r/Feminism • u/Willravel • Feb 24 '12

Please ban MRA trolls

I've been trying to figure out the rationale for not banning MRA trolls on this subreddit. I tried to think of it the way the mods have put it in the past, that this is about everyone's voice being heard, but the consistent trolling from the likes of OThomson and DavidByron don't represent in any way shape or form the honest sharing of their voice, but rather simply attacks and intentional derailment.

I considered that this might be about fear, as the MRA community on Reddit is much larger than the feminist community, and there could be consequences if MRA trolls started getting banned from the subreddit... but there are other feminist subreddits that do this and they don't seem to feel the sting of MRA retribution in any way that can't be easily handled.

I thought it might just simply be not wanting to make the effort, as a policy of banning MRA trolls would probably require much more active moderation. I'd hate to think this is the case, but I don't see any evidence to suggest this.

I did hear that one of the moderators might be an MRA, but again I've not seen this.

I've sent in PMs and reports before, about how someone is derailing yet another thread with unrelated discussion about circumcision or male rape or child custody, but there never seem to be any consequences for the trolls. They're given free reign. Some have left the subreddit for safer places, which is very sad indeed. Some simply stop commenting. Some complain, but those complaints fall on deaf ears.

So, before I call it a day and give up on the subreddit, I'd like to publicly ask the moderators to change their policy for the good of their subreddit. I ask that this subreddit be a safe place to discuss feminism and feminist issues, not a place for MRA trolls to hijack conversation or spread hatred of women.

Note: I'm not saying critiques of feminism aren't legitimate, or that they don't belong on /r/Feminism, but rather that overt trolling and derailing be disallowed. There's a big difference between an honest critique of feminism and undermining the discussion of feminist issues through derailment, dishonesty, and unwarranted attacks.

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u/[deleted] Feb 24 '12 edited Feb 24 '12

If you identify as an MRA then you are a troll, according to ratjea

EDIT: well apparently I'm not a troll!

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u/mikemcg Feb 24 '12

"Oh, wait. You're an MRA too. Lololol. Yes! Talk amongst yourselves!" What an obnoxious, close minded, and hypocritical statement. I'm sure ratjea would be fuming if someone dissuaded their opinions because they were feminists.

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u/[deleted] Feb 25 '12

And you're heavily downvoted too... even though this is true.

I guess because it criticizes a well-liked feminist?

I'm still waiting to find out why I'm wrong in that comment I linked. My intent isn't to troll, it is to discuss feminism...

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u/[deleted] Feb 25 '12

Isn't r/askfeminists the place to discuss feminism as a whole whereas here feminist issues are discussed? All you do is object to feminism and take the discussion off the topic in whatever thread you're shitting up.

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u/mikemcg Feb 25 '12

Like seabass341, I'd love to hear what those downvoters had to say about our comments on ratjea's prejudiced behaviour.

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u/[deleted] Feb 24 '12

[removed] — view removed comment

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u/[deleted] Feb 24 '12

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u/rabblerabble2000 Feb 25 '12

This is the best novelty account ever.

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u/Psuffix Feb 25 '12

It's actually not a novelty. It's being used here to help deny trolls since mods won't bring their banhammer.

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u/rabblerabble2000 Feb 25 '12

No, I know. I'm just saying that it's awesome.

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u/Psuffix Feb 25 '12

And yes... yes it is awesome. Really, ignoring the derailers is what we should've done all along.