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An Anonymous Coward writes:

Controversy has surrounded the shooting of Michael Brown [wikipedia.org] from the moment it happened. SoylentNews did not escape this controversy. There was fierce debate [soylentnews.org] early on, before all of the evidence had been thoroughly considered. Later on, after the grand jury's findings were presented, there was more volatile discussion [soylentnews.org].

Some of the earliest SoylentNews discussion about this controversial incident happened nearly six months ago. As we approach this important milestone, we must look back on this discussion, how it developed, and how it has shaped our community here at SoylentNews.

When we read the earliest discussion, we see much misrepresentation of what was later found to be the truth. As the Wikipedia about the shooting states, "Shortly before the shooting, Brown robbed a nearby convenience store, stole several cigarillos, and shoved the store clerk." Yet as we re-read the discussion that took place here at SoylentNews, we find people who denied this basic fact, even in the face of indisputable video evidence.

A similar trend is observed with respect to how Michael Brown reached into Officer Wilson's vehicle and attempted to take the police officer's gun. As noted in the Wikipedia article about the incident, "Brown's DNA was found on the gun. His DNA was also found on the left thigh of Wilson’s pants and on the inside driver’s door handle of Wilson's police SUV, the result of Brown's blood spilled staining Wilson's pants and the door handle." But within the SoylentNews discussion we find examples of people who again refuse to accept some of these basic facts of the case.

Thoughout the discussion we also witnessed many accusations of racism, yet upon further examination nearly all of these accusations were obviously baseless. Those who faced the negative facts of the case head-on were unjustly labeled as bigots, yet now that the evidence is available we see that they were in fact correct, and did not exhibit bigotry.

It can be said, without a doubt, that the Michael Brown shooting and the discussion that followed here at SoylentNews was a significant event within the history of the SoylentNews community. It provoked anger, it provoked animosity, and it may have even brought some members to tears. As we look back upon this earlier discussion, there are many questions we should be asking ourselves. Chief among them are, Why did so many people here refuse to accept the facts of the case? Why were so many false accusations levelled against those who did accept the facts from the very beginning? Why did such a clear-cut incident end up causing so much strife and disagreement?

As SoylentNews readers and participants, what are your thoughts on this matter?

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Original Submission