Added: 02.05.2011 17:01
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Realism is not racism according to Homma Foorumi

Homma forum is significant Internet phenomenon in Finland. Discussion forum founded by group of Finnish internet writers who are critically commenting Finnish policy on immigration. According to writers the forum is only real discussion stage in Finland about immigration.

Elsewhere discussion are claimed to be flat and based on unrealism and ideological thinking. On other words seems like this forum has the real information about the immigrants and sophisticated opinions what Finnish think about current Finnish immigration policy. Forum has over 5 000 writers and more than 600 000 written messages. Active is one word to describe this forum. I followed forum during in a time period when Finnish parliament elections also took place. Since the immigration was the main theme of the 2011 Finnish elections so it sure was interesting time to be following discussions.

What I discovered following discussion forums was quite complicated situation. At first Homma forum don´t seem to be openly racist discussion forum. Discussions have a lot of variations and occasionally depth and based on things that writers have founded to be true or fact somewhere. There´s nothing wrong with that is there? No. After that situation gets rapidly complex and chaotic.

During my study I was able to be form a pattern that occurs thru the discussions. I have named it after according to Avatar, signature picture of one writer. The phenomenon I named “Realism is not racism”.

According to the forum writers this means that realism about effects of immigration for example of economical, social and security and crime rate are not racist acts. It´s only a way to be open and truthful and honest about this topic. According to their writings other people tend to live in a liberal dream that does not involve realistic views about what results from allowing immigration.

To me it seem like virtual internet world is trying to re-define definition of racism. The writers in Homma forum are really defensive about the term racism. The general atmosphere in the forum is heavy. If it´s possible somehow to prove the point that immigrants are costing Finland a lot of money and committing most of the crimes it´s posted in this forum and gets a lot of attention and support. Seem like the realism that writers are trying to present is mostly based on fear among foreigners.

This forum is a complex issue to deal with. Based on my study according the forum there are racism on the forum. But it´s not openly published in forum. It has turned whole immigration discussion into word play. The meanings behind words have turned into complex intellectual debate where it´s almost impossible to point out any open points and opinions. Questions are not answered directly. Issues are not discussed in an open atmosphere.

According to forum writers immigrants are not beneficial for Finnish society economically. Seems like it´s ok to be against certain religious group, skin colour and an ethnic group if it´s possible to prove it by facts. That is racism. ” Racism is the belief that there are inherent differences in people's traits and capacities which are entirely due to their race, however defined, and which consequently justify those people being treated differently, both socially and legally.”











Research question: What we consider to be racist content in Internet?

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