agreed. there was mens rea involved in his act

“I don’t see this as a hate crime”

Well, Calling a hate crime doesn’t mean that non-hate crimes are loving or endearing. I think the idea is that the motivation for the crime is purely (or substantially) because the person belongs to a group that’s well known to have been unduly ostracized and dealt with bigotry. Example: Gays, non-whites, women (although I think men can be victims in some cases of hate crimes)

Calling something a ‘hate crime’ is acknowledging that history, that’s all. It isn’t saying a crime against a straight white male is a loving act.

“With the way technology is these days, your past trails you no matter how much you want to forget and something as embarrassing as being digitally taped having sex with someone could never truly be erased.”

That’s true, however, with technology, there’s such a deluge of information out there, that your past can be replaced by the next video of the hour. That’s not to say it won’t be hurtful, but I see it as a same amount of hurtfullness pre-facebook. Also, there are ways to exact punitive damages from offenders that distribute “embarassing” content, although this is not the same as sexual acts, here is some precedent:

http://www.businessinsider.com/where-are-they-now-the-star-wars-kid-2010-5

It is scary to think how much of our identities are digitalized now. Before social networking sites like Facebook, one could be bullied in the school hallways and still be able to retreat to a haven at the end of the day that is immune to these vicious acts. Those that were bullied for being strange in their high school years end up shedding that image as they mature and move away, finding their niche in life and finally being comfortable in their own skin. I don’t think this is possible anymore. With the way technology is these days, your past trails you no matter how much you want to forget and something as embarrassing as being digitally taped having sex with someone could never truly be erased.

I could imagine that if I were taped having some sort of encounter in my dorm room for everyone to see, I would have been mortified beyond belief and I am straight. I truly feel for this poor guy that could not see himself digging out of the abyss of embarrassment. What this man did was humiliating and a complete violation of a helpless person’s private intimate life, and there is nothing that can convince me otherwise. I don’t see this as a hate crime, mostly because what crime isn’t hateful, but what this guy did was absolutely wrong and deserves some sort of reprimand.

Personally, I am indifferent to this issue as to whether we need a hate crime designation. But I am here just to offer my lil theory as to why it could make sense for some people.

A crime X doesn’t immediately become worse and worthy of more punishment if the victim was a member of any group. A crime is a crime is a crime.

That is all.

I agree with you, but that doesn’t carry much weight unless the “feeling of less than human” is so bad that it results in suicide. Unfortunately. That kind of justice you just have to hope gets meted out by the great karmic forces in the world.

Oh how I would like to exact retribution on each bully that made me feel less than human growing up. Unfortunately, I’d be the one charged with a crime if I did want sometimes I feel is just, and what I’d really think is deserved by each and every one of those bullies.

The best revenge is success, I hope the next gay guy targetted by a dharun ravi decides for himself to become the first gay president, and declare war on Iraq Iran and every other nation in the world by saying, “you guys are just meanies. and you can’t be mean to us, so I’m gonna drop a bunch of bombs on you meanies”