Walt Palmer, a dentist from Minnesota, and his bow and arrow are about to have an interesting week

The Internet mob that took it upon itself to try to destroy someone's life.

 

Here's the deal. Lots of things are legal but frowned upon by segments of society.

So if you are a businessman and engage in certain hobbies, you might want to consider the impact to your practice.

If Dr. Palmer really liked topless bars, would he plaster his practice with photos of Trixie and other friends he has helped put through college? Probably not.

If Dr. Palmer was a big time gambler, would he fill his Web page with photos of himself at the craps table or the slot machines? Probably not.

So if he likes to promote himself as a big-time trophy hunter and wants to display the head of a dead lion, I don't feel bad at all that it is biting him in the ass.

 

None of which justifies the shameful behavior of the lynch mob that formed this week on- and offline.

 

What's wrong with gambling?

 

I assume you're tracing this to the Justine Sacco case, but other than the fact that both involved Africa I don't see a lot of similarity.

This was horrible behavior, and a further examination revealed a pattern of horrible behavior by the guy. Too bad.

 

What I'm fine with: "Look at what this person did!"

What I'm not fine with: "Look at what this person did! Let's ruin him!"

It's ugly. It's vindictive. It's barbaric. It's vigilante-ism, pure and simple.

Sacco is a good comparison. So is the pizza parlor in South Bend, Indiana.

 

It has nothing to do with whether the Good Doctor deserves it or not.

It's kind of like the death penalty. Someone may deserve the death penalty. But the person supporting it, and particularly the state administering it, dishonors him or herself in the process, as well, independent of whether the target deserves the heat.

 

Besides the fact that you will probably lose money?

Could give your customers/patients the impression that you are out to fleece them so you can square up your markers at the casino.

 

What??

This analogy is terrible.

Oh, wait. You were talking about internet posters, who only need to not be read to be ignored, not Walt Palmer and what he did.

 

Maybe the pro-"choice" crowd can start having their fetuses stuffed and mounted on their walls.

 

No. The analogy is perfectly apt. Someone may deserve to be punished, even in a particular way, in the abstract. But just as the government nonetheless lowers itself by administering the death penalty, the Internet lynch mob lowers itself by administering vigilante justice in the case of the Good Doctor. It's not the state's job to put someone to death. And it's not the Internet's job to mete out the Good Doctor's punishment.

 

Solid comeback, T.

A tip: Putting "choice" in quotes adds an unnecessary level of subtextual disdain on your part and takes away from your larger and more compelling visual message.