RULE 3.5READING / 3 PARAGRAPHS
Dog Whistles, Coded Hate & Plausible Deniability
Hateful meaning does not become acceptable because it is conveyed through numbers, euphemisms, flags, memes, fictional groups, “ironic” characters, or references that outsiders may not recognise.
Staff should evaluate recognised meaning, surrounding posts, target, repetition, and credible alternative explanations. An unfamiliar symbol is not punished merely because one person alleges a hidden meaning.
Once staff explain that a code is being used harmfully, repeating or slightly altering it demonstrates deliberate evasion. Educational discussion must identify the context without celebrating or recruiting around it.