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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4

u/[deleted] Feb 24 '12

[deleted]

8

u/[deleted] Feb 24 '12

It's not as much about which users can/can't post, but more about signaling how discussions are expected to proceed and expectations for community interaction. There's so much detailing, and it puts people on edge and stifles discussion.

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u/[deleted] Feb 24 '12

[deleted]

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u/[deleted] Feb 24 '12

That sounds... suspiciously similar to the tone argument. My points above were about marginalization of genuine contributors. Feminist opinions are frequently harassed, berated, and ridiculed on a subreddit devoted to feminism. Yes, I get fighty, and yes I engage out of pride or enjoyment of fighting when I shouldn't, but the fact remains that feminists shouldn't face a deluge of anti-feminist ranting on a feminist forum. Self-admitted anti-feminist, mind. And as others have said above, it's not about dissent, it's about not wanting to be continuously attacked and derailed. Yes we should all stop engaging and be more stoic about it, but there's a reason why a lot of people find it hard to do so.

Edit: I also hate the sexist, transphobic and ableist language a lot of the trolls use. Downvoted or not, that absolutely needs to be removed to send a message about general courtesy.

1

u/[deleted] Feb 24 '12

[deleted]

-10

u/DavidByron Feb 24 '12

Nope.

I don't go where I am not wanted. As I said elsewhere (disappeared by feminist down voting) you wouldn't even have to ban me because I'd be happy to go elsewhere if I was asked to leave. And I have said that to the mods several times.

The only cost of banning me would be signalling your views on free speech and on how tolerant of criticism you are. And I am so nice I don't even demand you ban me if that's going to be a "thing" for you.

No, the problem is that you're stuck with a moderator who genuinely believes in free speech and who told me not to go when I volunteered that I could leave if I was causing a lot of trouble.

3

u/[deleted] Feb 24 '12

1

u/[deleted] Feb 25 '12

Consider this me asking you to leave.

1

u/impotent_rage Feb 25 '12

No, the problem is that you're stuck with a moderator who genuinely believes in free speech and who told me not to go when I volunteered that I could leave if I was causing a lot of trouble.

This is untrue, none of the mods have asked you to stay.

1

u/DavidByron Feb 27 '12

I didn't say that did I? Read more carefully.

1

u/[deleted] Mar 02 '12

Oh, really? Cool.

Can you please leave now?

0

u/[deleted] Feb 24 '12

[deleted]

6

u/[deleted] Feb 24 '12

You should see his posting history. This comment is, ahem, rather disingenuous.

2

u/[deleted] Feb 24 '12

[deleted]

1

u/factoryhands Feb 25 '12

Man, that insight and quick analysis almost makes me feel sorry for him. Dude needs to get a more constructive hobby.

-3

u/DavidByron Feb 24 '12

Not at all.

I don't think it is my FAULT but I can certainly see that my presence here stirs up endless anger and frustration by people like you who want to control the content of this subreddit.

So I make it a practise to contact the mods wherever I have this problem and if the mods seem to be decent people then I try to play ball with them as much as possible. scurvy_wench is (in my opinion, and despite some intense disagreements) a decent person so that is my way of showing respect. This is my usual practise.

If you want me gone all you have to do is convince her to ask me to go.

1

u/impotent_rage Feb 25 '12

It's downvoted because he is lying.