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The Daily Campus Opinion Section is often home to many “controversial” takes, as our readers are ready to make clear. While it is the job of the journalist to be bold in their words and bravely add to public discourse, this can be, for better or worse… unappreciated! But any engagement is still engagement, and it’s nice to know that one’s writing can truly leave an impact on the reader. So, for today’s roundtable, our writers are going to answer the question: What has been your favorite hate comment on an Opinion article this year?
Patrick Minnerly, Associate Opinion Editor:
Since I write almost exclusively in the political sphere, I get a lot of, shall I say, fun comments. But my favorite hate comment of all time (which will never be topped) is actually an essay-length email from a certain UConn student arguing that, really, Epstein wasn’t as bad as people say he was. This was in response to an article from February that outlined the Trump administration’s gross mishandling of the Epstein files. The email managed to misunderstand my central point while defending a convicted sex offender. A bold hill to die on, my friend. It gave me a really good laugh. There’s so much more to say about it, but alas, for better or worse I’ll hold off.
Colin Hamilton, Weekly Columnist:
In February, I wrote an article explaining how Israel’s often-glorified environmental policy was being used to cover up their genocide of the Arab people. I expected it to generate hate comments. I did not expect it to generate a doomed romance between a “ProudZionistHusky” and a “AntiZionistHusky (Furry) (Mormon).” Though the exchange was too long to put in this round table, highlights include “grow some furry cajónes,” “I don’t go to UCONN, my fursona is just a husky named Watermelon” and “I respectfully frickin disagree fellow furry.” Though the two have yet to reappear, I know they are the up-and-coming stars of the next hit Hallmark movie.
Gianna Cassino, Weekly Columnist:
In December, I wrote an editorial imploring the university to cut ties with Avelo airlines after they began to charter ICE deportation flights. Somehow, it reached angry keyboard warriors across the country. Amidst a sea of cruel insults and pure nonsense, a commenter by the name of Fred simply commented “Stop.” No name-calling, not even a specification of who should stop and what they should stop doing (although I can infer it’s being directed at the Editorial Board.) I find a sort of beauty in its simplicity.
Alexander Renzulli, Staff Writer:
While I usually write about the human condition and topics less than controversial, I fear elevators are the tipping point for discourse in my comment section. I was tragically told in my article that “This is a textbook example of ableism. Shame on you, and shame on the editors.” I can confidently say I am not an ableist, but I guess you just have to go read the article now. Also, if anything, escalators are far more useless and if I find an able-bodied (heavy emphasis on that one) person refusing to walk up an escalator, push will come to shove. In a strictly metaphorical sense of course. Have a good week Huskies; muah.
Tamara Segal, Staff Writer:
I don’t know whether I should consider myself lucky or not for my small share of hate comments, but here is my one and only: “Delusional.” It appeared below an article where I maintained that the U.S. owes a massive climate debt, and honestly, I must commend the short-and-sweet approach. After all, it’s best to use the least words, so you minimize your chance of spelling them wrong.