Like the conspiracy theorists at the height of the pandemic, anti-tram opponents have been unleashed on social networks this week, littering the Internet with defamatory comments, each more demeaning than the last, especially after a publication by the former candidate for mayor of Quebec, Anne Guerette.
Given the content of the derogatory comments we found under his posting on the site, she asked why she had not removed them.
To find out her position and intentions regarding these particularly vile comments about me, yesterday morning I contacted Anne Guérette, who has become a columnist at CHOI Radio X.
Ms. Guérette initially told me that in this publication, in a column in LCN, she had simply said that she strongly disagreed with my comments. She then admitted that she saw the comments last night before going to bed, that “it wasn’t very nice” but that she has “other things to do too,” that she “never moderates anyone” and that she has no control their social networks.
She then adds that she has intervened a few times in the past but “maybe escaped this time.”
The former mayoral candidate also told me that she “doesn’t know these people at all,” that she “eats them every now and then,” and that she “doesn’t worry about them anymore.” “But if I can help you, I’ll be happy.”
- Listen to the column from Karine Gagnon, political columnist for JDM and JDQ QUB radio :
Rain of insults, no argument
For example, in the post, which had nearly 150 comments at the start of Friday, most men called me a pig, an empty pot, fat, sour, cocksucker, and so on.
My appearance is attacked, my credibility and professionalism are attacked, but without ever arguing for it. People insult and shout scorn at length and attack the fact that I am a woman. One constant: Everything that is conveyed has nothing at all to do with a debate about ideas. We find ourselves in a situation of ease and intimidation, hidden behind a screen.
Contrary to what Ms. Guérette claims, “stopping worrying about it” is not a good idea. On the contrary, we really need to address it and take action to stop it.
This involves moderating comments on our publications, deleting them if necessary and blocking people who insult instead of arguing. A few hours after my call, several comments were deleted, but insults remained.
MARCEL TREMBLAY/AGENCE QMI
I salute you, bitch
I invite the former mayoral candidate to listen to the excellent documentary “I salute you bitch” by Léa Clermont-Dion and Guylaine Maroist, about misogyny in the digital age.
Shown in around fifteen countries, the film tells the story of four women whose lives were turned upside down by waves of sexist cyberharassment. This is exactly the kind of wave I experienced under his release.
If Anne Guérette is aware of this, perhaps she can understand that we cannot afford to take such incidents on social networks lightly.
