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NYPD Compared To The Nazi’s ‘Gestapo’ On Social Media

Adam — Tue, 28 Dec 2021 20:51:10 +0000

The NYPD enforces Covid related restrictions in Big and draws comparisons to the Gestapo … [+]Apple (Photo taken by Noam Galai/Getty Images).

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Although it was common to draw comparisons between Nazism and Third Reich elements long before the advent of social media, this is increasingly being used to criticize authorities for enforcing rules they don’t like. This has been the norm for many decades. However, it increased under the Trump administration. It was also directed against Democratic mayors and governors who ordered lockdowns in relation to the Covid-19 epidemic.

On Tuesday, a comparison of the New York Police Department (NYPD) was made by conservative commentator Todd Starnes to the infamous Gestapo, the secret police created by Hermann Göring in 1933. According to Starnes, patrons in a Brooklyn restaurant were made to leave when they refused to produce their vaccination papers.

Starnes (@toddstarnes), shared via Twitter a link that included his comment, including the headline: “It’s A Sad Day In America When Police Behave like the Gestapo.”

Podcaster Benny Johnson shared the footage with the caption, “Evil.” Gestapo. KGB. NYPD attacking a 5-year-old eating pizza. You oathbreakers need to take your badges off. New York City has failed as a state.

In the early hours of the afternoon, there were more than 100,000 tweets discussing the phrase “Gestapo.” Many people claimed police actions are what started Black Lives Matters. While others suggested the false equivalency.

Johnny Akzam, activist (@JohnnyAkzam), was one of those to attempt to resolve the problem writing: “I don’t believe people realize their inconsistencies. Introspection, please. Thin-blue conservatives pissed off at police officers for applying vaccine mandates. While they gassed and attacked lawful protesters, they didn’t call them Gestapo.

Will Black, @WillBlackWriter, also addressed the issue. He tweeted, “People supporting a racist president that gained power with help from far-right Bannon. far-right Breitbart. and Nazis like Richard Spencer, aren’t coming off well by using words such as Gestapo.”

This case raises the question of whether these comparisons to some of history’s most evil, corrupt and insidious regimes should be made. On social media it is easy to make slurs of the opposing side, such as “Nazi” and “Gestapo”, especially when they are not supportive.

It is difficult to believe that few know more than the TV shows and movies about Gestapo. Gestapo was actually administered by RSHA, the Reich Security Main Office. This office played an important role in the Holocaust. The International Military Tribunal (IMT), which began in November 1945, declared it a criminal organization.

During its history, there had been strict protocols at protecting the identity of Gestapo field personnel, and an operative was only required to present his warrant disc without personal information or picture identification – so the comparison to a uniformed police force is also largely misplaced.

Amy Bennett is an ex-managing editor at two local newspapers and holds a master’s degree in journalism.

“And when we weaken language around issues that involve injustice and atrocious acts against groups of people, we do humanity, history and – most importantly – those initially harmed a disservice,” added Bennett, who has also taught in the field of journalism and public relations for 15 years at a private institution. The Internet is a catalyst for these situations, as it allows those with the same immature languages standards to interact and join together, amplifying what they are expressing.

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How Social Media Makes Navigating New York a Walk in the Park

Teddy Hunt — Wed, 18 Dec 2013 11:00:54 +0000

New York City is a sprawling metropolis filled with countless things to do and places to see. In the city that never sleeps, 8.3 million people are holding art shows, dining out, attending concerts, and doing chores at all hours of the day. How can you keep up with so many things happening 24/7?

Whether you’re a native or just stopping by to see the sights, these five social media-powered apps can help you navigate The Big Apple.

It Helps You Navigate Subways

Image via Flickr by rafaj

The Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) maintains 6,311 subway cars, 24 subway lines, and 659 miles of track—a dizzying number of interlocking parts for anyone not familiar with subterranean mass transit. Luckily, apps like KICKMap NYC Subway Map are available on most smart phones and take guesswork out of the subway equation. This handy app provides day and evening maps, step-by-step directions for transferring between lines, and GPS tracking to help you figure out where you are and where to go next. You can even share directions with friends via e-mail, Twitter, or Web Link.

It Finds You Things to Do

Image via Flickr by jenschapter3

Your social media news feeds are prime locations for scoping out fun things to do in New York. Some companies devote entire blogs and magazines to advertising all sorts of interesting events in the worlds of film, theater, music, nightlife, and more. Time Out New York, for example, neatly tags and organizers every social gathering you can imagine in the Big Apple by type, date, price, popularity, and more. They also compile thousands of restaurant, bar, and venue reviews. Of course, you’ll want to make sure your devices are hooked up to a reliable internet connection as New York is easier to navigate via web-based resources.

It Keeps Your Belly Full

Image via Flickr by ayesamson

No trip to New York City is complete without a sampling of the fine international cuisine on practically every block. But why make the trip across town to find just the dish you were looking for when you can easily place your order online and have it delivered. Seamless does exactly that. All you have to do is think of what you’d like to eat, type in your address, and peruse the 12,000 delivery/carry-out menus in their archives. Friend them on Facebook to find exclusive deals and plenty of ideas if you’re not quite sure what to order.

It Makes Central Park a Walk in the… Well, You Know

Image via Flickr by vagueonthehow

The 840-acre Central Park in the heart of New York City offers citizens an oasis of natural beauty and peaceful escape from the concrete jungle. It’s one of the most popular and storied parks in the entire United States and as such offers plenty to do. Central Park NYC Lite for iPod/iPhone contains a repository of over 100 points of interest in the park, including detailed stories about landmarks like Bethesda Fountain, Shakespeare Garden, and Belvedere Castle. Even if you’re not a history buff, you can still use the app for simpler things, like locating the nearest restroom.

It Helps You Meet New People

Image via Flickr by Sheconomy®

Moving to a big city by yourself can be daunting and alienating, especially if you don’t know anyone when you arrive. Lucky for you, groups like the New York Social Network organize activities nearly every day of the week. You’ll see everything from karaoke get-togethers to wine tasting tours to volunteer night at the homeless shelter. Regardless of what the occasion, NYSN’s main goal is to help people, single or not, to expand their social circles and meet new friends. This kind of networking is your most valuable asset while you’re trying to navigate the most populated city in the US. Locals can help lead you to new and exciting places and activities you might not have discovered otherwise, or could even put in a good word for you and help you find a job.

New York City is a place unlike any other. Utilize the power of social networking apps so you can make the most of your time in the Big Apple.

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SMX Social Media To Provide Actual Networking

Jason Falls — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 03:12:37 +0000

Browsing the web tonight I checked in at Search Engine Land to read Danny Sullivan’s preview of the upcoming Wikipedia Clinic he’s leading at SMX Social Media in New York City. I’m attending the conference and am anxious to learn. It’s one of those agenda’s web geeks like me get jittery just thinking of all the cool stuff we’ll be able to absorb, discuss and blog about. (Click here to register your own self.)

What’s almost more exciting is finally getting to put faces with names … er, better put, blogs. Not only will I get to meet Sullivan, a pioneer in the field of what we do, but others I’ve found that are scheduled to present include Rand Fishkin and Neil Patel, who will present the opener, a seminar entitled, “Social Media Marketing Essentials.”

Then I’ll get the Linkbait treatment from Sullivan with panelists Brent Csutoras, Rebecca Kelly and Cameron Olthuis.

After lunch there’s Sullivan moderating Patel, Chris Winfield and Rusty Brick’s Tamar Weinberg on a Social News Sites panel. The late afternoon session on the Marketer’s Guide to Social Bookmarking and Tagging will feature Patel and Michael Gray of Atlas Web Service, then we’ll bow down and worship Garret Camp and Joshua Schachter, founders of StumbleUpon and del.icio.us, respectively.

And that’s day one.

Day two in a nutshell? I’ll get to absorb knowledge from the likes of Cindy Krum, Dave McClure, Helen Overland, Sarah Hofstetter, Rob Key, Adam Sherk, Liana Evans, Lise Broer, Jonathan Hochman, Matt McGee, Stephan Spencer and Don Steele of Comedy Central, among others. The last six and Patel will make up the Wikipedia Clinic Sullvan blogs about.

Needless to say, I’m pretty excited about going. The opportunity to learn and share is enough. The fact I’ll actually put down my laptop (and Blackberry) and do some real, live networking is icing on the cake.

If you haven’t registered, you should. If you’re going, drop me a line. Let’s meet up and compare notes.

And while we’re at it, what the most fun you’ve had in the Big Apple? I lived there for two years but haven’t returned since I left in 1998. Tell me what I should take in during my return visit, besides the obligatory tribute-paying at Ground Zero (that’s a given since my Jersey City-to-PATH-to-subway route took me through the WTC each day).

Where should I go?

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