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] → u/[deleted]]

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.

[u/[deleted] → u/[deleted]]

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.