PSA: How to Report Hate Speech & Threats on Substack
Don't just comment your support to the attacked, REPORT their attacker.
*the following includes an example of online threats of physical violence and bigoted slurs
So, you're creating on Substack—be it a post, note, podcast or chat—and then you get a comment notification.
Great!
A benefit of posting online is getting to have one-on-one immediate interaction with your audience. But it's also one of the drawbacks.
The comment received?
*please note this wasn't a comment I received*
That comment by—let's call him Bozo—was then followed by:
What could inspire such a response?
NOTHING
There is exactly nothing to justify this response from a male presenting Substacker and aimed at a woman—or anyone, really.
And please remember, “I need context” is the “what was she wearing” of internet discourse.
However, I will elaborate.
A woman on Substack posted a sarcastic quip/commentary about current events in a note—like we all did before Twitter went X.
Now, if I found their humor offensive, it's really easy to reply that I find the joke to be in poor taste. That's discourse, like grown-ass people should be engaging in.
But Bozo decided to jump right to terroristic threats of physical violence and misogynistic slurs.
This is different from the comments and DMs I get online.
The Bozo's that show up in my comments generally add racial slurs—also extremely popular with women of the global minority—to the misogyny and threats of sexual violence to—or instead of—any physical threats.
The most triggering content I share online is being Indigenous, including my Indigenous languages in my content, and any unvarnished, accurate United States history I include. It really brings the Bozos to my yard.
The original poster who got this Bozo's comment made light of the situation—as do most women targeted online—which is 100% her right to do. Her note, her Substack, her life.
Here's my issue.
Others seeing these comments decided to dunk on Bozo, mocking him and calling out how extreme his response was.
OK, and‽‽
I responded to this activity in the comments with:
“It's great to disparage this violent misogynist’s insults and threats. But it's clear this person adds nothing to the Substack discourse.”
“So after calling them out, REPORT THEM!”
If you're familiar with my writing, you know I check off multiple boxes for demographics of marginalized people. I've been earnestly asked more than once, “How can I be a better ally?”
Whelp…
“As a BIPOC woman, I don't JUST need a bunch of people in my post comments mocking my attackers who threaten physical or sexual violence against me. It's entertaining and affirming, but doesn't solve the core problem—people (usually men) making threats against BIPOC, women and other marginalized people online.”
Even if the target says it doesn't bother them, it is still unacceptable, ToS violating, targeted hate speech and terroristic threats.
I've previously written about how my being autistic acts as a bit of a Tataŋka čheslí (🦬💩) buffer. But just because I'm not devastated by or terrified of public threats of physical or sexual violence and the use of bigoted slurs, that doesn't mean I don't find the lack of visible, effective support from self-described allies disappointing.
Nor does it mean others aren't traumatized by these public displays.
If you're coming to my Substack comments or notes, I refuse to have you subjected to hate speech and threats of violence there as a witness or a target. Yes, the perpetrator can and will be deleted and blocked, but Mitakuyé Oyasin, people.
I bear a responsibility to protect the public discourse by reporting violence and hate speech on Substack whether it bothered me personally or not. One definition of privilege is deciding something isn't a problem for anyone because it isn't a problem for you.
Bozo's language isn't remotely subtle or open to interpretation. Oh, I'm sure if there are ever consequences his excuse will be he was “just joking” or “playing devil's advocate” or “just trying to make a point” or “wasn't serious,” etc…
But as I noted:
“You can guarantee this isn't the first or last person they'll threaten.”
So what—besides mocking Bozo—should witnesses do?
“Mock the fools, THEN hit the REPORT option, THEN let the person being attacked know you reported their attacker.”
“Report every one of their threats and attacks. In the optional text in the report form, make sure you report this person made threats of violence and used misogynistic slurs.”
You know what sucks?
Having a bunch of people online make note of the fact someone just vomited every racial slur they could conjure up interspersed with misogyny and capped off with a promise to come to your home to sexually assault and murder you on your timeline, then have exactly zero people comment “I've reported this person, everyone else should too, are you OK?”
A comment of “he sounds fun” or a dig at his masculinity or intelligence or mental stability might make the commenter feel good, but that helps the current target or any of his future targets how, exactly?
Report Hate Speech and Terroristic Threats—PERIOD!
But does everyone know how to report someone on Substack?
If you don't, you will now.
Step 1. select the 3 dot menu in the upper right (Notes) or lower right (Posts) of the comment to be reported ☆
Step 2: in pop-up menu, select❗️Report
Step 3: select Hate since threats of violence isn't an option
Step 4: add specifics of why you're reporting the content, then click Submit
Step 5: comment on original targeted post “Hate speech/threat reported, are you OK?”
If I just deleted and blocked all of my Bozo's attacks, then only I'm safe from them. But if everyone who sees the hate speech or threats on Substack reports it—not JUST the target—then maybe there will be fewer comments like this:
Hate speech and terroristic threats shouldn't be common or expected on Substack.
The next time you see it, report it.
Let’s take care of each other, please.
Philámayaye, Niawen'kó:wa, Thank you. 💛🤍🖤❤️
☆ When reporting a comment on a Post, after clicking the !Report option you're given a choice to report to that Substack's admins or to Substack staff for a ToS violation.
Hate speech and threats could get reported to both, if the Substack itself isn't the target of the attack. If someone was attacking others in my Post's comments, I'd want to know.
Thank you! I didn’t know how to do this before.
People like that absolutely need to be reported. I would also suggest not engaging with them at all. They're seeking attention. Even your most clever insult feeds them. Let them starve.