Hate speech is not protected in all instances in US law. In this case it would be but used differently he could be in big trouble.
- Pomegrant

Are we really going to classify Hodges tweet as hate speech?

Look at the intent. The banana incident was malicious. There was no intent for comedy. Hodge was attempting to be funny even if it fell short.
- fiveandagame

Its interesting that you think the guy throwing the banana was being malicious and Hodge was trying to be funny. Oddly enough, both people were actually trying to be funny.

Any light coming on yet?

Maybe, maybe not, but apparently it wouldn't be the first time Hodge was fired for a controversial on-air (or public) outburst. His employers have the right to dismiss him - free-speech is not an issue. He, like Tim Thomas, is absolutely free to say what he wants but not without consequences, significant or otherwise.

I am curious as to why you think Hodge was making a joke? There is absolutely zero indication in his choice of words or context to suggest a joke. That's a conjured excuse, and I have no doubt it's one Mr. Hodge will use to try to cover his ass.

Interestingly, Hodge has deflected much of the criticism away from Thomas. Hodge is now the pariah. Deservedly so.
- blueline

If you were on twitter yesterday you would have read dozens of jokes from all sorts of people in and out of hockey in regards to Thomas.

Its interesting that you think the guy throwing the banana was being malicious and Hodge was trying to be funny. Oddly enough, both people were actually trying to be funny.

Any light coming on yet?
- Lohaus

So becasue I have a different viewpoint on the topic you are classifying me as "dim"? Interesting.

So becasue I have a different viewpoint on the topic you are classifying me as "dim"? Interesting.
- fiveandagame

No, wasn't meant to be. I'm just interested in understanding why you clearly think one is an attempt at humor and the other is clearly malicious.

Uh No b/c he usually misses, then the rebound always goes back to the blue line and picked up by the other teams player, which leads to a breakaway... Just sayn.. This team needs to keep doing what they are doing...

First!

It will be a tough one tonight. Give it to Shea and get out of the way!
- TheOne

No, wasn't meant to be. I'm just interested in understanding why you clearly think one is an attempt at humor and the other is clearly malicious.
- Lohaus

In my opinion the banana incident was a racially motivated occurrence and that intention was to be malicious direct toward Simmonds. Although I can see how a correlation can be drawn between both incidents I don’t think the banana thrower was trying to get a laugh and I don’t feel there was any comedic intent. I feel Hodge on the other hand was trying to use word play (or letter play) in an attempt to make a comedic reference. As tasteless as the comment was, I really don’t feel that he was directly trying to attack Thomas or seriously suggest he is a Klan member.

No, wasn't meant to be. I'm just interested in understanding why you clearly think one is an attempt at humor and the other is clearly malicious.
- Lohaus

Same way flipping a burining police car in the street is funny....

Had the media not pointed it out, it is pretty much a guarantee that 99% of people would have no idea he wasn't there. Its the biggest non-story of the year.

In my opinion the banana incident was a racially motivated occurrence and that intention was to be malicious direct toward Simmonds. Although I can see how a correlation can be drawn between both incidents I don’t think the banana thrower was trying to get a laugh and I don’t feel there was any comedic intent. I feel Hodge on the other hand was trying to use word play (or letter play) in an attempt to make a comedic reference. As tasteless as the comment was, I really don’t feel that he was directly trying to attack Thomas or seriously suggest he is a Klan member.
- fiveandagame

In truth, when I first read both situations, I didn't immediately think racial on either. We react based on personal experience, I guess.

When I heard of the Simmonds incident, and a banana was tossed on the ice, I thought of my high school days when a kid I knew slipped on a banana on an outdoor rink that was thrown on while we were playing and blew out his shoulder crashing into the real boards that had zero give. So when i read that this happened at an NHL game, my first though was "what a dumb thing to do, he could have been hurt" until I later started hearing opinions. Sort of an Ahhh moment. My first reaction to Hodge's remark was that he shouldn't name Thomas' kids, that’s not professional and that Hodge usually was more thoughtful when he tweeted anything. In my defense, it was early and I hadn't had my coffee.

Again, perception, but my point is just because you or I don't necessarily see something as one thing, doesn't mean it isn't. In my opinion, at least my opinion now that I reflected on each, both are equally as malicious and irresponsible because racism isn't funny, attempted or delivered. We can agree to disagree though if you feel differently.

Are we really going to classify Hodges tweet as hate speech?
- fiveandagame

As stated in my post, no.

In truth, when I first read both situations, I didn't immediately think racial on either. We react based on personal experience, I guess.

When I heard of the Simmonds incident, and a banana was tossed on the ice, I thought of my high school days when a kid I knew slipped on a banana on an outdoor rink that was thrown on while we were playing and blew out his shoulder crashing into the real boards that had zero give. So when i read that this happened at an NHL game, my first though was "what a dumb thing to do, he could have been hurt" until I later started hearing opinions. Sort of an Ahhh moment. My first reaction to Hodge's remark was that he shouldn't name Thomas' kids, that’s not professional and that Hodge usually was more thoughtful when he tweeted anything. In my defense, it was early and I hadn't had my coffee.

Again, perception, but my point is just because you or I don't necessarily see something as one thing, doesn't mean it isn't. In my opinion, at least my opinion now that I reflected on each, both are equally as malicious and irresponsible because racism isn't funny, attempted or delivered. We can agree to disagree though if you feel differently.
- Lohaus

I agree 100%. I think the thing we are disagreeing on is the malice of the comment. Again. I really don't feel that Hodge is seriously accusing Thomas of being a klan member and a racist. He looked at the situation and tried to make a play on words. Like you said, we just have different perspectives on the comment.

Had the media not pointed it out, it is pretty much a guarantee that 99% of people would have no idea he wasn't there. Its the biggest non-story of the year.
- nikoli1206

So not reporting the incident is the way to go?

Not sure I agree with that. The absence of the Stanley Cup winning goaltender at such a public event, would and should draw a question... it's kinda hard to play the "blame the media" card here... From the way Twitter blew up last night on this, people were obviously interested...

I like blaming the media myself, but I think this situation is a little beyond that.

Uh No b/c he usually misses, then the rebound always goes back to the blue line and picked up by the other teams player, which leads to a breakaway... Just sayn.. This team needs to keep doing what they are doing...
- PREDX1

Huh?

Tied for 3rd in the league for defensemen with 10 goals (1st = 13 goals, 2nd = 11) and 2nd in points, only bested by Eric Karlsson?

Many of us have said we'd prefer Suter if we had to choose but I wonder if that's really the correct call. Shea's offensive output, physical presence and steady leadership will be most difficult to replace.

I agree 100%. I think the thing we are disagreeing on is the malice of the comment. Again. I really don't feel that Hodge is seriously accusing Thomas of being a klan member and a racist. He looked at the situation and tried to make a play on words. Like you said, we just have different perspectives on the comment.
- fiveandagame

Well, maybe we aren't even disagreeing on that, to be honest. I don't think Hodge actually thinks Thomas is a Klan member, but I do think it was irrespeonsible of him to say it, or I guess suggest it, even in a sideways, back handed type of way in an attempt to be funny. It's worse though because he is using a twitter account that is his TSN account. That to me is where he runs into the most trouble and where TSN will have play defense for a bit on.

In the end though, racial comments, or homophobic comments, or sexual comments... all are cause for dismissal in pretty much any field. That was pretty much my earlier point. We'll see how it all shakes out, but I'm sure if I used my work account and tweeted something of the same nature, even in jest, my employment just ended.

Well, maybe we aren't even disagreeing on that, to be honest. I don't think Hodge actually thinks Thomas is a Klan member, but I do think it was irrespeonsible of him to say it, or I guess suggest it, even in a sideways, back handed type of way in an attempt to be funny. It's worse though because he is using a twitter account that is his TSN account. That to me is where he runs into the most trouble and where TSN will have play defense for a bit on.

In the end though, racial comments, or homophobic comments, or sexual comments... all are cause for dismissal in pretty much any field. That was pretty much my earlier point. We'll see how it all shakes out, but I'm sure if I used my work account and tweeted something of the same nature, even in jest, my employment just ended.
- Lohaus

I understand. I guess I am just old school and feel that when it comes to stuff like this the majority of people are just wound too tight. I understand that real discrimination should not be tolerated, but I feel people atempting to make a joke, as tastless as that joke may be, should be allowed to make the joke as long as the intent of the joke is not a real, direct, attack at that person. I feel that people seem to be a little over sensitve to these types of things.

Edit: I also understand there is a fine line when dealing with these types of things as well. I just don't think Hodge should lose his job over the comment. An apology to Thomas would be good enough for me.

I understand. I guess I am just old school and feel that when it comes to stuff like this the majority of people are just wound too tight. I understand that real discrimination should not be tolerated, but I feel people atempting to make a joke, as tastless as that joke may be, should be allowed to make the joke as long as the intent of the joke is not a real, direct, attack at that person. I feel that people seem to be a little over sensitve to these types of things.
- fiveandagame

Part of the fall out from the social media age I guess. It's hard to tell when people are making jokes and when people are being serious. All you have is the text in front of you and what it says without tone. Off the record stuff where everyone knows one another, sure, jokes get tossed around, some appropriate, some not, but at least face to face, you can see the person and know, or at least have a feeling, whether or not it was a joke. Hodge isn't the first to make a mistake on Twitter and surely won't be the last.

Part of the fall out from the social media age I guess. It's hard to tell when people are making jokes and when people are being serious. All you have is the text in front of you and what it says without tone. Off the record stuff where everyone knows one another, sure, jokes get tossed around, some appropriate, some not, but at least face to face, you can see the person and know, or at least have a feeling, whether or not it was a joke. Hodge isn't the first to make a mistake on Twitter and surely won't be the last.
- Lohaus

This discussion is going pretty well. We haven't resorted to name calling or insulting the other persons city/province. Maybe there is hope for this website yet.

This discussion is going pretty well. We haven't resorted to name calling or insulting the other persons city/province. Maybe there is hope for this website yet.
- fiveandagame

hehe. I won't get involved in name calling. I do love me some good discussion though!

hehe. I won't get involved in name calling. I do love me some good discussion though!
- Lohaus

So not reporting the incident is the way to go?

Not sure I agree with that. The absence of the Stanley Cup winning goaltender at such a public event, would and should draw a question... it's kinda hard to play the "blame the media" card here... From the way Twitter blew up last night on this, people were obviously interested...

I like blaming the media myself, but I think this situation is a little beyond that.
- pmccann

They didn't need to dig further into the situation, Paul. It would have been a non issue had they simply reported he would not be there. Do you honestly think anyone would have really cared if that were how it were reported? Maybe TT should have just kept his mouth shut and it would have squashed the whole thing. I guess some blame lies with him there. But how ridiculous would have the media been in hounding him for an answer? Probably non-stop.

The event is such a gimicky, ridiculous showing of how much time our government has on their hands. Its a bunch of dudes that play a kids game and our Commander in Chief is taking time out of his day to smile like he gives a damn. Kids don't care about the event and I would bet you would be hard pressed to find many adults that care either.

And if we are going to judge the importance of an event by what people are posting on Twitter, then we are gonna be paying attention to a ton of garbage. I cannot wait until that service collapses in on itself...

Looks like Pekka is a go and trying for 9 in a row. Anybody see the mugshot of Sen. Kerry after a friendly?

They didn't need to dig further into the situation, Paul. It would have been a non issue had they simply reported he would not be there. Do you honestly think anyone would have really cared if that were how it were reported? Maybe TT should have just kept his mouth shut and it would have squashed the whole thing. I guess some blame lies with him there. But how ridiculous would have the media been in hounding him for an answer? Probably non-stop.

The event is such a gimicky, ridiculous showing of how much time our government has on their hands. Its a bunch of dudes that play a kids game and our Commander in Chief is taking time out of his day to smile like he gives a damn. Kids don't care about the event and I would bet you would be hard pressed to find many adults that care either.

And if we are going to judge the importance of an event by what people are posting on Twitter, then we are gonna be paying attention to a ton of garbage. I cannot wait until that service collapses in on itself...
- nikoli1206

I agree. Who wants to see the president mispronounce Yzerman like Clinton did or see Bush make joke about Franzen being called Mule? Personally, I would have had a hard time fighting down the bile meeting W.

From an employment standpoint, Thomas should have been with his team. From a political standpoint, Thomas is welcome to believe what he likes and vote however he sees fit. It's the nature of democracy for a large portion of people to be unhappy with the current leadership at any given time. That won't be changing now or, likely, ever.

Twitter also sucks.

I agree. Who wants to see the president mispronounce Yzerman like Clinton did or see Bush make joke about Franzen being called Mule? Personally, I would have had a hard time fighting down the bile meeting W.

From an employment standpoint, Thomas should have been with his team. From a political standpoint, Thomas is welcome to believe what he likes and vote however he sees fit. It's the nature of democracy for a large portion of people to be unhappy with the current leadership at any given time. That won't be changing now or, likely, ever.

Twitter also sucks.
- micah555

I can agree with that to a point. Why they do this crap midseason is beyond me anyways.

Looks like Pekka is a go and trying for 9 in a row. Anybody see the mugshot of Sen. Kerry after a friendly?
- slash&smash

What a smile. Honestly..how did this guy NOT get elected?