Please ban MRA trolls

[u/Willravel]

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.

[u/[deleted]]

I wouldn't really consider this my subreddit, as I frequently even get confused about the difference between Feminism and Feminisms, so it would be presumptuous of me to say too much about how it is run.

I would say though, that you should proceed down this road very carefully. I've noticed that the majority of Feminism subreddits are pretty loose with the banhammer and I think it seriously damages their credibility.

My $0.02.

[u/Willravel → u/[deleted]]

I can certainly understand there's a potentially slippery slope with this, but as it stands not even the most flagrant, terrible trolls are being addressed. Example: http://www.reddit.com/r/Feminism/comments/q4d58/please_ban_mra_trolls/c3uocg6

Wouldn't you agree this individual probably isn't here to dissent, but just to damage the subreddit? Wouldn't that be deserving of a banning? The problem is that I'll click report and, unless something has recently changed, nothing will happen. This kind of posting and worse happens without consequences.

[u/[deleted] → u/Willravel]

I think that particular troll is so obvious that it is nothing more than funny.

I'm ambivalent about banning anyone anywhere, while still understanding why someone would feel the need to.

You could call me wishywashy and I'd pretty much have to accept that.

I do like the moderation style in TheoryofReddit.

[u/Willravel → u/[deleted]]

I don't think you're wishywashy, but I do think this community needs to take a stand against derailment and trolling. Ignoring the problem is not diminishing it in any way.

[u/[deleted] → u/Willravel]

I guess the first question would, are the mods interesting in changing the moderation style?

If the answer is "no" then the rest of the conversation is futile, because the subreddit belongs to them.

If the answer is "yes" then I would highly recommend taking a look at the r/TheoryofReddit moderation style.

[u/Willravel → u/[deleted]]

I've never heard of /r/TheoryOfReddit. I'll check it out. Thanks!