06.29.07
How to Denigrate Asian Americans and Get Away With It: A Definitive Guide Inspired by Billy Hagberg
- Write a comment on a website apologizing for your actions. (Make sure you sound sincere!)
- Write a follow up comment on that same website, 2 minutes later, and do this:
- Deflect the blame: indicate that there are “much bigger threats to asians” than the racist and offensive actions you took. By claiming that your actions are not as big of a threat as some other “bigger” and amorphous threat, you look like you’re not such a bad guy for constructing a networking group on facebook called “Anti-Asians Anonymous”
- Segue into becoming the authority figure: Then, tell those Asian Americans that they “need to recognize real threats and their sources.” This is the perfect alibi! By doing this, you deflect anyone else from thinking that YOU are actually a real source of racism. No one will suspect you’ve done anything wrong!!!!!!!
- Use your newfound authority figure status to criticize those that oppose you: Just say something like “I support your cause, but your methods certainly leave much to be desired” This accomplishes two things– it allows you to gather support from other people by “appearing” to be sympathetic to the fight against racism, but allows you to back-handedly insult anyone who challenges the racist actions you previously took. By belittling the “methods” of fighting racism, you shift attention from your own racist actions, and make it look like Asian Americans are the bad guys for trying to stop your racist actions. You’ll make them sound like they’re trying to “stop” you from something they shouldn’t “stop” you from doing. You can even make yourself look like the victim, and gain more support from others. It’s the perfect cover!
 Scale 1, Antilocution: Antilocution means a majority group freely makes jokes about a minority group. Speech is in terms of negative stereotypes and negative images. This is also called hate speech. It is commonly seen as harmless by the majority. Antilucution sets the stage for more severe outlets for prejudice. |
Here’s a comment that was posted on our site regarding an offensive Facebook group webpage constructed by students at Fox Chapel Area High School (PA):
“if i could say though, there are certainly much bigger threats to asians than a high-schooler on one website. In my opinion, if you are to make any changes, you need to recognize real threats, their sources, and appropriate courses of action. Why didn’t anyone ask me about this, instead of random authority figures in my life? I support your cause, but your methods certianly leave much to be desired” — Billy Hagberg, Fox Chapel Area High School
billy hagberg said,
June 29, 2007 at 3:21 pm
i am SINCERELY sorry for my actions. Ive thought about it, and you have every right to be angry and hurt by my actions. Pity is more than i deserve, but i hope you can at least recognize the sincerity of my apology. i cant possibly criticize your group and their methods, because i have never been in such a position. Im sorry, i wrote that before i realized the gravity of the situation ive created. please, if you can grant one small favor, at least recognize that i am sincere
billy hagberg said,
June 29, 2007 at 3:21 pm
I am wrong, I take the blame, I was stupid and ignorant, and I need to deal with the consequences
phark said,
June 29, 2007 at 3:22 pm
If the group were “Anti-Blacks Anonymous” or “Anti-Jews Anonymous,” would this still be “just a joke?”
Sino Kaya said,
June 29, 2007 at 3:45 pm
I find this article helpful. But it’s too late for you, Billy. Perhaps, other kids will take its lessons more seriously.
When students open up — a little too much
Colleges cite risks of frank online talk
By Sarah Schweitzer, Globe Staff | September 26, 2005
http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2005/09/26/when_students_open_up____a_little_too_much/?page=1
Lisa said,
June 30, 2007 at 4:28 am
Ha ha, retards. Too little, too late. We mock you.
J. Thompson said,
July 1, 2007 at 1:45 am
As a student-faculty who works in the admissions office of a renowned college educational institution, I am gravely disappointed in how inconsiderate and ignorant those students of Fox Chapel Area High School (Billy Hagberg in particuar) are. Honestly, if I come across his name in the college admission process, I will deny him of matriculation into our university. Students need to realize that “what goes around comes around”… and these days, apologies will not save anyone from what is said and done.
Annette C said,
July 1, 2007 at 4:33 am
God, I’m just so tired of this crap. The problem is bigger than just Billy though. This entire society and media intentionally and continually demeans and racistly degrades Asians. Every headline is anti-China and every show has some token Asian serving as the butt of jokes. It’s no damn wonder kids think like this. Billy is just a symptom of this far larger problem that nobody wants to fix.
Why don’t we address THAT issue, anyone?
J said,
July 1, 2007 at 7:00 am
Sorry Billy. You should have thought about that before we signed a pact to … [hold you and your school community accountable for its actions].
wow said,
July 7, 2007 at 6:06 am
Phark - ‘If the group were “Anti-Blacks Anonymous” or “Anti-Jews Anonymous,” would this still be “just a joke?”‘
in response - yes.
Female student of Fox Chapel said,
July 7, 2007 at 3:26 pm
The Facebook group is very immature and insulting; however, I must add that Fox Chapel has many Asian students and I have never witnessed one be harassed or in any way attacked because of his or her ethnicity. The Facebook group is a sick joke. I do not defend it, it should be deleted (in fact, never created), but I do not believe it was meant seriously. It certainly does not reflect the value of any Fox Chapel student, teacher, or administrator I know; I don’t even think it reflects actual morals or beliefs of either of the group creators.
humpy said,
July 9, 2007 at 5:09 am
female student, so in other words racist comments and libel against an entire continent of people to you is humor and shouldn’t be taken seriously? are you even aware of the meaning of racism?
and if it’s so trivial to your white privilege that even the creators don’t believe in their racism, doesn’t it speak volumes about how asian-americans are so mistreated that racist remarks aren’t even considered important enough to be dealt with by your school district?
but keep on apologizing for racism and white privilege. it’s only a matter of time before your jobs and education gets outsourced. while you’re making racist humor online, there’s like 1 billion indians and 1.3 billion chinese struggling to get out of poverty and taking your education and jobs — now that’s something you kiddies should take seriously.
Flatorz said,
July 13, 2007 at 6:33 pm
humpy is a retarded son of a b****. get a life you sucky liberal piece of s***.
exholt said,
July 29, 2007 at 8:08 pm
Flatorz,
Is your vocabulary and capability for critical thinking/analysis so lacking that your only recourse is crude profane attacks?
sandskingo said,
July 31, 2007 at 3:40 pm
Annette C,
Honey, please stop prancing around like some mindless caricature of an outraged sophomore.
If you really believe that “this entire society and media intentionally and continually demeans and racistly degrades Asians” and that “every headline is anti-China and every show has some token Asian serving as the butt of jokes”, then you are looking for trouble where there is actually very little.
How old are you? I know that its fun to latch on to a crusade as a youth. But, eventually, you need to grow up and reassess your reality.
HecticPlanet said,
August 2, 2007 at 4:56 pm
sandskingo,
You make the same mistake as Annette C, but in the other direction. While it is certainly overstatement to say that “this entire society” and “every headline” is racist, it is certainly a gross understatement to say that there is “actually very little” trouble with anti-Asian sentiment and stereotypes in our media and society.
Take a look around this site, specifically the post on the Chuck & Larry movie. How many Asian characters in popular media can you think of that are well developed, three dimensional characters, and not merely the stereotypes described in the “Chuck & Larry” post?
Briefly, other sites you can check out are www.angryasianman.com, which led me to this site, and www.racialicious.com, which deals specifically with race and media. Understating and ignoring racism and ignorance is no help at all.
humpers said,
August 4, 2007 at 3:10 am
fathers of amerikkka, are you sure your daughters are china free? just look at liberal traitors like al gore and his daughter marrying a chinaman, are you sure your sacred white daughters are completely china free?
keep communist spies out, like the FBI is trying to root them out to preserve the sanctity and pureness of your white women. support our troops!
pd said,
August 4, 2007 at 1:53 pm
@humpers
People like you shouldn’t be allow to have kids at all. Period.
DSS said,
August 8, 2007 at 11:03 am
I’ve never heard of Fox Chapel Area high school, but I do now.
I do admissions interviews for two Ivy League schools. My sister does admissions interviews for a third.
Good luck getting into college guys!
hitsquad said,
August 9, 2007 at 4:00 am
why dosent everyone get off of billy’s back, all of you can quit whining and suck a fat chode. you got probs, come meet me at the school, bitches
Ray White(ASS. Principale) said,
August 9, 2007 at 4:02 am
Personally, Throughout all of my years teaching and being a advisor at Fox chapel highschool, I ever never seen such a sweet facebook page in my life. I agree with Billy…