Violent Speech as a Contagious Problem
Speech is both a contagious problem and a problem that can escalate into actual violence. The contagiousness of speech can be found in the scripts and memes that spread in how we talk about the issues of the day. Recently, these scripts have increasingly incited anger, hatred and fear and have encouraged violence. This dangerous speech is contagious and has spread significantly.
Speech that either calls for, incites, or otherwise encourages the use of violence against a person or group is extremely dangerous. Violent speech can result in:
Acts of violence
Threats of violence
Normalization of the use of threats and violence
Organizing groups around the use of violence
This should not be mistaken for politics. This is the replacement of politics with threats, fear, and danger. This type of violent speech is extremely dangerous and if unchallenged could result in the normalization and continued use of threats and incitement.
Speech That Is Dangerous
There are many types of speech that can significantly increase the risk of violence. Some are the more obvious examples that encourage or call for violence. Others can be less obvious, where people are denigrated or blamed in a way that encourages violence against them, or people are intentionally angered over an issue. The following types of speech are dangerous and should be discouraged from the public dialogue:
Threats of violence
Calls and incitements for others to do violence
References to violence
Dehumanizing of groups (most especially groups vulnerable to violence victimization)
Blaming of vulnerable groups
Encouraging people to be angry
Treating political opponents as traitors
Hate speech
A prominent example of recent speech that incited violence is the January 6, 2021 insurrection. Violent rhetoric from several political leaders including the former President urged a violent march on the Capitol resulting in deaths and significant injuries. Words like “fight like hell” were used.
There are also many examples of comments by leaders that have incited threats of violence against their political opponents, including credible threats of violence and plots to kidnap and assassinate. These comments and violence have also been directed at vulnerable groups with surges in hate crimes following comments by political leaders.
Today, many examples of dangerous speech can be found. Websites, media, and politicians are now regularly using violent speech and demonize opponents. Denigration of vulnerable minority groups is more accepted and is frequently cited by mass shooter. Leaders are intentionally targeting people and communities, bringing threats of violence to them. Recently, Representative Gosar posted a video that depicted violence against a political opponent, and there are many more examples from members of US Congress, state legislature, the former President, and other former members of the former President’s staff.
Current Trends
There are several trends in the use of dangerous speech that are concerning:
75% of Americans believe that the dangerous speech makes political violence more likely.[1]
20% believes that “there is a storm coming soon that will sweep away the elites in power and restore the rightful leaders” [2]
Background checks on firearm purchasers are up 59.9 % (12.5 million more)[3]
Reported hate crimes increased 6.5% in 2020 – more than 300,000 incidents.[4]
More than two-thirds expect elections to lead to violence. [5]
Lack of condemnation of violent speech and lack of consequences have and are continuing to lead to the normalization of violent and other dangerous speech.
There are typically no consequences for people using violence speech. Speakers are often careful to not name specific targets and means, and otherwise incriminate themselves. The risk of violence is nevertheless considerable.
What Needs to Be Done
#1 – Agree to no violence
Regardless of which side you are on, regardless of your grievances, regardless of what has happened in the past, we all can agree that violence is not acceptable. Whatever difference that you have with any person, group, or side, it is not worth turning to violence. Your group winning is not worth violence.
The priority is for as many people as possible to commit to not participate in violence. It is vitally important that we make this commitment and set this expectation that there will not be violence.
This extends to also avoiding using words and stirring emotions that can make violence more likely. To ensure that violence does not become a problem, there several other related behaviors that people should additionally commit to:
Not encourage the use of violence through what we say or do
Not spread hate and anger that could encourage violence
Not let anyone push you to behave violently for any ‘reason’
Not let politicians, media, and others use division, anger, and hate to get us to forget our commitment to not behave violently.
Not let the extremism of the ‘other side’ to drive you to violence
The only instances in which violence should ever be considered are in saving a life. These are instances that are extreme and rare, and the need for responding would be obvious to an objective observer.
#2 – Be prepared to resist violence
The division in the US is deepening and conflicts are much more prevalent. Increasingly, conflicts are happening on the streets, at school meetings, at polling places, in homes, an much more.
While we may all intend on not being violent, situations can happen that increase your risk of being caught up in violence. An argument can become heated; a person could say something offensive; a threat could be made. An event that you attend can become violent and your emotions can overcome you. The best of us can be overcome by a situation and be drawn into a violent conflict that did not have to happen.
There are some basic principles that can be followed to reduce your risk:
Set intention/goal in advance to avoid/prevent violence
Check to see if there’s a problem in advance of an event
Don’t put yourself at risk (or others)
Don’t attempt to de-escalate if you don’t feel safe doing so
Don’t escalate anything, don’t allow yourself to be incited
Don’t get in an argument
Cool your own friends down, pull away
Everything that reduces tensions (or doesn’t increase) is success
Preparation can help everyone to reduce the risk of being caught up in violence. This can involve planning for events, having people with you to help, and preparing scripts that can be practiced and said during times of conflicts. Scripts could include phrases like:
We’re thinking about the wrong things right now.
Everything’s cool, you’re ok.
We’re good, let it go, we’re done.
Think about your family.
Let’s cool down, shift gears. Step back for a minute.
You’re better than this.
Let’s take a break.
We have differences. You do you, I’ll do me.
We all love this country we can settle things our differences by voting
We're not going to fight
We're not going to support anyone who encourages violence and treat people like an enemy.
I don’t support people that support violence. They are not someone to be followed
You are who you are and that's great.
Politicians have not helped. You've been ignored.
We can stop now; we want everyone to be safe here.
You both have a point. Violence is not needed here.
#3 – We must understand violent speech and violence as contagious and extremely dangerous
Perspective on recent speech, violence, and events
Don’t get caught up - A spiral of reciprocal radicalization, Recognizing and avoiding extremism on both sides
See the signs. What's happening in plain sight. The 4 alarm fires. The inflection points. Warnings from abroad.
Look for off ramps
The Dangers If Violent Speech Is Not Challenged
Violence more prevalent, part of everyday life
Children grow up with… and grow up to …
These will become more and more frequent, normal, accepted, and we all suffer
#4 – Condemnation and consequences for violence and for hateful, and inciting speech
If dangerous speech is not challenged, it will continue, exponentially grow, and spread. As the speech is not challenged, people saying the dangerous statement understand that they can get away with it and can often do it more, with more extreme language. Other who see that the speech is not only not challenged, but effective in getting attention, will copy and expand the dangerous speech. Much of his has been apparent over the last 5 years or more.
If dangerous speech is not challenged, the consequences will be that there will be much more violent speech and, much more extreme and directed violent speech. There is significant danger, and there are already many instances, where this speech has incited violence including killing of people. These will become more and more frequent, normal, accepted, and we all suffer. In this environment, violence could become much more prevalent and part of everyday life. Children will grow up in more violence schools and communities and will grow up to a more violent world.
These statements cannot be come normalized. Groups of people and individuals should not be targeted for threats, fear, and violence by the state or vigilantes. We can interrupt and reverse the progression to a more violent world.
To prevent dangerous speech from becoming more common, there needs to be abundant condemnation of the statement and there needs to be real consequences for people who say things that encourage violence. We should not move on until it is condemned. We should demand condemnation.
This condemnation needs to come from all sides, and most especially from the side of the person making the statement. Failure to condemn should be understood as dangerous and leading to a normalization of violence and should also be condemned.
For speech that is that is dangerous, people should face consequences that are real.
#5 – Media coverage of violence, division and dangerous speech should change
Media should understand that they play a significant role in showing and spreading violence and dangerous speech. Media can do much better. There needs to be guidelines, guides, and training on recognizing what is dangerous and how it should be reported on.
#6 – On social media we should all avoid any arguments.
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[1] https://www.brookings.edu/blog/order-from-chaos/2021/04/09/how-hateful-rhetoric-connects-to-real-world-violence/
[2] https://injepijournal.biomedcentral.com/track/pdf/10.1186/s40621-021-00357-3.pdf
[3] https://injepijournal.biomedcentral.com/track/pdf/10.1186/s40621-021-00357-3.pdf
[4] https://injepijournal.biomedcentral.com/track/pdf/10.1186/s40621-021-00357-3.pdf
[5] https://injepijournal.biomedcentral.com/track/pdf/10.1186/s40621-021-00357-3.pdf
