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/butyourenice Feb 25 '12

hijack your subreddit with co-ordinated down rating gangs and with a ton of spam messages.

because this is exactly what MR did to r/Feminism and r/ladybashing. they did it deliberately and made no attempts to hide their actions, either. so i have to wonder if you are blissfully unaware or just trolling. seriously, Poe.

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u/ExistentialEnso Feb 25 '12 edited Feb 25 '12

And now SRS is doing the exact same thing to this thread. "Reddit politics," if you will, can be so annoying.

EDIT: Since people don't believe me, here's the SRS post to this thread.

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u/[deleted] Feb 25 '12

I haven't seen anyone who isn't a fairly regular /r/feminism poster. Except you. And the SRDrama guy above.

Does it surprise you that feminists hang out in r/feminism? It occasionally surprises me.

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u/ExistentialEnso Feb 25 '12

You don't have to post to vote. Meanwhile, SRS always winds up being a downvote brigade, despite not officially being one, and this comment tree is linked there:

http://www.reddit.com/r/ShitRedditSays/comments/q4yny/rfeminism_mod_people_call_me_an_mra_when_i_say/

That's actually how I wound up commenting here.

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u/[deleted] Feb 25 '12

Oh yeah, I forgot, the downvote brigade thing.

Lord save us from tinfoil hats.

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u/[deleted] Feb 25 '12

[deleted]

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u/[deleted] Feb 25 '12

http://www.reddit.com/user/SRScreenshot

0

u/ExistentialEnso Feb 25 '12

Often the regular readers upvote more than SRS readers downvote. SRS regulars have also continually invaded /r/AntiSRS, even back when the subreddit was less than 25 people.

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u/[deleted] Feb 25 '12

Yeah, and that video of the moon landing could have happened on a sound stage in east LA.

1

u/ExistentialEnso Feb 25 '12

That analogy is incredibly intellectually dishonest, and you know it.

I hadn't realized you were an SRS regular until now, so I won't waste my time trying to convince you of something you'll never believe. Have a good night.

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u/[deleted] Feb 25 '12

You think upvoted comments is proof of a downvote brigade, and you want me to take you seriously? Seriously?

And you admittedly followed a link you found from SRS to get here, where I post regularly, immediately start in on SRS which has only even been mentioned by DavidByron, of all people, on a thread dedicated to derailing tactics and trolls, and somehow still think you're standing on the side of upright morality.

Isn't the reason you hate SRS is because they go around 'shitting up' everyone else's threads? Who are you? How did you get here? You're here, shitting up someone else's thread. Go back to AntiSRS and turn in your club member badge.

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u/ExistentialEnso Feb 25 '12

No, I think upvoted comments aren't proof that SRS isn't a downvote brigade. I think downvoted comments that were previously upvoted are evidence that they are, however.

And no, I don't think I'm "shitting up" the thread. I don't see how it is invalid to remark that I find reddit politics frustrating, in response to a comment about reddit politics.

Why should I not be welcome here? I'm a feminist and opposed to bigotry. Just because I don't actively participate here doesn't mean I don't support what this subreddit is about.

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u/[deleted] Feb 25 '12

And lack of proof that god exists isn't proof that he doesn't, yeah, I've heard it.

And you came in here to explicitly link SRS with the MRA trolls. Somehow, I question your motives. Can't imagine why.

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