding it up. I wanted to do something else about it other than destruction of property.

[zanne]

15. Anti-abortion people don't respect people's privacy.

Why should we respect theirs?

[baldguy]

16. Cell numbers, email addresses and IM screen names can be changed.

But don't sneak around handing out leaflets. Print the info clearly on a big sign, and hold it up right next to their display.

[JVS]

18. Are you arguing the issue or just harassing the person?

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

19. Good question.

Was the Genocide Awareness Project arguing the issue or just harassing people?

[khashka]

20. I don't think I'd have gone there...

But if he's made all this info public? Well, then it's public.

Also there is a huge difference between a person's uterus and a person's cell number. Who is really messing with who here?

I think you may have gone beyond the bounds of courtesy and good taste. But I can't really fault you. Trying to commandeer a woman's reproductive health has nothing to do with "courtesy" or "good taste". And it really is a war.

Difference between you and him? You wonder if your acts are ethical. Wanna know if you are doing the right thang. Think he ever asks those questions?


Sometimes we have to stoop low in order to fight our enemies. It's not pretty, not nice, not easy or comfortable, but sometimes we can only effectively fight them on their territory.


Khash.

[flvegan]

21. You're providing an outlet for feedback, both positive AND negative

Putting myself in this person's shoes, I've done many protests, and I wouldn't care if that info was handed out. E-mails can be deleted, phone numbers blocked, etc. Anyone that threatens can be charged. If you're out there, you're OUT there.

[rug]

22. Why don't you just walk up and stab him?

[Rabrrrrrr]

23. You can say who he is, yes. But those flyers could go anywhere.

Very easily they could leave campus and end up in the hands of a nutbag.

Publish his name if you want, and then people can find his contact info from the facebook. But for outsiders, they won't be able to.

But truthfully, the best flyer you could offer is one with truthful information; not a flyer with just the guy's name with a suggestion of harassment. But something that speaks to the issue, and tells people WHY the asshole is an asshole, and why the asshole's issue is an asshole's issue only.