What can be done about racist, sexist and hate comments posted online?

     

     

     

     This question posted by CTV Atlantic Morning Live in which I'm a avid watcher. Now, usually I read the question and may or may not participate. Upon reading just a couple of comments I was furious with the outlook some people were openly willing to share. I know we are evolving but have we done so in a good way? Below without the names of the submitter are answers they publicly posted on Facebook;

"People need to grow thicker skin!!"

"Absolutely nothing.. if you don't like what you see, delete or ignore it."

"Not very much it's called freedom of speech"

     Just to be completely clear, I am all for freedom of speech but, DO YOU believe this give you the right to give racist,hateful or sexist remarks? Do you have to go back to Kindergarden where they currently teach if within sane mind it would make a person feel bad it's wrong? One day we say it's ok and the next someone who has gone as far as they feel they can handle it and either harms themselves physically and possibly even takes it as far as suicide. The same person whom said it's ok now thinks it never should have happened!

     Words hurt, these comments being made only a day after a huge campaign by Bell for Mental Health raising over 5 million dollars for issues like depression and so on. I would like to feel that society is moving forward in good ways and to be honest in a lot of ways it is, however, in this regard we are falling drastically short. People reading this who know me may say, "well you have a wife whom suffers from depression", or "your just coming through a hard time of your own and are just being overly sensitive." Someone has to be, would be my answer! If you have social media sites today which is big business than the prerequisite should be to have moderators or software in place to keep this from happening. The ones that make it through the cracks need to be reported and discipline should be taken.