Comments for Branding Iron Online

Comment on Scandal hurts battle against rape culture by Rachel

Rachel — Thu, 02 May 2013 15:16:06 +0000

Yeah, the police only issue citations to guilty people when they have 100% solid proof. No one is ever found innocent after a trial, because the police have never, ever issued a citation to someone who didn’t do it. No one is ever released from prison after months, years, decades after it is proven to be innocent after having been convicted of a crime.
Never, ever, ever. The police are infallible. Honestly, I don’t even know why we have a judicial system, because the police are never wrong. We should just lock people up after the police write them a citation, because gosh darn it if they’re not 100% guilty.

You’re being ridiculous. The presumption of innocence and the judicial process are what separates this great country from the sh*t shows in the rest of the world.

Brought to you by a loud-mouth liberal.

Comment on Scandal hurts battle against rape culture by Tyrone Jackson

Tyrone Jackson — Thu, 02 May 2013 11:49:32 +0000

“..if the accusations are true…”

The police would not have issued a citation unless they had solid proof. Facebook records everything anyone does who has contact with their website including what they looked at and for how long, what they typed, location info and machine identifiers. It’s trivial to prove what the police are saying.

Comment on Scandal hurts battle against rape culture by Rachel

Rachel — Thu, 02 May 2013 02:19:24 +0000

She won’t be going to court on May 13 because she filed a written ‘not guilty’ plea, that means that the arraignment, set for May 13 will be vacated and her case will be set for a scheduling conference, maybe a month out.
The courts in Laramie don’t hold trials the first day someone comes to court, there’s a whole process. If the case proceeds to a trial it probably wouldn’t be until late Summer/ Fall.
Until then, she’s presumed innocent of the charge of interference and I think we’d all do well to remember that.

Comment on Scandal hurts battle against rape culture by Concerned Patriot

Concerned Patriot — Wed, 01 May 2013 23:57:51 +0000

I don’t have a dog in this hunt, but in this country we are innocent until proven guilty. Accusations are not convictions.

Comment on Scandal hurts battle against rape culture by Jason Stenar Clark

Jason Stenar Clark — Wed, 01 May 2013 18:35:27 +0000

After a preliminary opening with a couple of paragraphs that place the charges against Mrs. Lanker-Simons, this proceeds as an unfair and uncritical indictment of her. She has stated that she is going to plea not guilty and no court has convicted her of anything. This is just irresponsible journalism and you should apologize for it. Why don’t we wait for this process to play out?

Comment on Students protest UW Crushes by Maggie

Maggie — Wed, 01 May 2013 16:17:43 +0000

The decision to organize a demonstration may have been catalyzed by one particular comment; however, comments were submitted daily to the UW Crushes Facebook page that used violent, hostile, and objectifying language. Posts threatening sexual violence and perpetuating rape culture poorly disguised as “crushes” were innumerable and several students felt unsafe. It is incredibly important to note that Monday’s demonstration was in no way organized by an individual or even an RSO. It was a truly organic creation that happened when many people with concerns over the site and the rape culture it perpetuates came together to take action. Individuals heard of the rally and wanted to be involved. As activists and proponents of equality and love, the battle against rape culture is one that must be fought every day. We support all efforts to dismantle rape culture and applaud the solidarity of all of the students who stood together during Monday’s rally.

Comment on Scandal hurts battle against rape culture by KimFromKorea

KimFromKorea — Wed, 01 May 2013 16:01:45 +0000

She will:

-Get off with minimal punishment, using the argument that any harsh punishment would intimidate others from reporting rape/harassment, historically this defense works.

-Increase her following among feminists, who will choose to believe she was “framed” by the “patriarchy” / misogynist police, regardless of any evidence that can be shown against her.

You hoped that Lanker-Simons will be pleased with herself, and she will be, she now has a guaranteed place among, at the very least, the radical end of feminism and can look forward to a lucrative career in blogging after she receives her slap on the wrist.

Public confidence in feminism however will take another hit, as it should as long as people in it are encouraging this sort of behavior.

Comment on Students protest UW Crushes by Ron Schriner

Ron Schriner — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 16:02:59 +0000

While I can respect the message attempted to be communicated with the protesters, then again with this article. None the less I do believe there may be a more graceful way of communicating, do we forget that children see your paper, such as my 9 year old daughter and why must you post the picture of a sign with the words HATE – F*#%? I understand some of you may not have children or still may be children yourself? I also understand you have freedom of press, but have some dignity and make your paper readable to all age groups not just 20-25, don’t you want to reach more people? The exact same message you are trying to make can be made without the foolish lack of thought. If anything your poor ability to edit has become a distraction to the message being given. I am the business director of a business overseeing 65+ employees here in Laramie, we have always been happy to support UWYO and have a stack of branding iron papers by our front door. I am sorry to say lately that decision does not seem so business friendly since you should understand why I don’t want the words HATE – F*#% to be the first thing people see as they enter our building.

Thank you for your time.

Comment on Loose gun laws lead to more violence by Lucas

Lucas — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 15:30:30 +0000

I can’t keep my mouth shut any longer. I understand that opinion articles are exactly that, opinion. But if an opinion article is going to be written in a newspaper, it better have good logic. I understand Chelsi Semler may not be as educated as other writers in other news organizations, but she’s in college, and needs to think a little more before she publishes something. “most day to day violence involves guns” which she uses to prove her point that its guns that cause violence, while brushing off the argument that its the people that pull the trigger. “in our country we have regulations and laws for many other things, so why is it such a problem to have stricter gun regulations”. and compares guns to tobacco, and alcohol. If Chelsi’s assumption that guns cause violence is correct, then why does the state of Wyoming have a lower crime rate than other cities like Chicago, who have stricter gun laws? Wyoming has some of the most guns per capita in the united states! Now, lets look at what people do to cause violence. I don’t know what she was trying to do when she brought up that what flies in Wyoming doesn’t fly in new york, while telling us Wyoming doesn’t have as strict of gun laws. This point seems to only support the fact that guns don’t kill people. So next time explain yourself. I will say what works in Denmark won’t work in the U.S.A. two very different countries. And then to say that the USA should be an exemplary social democratic society like Denmark….. Denmark is a constitutional monarchy, in case you were wondering. Then she alludes that our second amendment right was for hunting and sporting activities only. Do the research on why the second amendment is there! It is there in order to keep the United States Militia run by the people of the united states. It was there so that the Militia is not run on those in government alone. It was there so that corruption and tyranny would not enter the government, because of fear of leaving the voice of the people. It is there for the long term checks and balances, so that we can prevent the need for a war of independence on our own soil. If you don’t believe me Chelsi, read up on it. Don’t read what people today tell you what it is, look up the words of those who founded it, look at the surrounding history of the event. It is black and white on what they meant, there is no grey area. Don’t ignorantly rely on the words of the media, or the words of some leaders of this country. Education is essential for the future of the United States.

Comment on North Korea’s threat level remains uncertain by Carl Thayer

Carl Thayer — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 23:12:54 +0000

North Korea is a joke. Pretty much everything Kim Jung-eun says is for domestic consumption. The only country that has anything to fear from North Korea is South Korea, and the South is so heavily protected by the US that it will never happen. China would never back North Korea in a war.