Imagine my surprise when someone requested to be friends with me on Yelp today, and I find out that he is writing extremely hurtful and bigoted remarks about me in one of his “reviews”. Not only did he post the review, but after it was taken down, he was allowed to remain member of Yelp, AND, re-posted a similar version of the review just a few minutes later.
Here’s what he said (the first time around), in “response” to my review of my experience at Green’s Liquor store:
After reading Duane M. review of Green’s Beverage Store, I had to fire back. I visit Green’s Beverage store once or twice a month. Everyone there has always been very nice and helpful.
However, I have never carried a purse and I don’t understand why a man would. You said you are not a woman, but after reading all your reviews you sure do act and bitch like a woman. Come on, we all know that someone that wants to homosexualize America likes to pretend that he is a woman. Perhaps Duane should take the dildo out of his ass!! Fucking pussys like you make me sick. When you choose to suck another man’s dick or take some guys cock up your ass, you become a 2nd class citizen. You have no right to ever bitch. Please keep your mouth shut and get back into the closet.
hmmmm, and you wonder why most of America hates gays.
So eloquent. Let’s look at the face of a true bigot, and oh so clearly one of the highest forms of complete and total asshole, Jake P. of Dacula, GA, shall we:
Just take it in… all that asshole-ishness is almost too much to contain. By the way, nice lip gloss, Jake.
Now, the review was flagged, and eventually taken down, and I didn’t even know about it until I randomly read this thread. However, Yelp allowed him to post another review, very similarly filled hate speech as the first one:
After reading Duane M. review that he likes to dress up like a woman and wants to homesexualize American, I had to do something. I go into Green’s a few times a month and everyone is very nice and helpful.
But, Duane with his fag bag is acting like a little bitchy woman.
Perhaps if Duane got his dildo out of his ass, all of America would be a better place to live in. Duane what you wrote about Green’s was pure hateful, you being a little light in the loafers should understand what is it to be hated.
You are not a woman, your worse. Your a 2nd class citizen, start acting like one.
That second review was even better, Jake flexes his superior knowledge of all things grammar (um, it’s you’re, sweetness, not your).
While this will probably be taken down as well (I’m fairly certain it has of this posting), I can’t help but question why Yelp would allow someone like this to remain a member of their site? As a member of Yelp for YEARS, I was honestly considering deleting everyone of my reviews and publicly declaring myself against their organization; especially because they did not initially seem to have much concern for their members (if only because this guy was allowed to go on posting hate speech, even after he was “punished” for doing it the first time). Not only am I extremely offended by the bigot that was allowed to spread his hate about me without any repercussion (on a public website that I am willingly a part of), but I am even more upset that they there was very slow response to one member of their site clearly gay bashing another (my point being that he was allowed to continue using the site with no restriction).
Well, I sent this post to the Atlanta Ambassador for Yelp, and I got an answer and a clear and expected response, and they are taking care of it. That is a major plus in the Yelp column. As I mentioned above, I considered severing ties with Yelp, because I have had enough people call me a faggot to my face during my lifetime, to continue supporting a web service that just gives someone the platform to do it to me on the internet. However, because of Yelp’s positive and proactive actions, I will not go that far. HOWEVER, and that is a BIG however, I still think that people like this should be banned from the site after a post as bad as his was; 3 strikes is clearly 2 too many with things like this. A first offense of this nature should not be tolerated. If you are clearly bashing another member of the site, do you really deserve a chance to keep contributing? It honestly destroys my hope for humanity when people like this rear their ugly heads, and spread their hatred for all to see.
UPDATE: BANNED. Yelp wins. AWESOME. Thank you YELP!!! I really makes me happy that Yelp takes things like this seriously.
Yeah, you’re right… being gay isn’t all that bad anymore. Being second class isn’t that big of a deal. Things are just swell for us, and we should stop complaining. RIIIIGHT.
Well I don’t think it’s necessarily fair to ban someone after one post like that (although we don’t know how many others he’s made), but if he’s a repeat offender then he should definitely he banned.
The gay bashers sure do like to talk about dildos, cocksucking, and asses.
@Shan: well, he posted it twice. BAN.
@Rusty: And he sure loves the lip gloss too.
I got banned from Yelp for reviewing adult establishments. Reach out to someone directly- I am certain they will react.
@CDX: The Atlanta Yelp Ambassador is taking this to the CEO. She is basically my new hero.
your evil plan has worked! Your carrying a bag in public has totally turned me gay! All the way up in New York
I’m sorry this jackhole cost you even one second of you time. I wish he would get off the planet and do us all a favor. You would think someone who has more than likely experienced the evil face of discrimination in his life (I’m guessing) would be loathe to perpetuate the cycle, but no. I hope more people take the time to let Yelp know that this type of person should be banned and not be allowed to interact with human civilization in any way.
This guy is OBVIOUSLY very confused about his sexuality and he probably desperately wants to be gay, but he’s been conditioned to be “hard core” and let’s face it, hip-hop culture (which he appears to be swimming in) isn’t exactly pro-gay right now. (There was a great episode of Boondocks about this actually.) While I don’t agree with him attacking you like this, I almost feel sorry for him. You represent what he wants to be. You are who YOU want to be, you love who YOU want to love, not whomever society says it’s ok for you to. You are so much more brave than he could ever be. So he hides behind a false bravado and attacks you for having the strength he does not. Don’t let him get to you, just recognize that he’s doing this out of jealousy. That’s the only logical reason for him to target you. Of course, bigots aren’t always the most logical, so maybe he actually is just a sad, ignorant little man, but if I were to wager, I’d say he’s a classic closet case self-loather.
So to recap, you rock, he sucks.
@Theo: The bag, it does it every time!
Perhaps that’s what he’s worried about!!!
Thanks Kai!!
His lip gloss is most definitely NOT poppin’
“pussy” “bitch” “light in the loafers” “2nd class citizen” “you make me sick” “get back in the closet” and the list goes on
and YOU are the hateful one? I’m so confused.
But ya know what? I’d rather have people like this than the ones that smile to your face b/c they know they’d be publicly mocked if they spoke their views. At least he’s honest… dumb.. but honest.
Hey hey y’all! I’m the Atlanta Yelp Community Manager, just wanted to let you know that this guy’s account has been banned so we won’t have to see his vitriol ever again!
Thanks for the concern.
Oh, and Duane… YOU are my hero.
Duane,
You should send your story to the ACJ or is it the AJC (Atlanta Constitution Journal). This is a story that is ripe for the readers of Atlanta. Congrats for standing strong against hatred and bigotry.
Cheers,
Tim
I am guessing but this guys antics could border on terrorism? You should report him to the government. It could get interesting….
I thought he also managed to be a misogynist in that post when he said, “You said you are not a woman, but after reading all your reviews you sure do act and bitch like a woman.” so the logic is: Your Yelp review = faggy = like a women = bad.
And then the wonky logic that you should START acting like a 2nd class citizen. Wasn’t he already saying you are.
Poor guy accusing you of low testosterone while he has super-low gray matter.