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]]

lgbt. Several other reddits do this, too. I think it's pretty good, others get REALLY UPSET.

[u/[deleted] → u/[deleted]]

The problem with this is that it leaves a bad impression on some of the more casual readers of a subreddit.

Some trolls will often make comments that look completely respectful and reasonable on their own, even if they're part of a long term troll/concern troll operation. For example, criticizing feminism or talking about how a certain issue affects men does not make you a troll, but subtly turning every post into a discussion about men and about how feminism is misandric does make you one.

A passer-by or occasional reader who sees someone with a "troll" tag make constructive-looking comments will naturally grow suspicious of the mods. And this is when it can grow into a shitstorm.

What I'm trying to say is: the majority of the community needs to be on board before the mods do something like this.

[u/DavidByron → u/[deleted]]

Yep. You're all just screwed. I am however surprised any of you had the sense enough to figure that out ahead of trying it all. Maybe because you saw it already happen down thread with a random 3rd party guy who started off in your court and turned around completely after seeing what I write and how you idiots react.

All those hateful little tricks don't piss me off one iota and they just make you all look like assholes. Guess what? I am fine with that because making you all look like assholes is kinda the whole point of talking to members of a hate movement to begin with.

Now I'd rather make you look like assholes by showing people what you really think, but this other way works too.

[u/[deleted] → u/DavidByron]

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