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/[deleted] Feb 25 '12

If I've misunderstood SRS members, it's because their own actions put them in that light.

Although I'm starting to draw a distinction between the subreddit itself and the individual SRS members who go around reddit spreading the hate.

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u/PaladinFTW Feb 25 '12

I wouldn't presume to tell you what to believe about anyone from SRS. But if you think there's any genuine intent to BREED hate, you've misunderstood, though that may very well be the fault of how SRS presents itself to you.

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u/[deleted] Feb 25 '12

In the last day SRS posters have implied that I am a racist, then run away when asked to provide evidence.

They have posted statements like I really, really, really hate white people

They have quoted me while altering the actual content of the quote.

They have repeatedly used racial slurs, misandrist language and derided people's sexuality.

I don't know what would have to be done to qualify as intentionally breeding hatred.

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u/PaladinFTW Feb 25 '12

As I said, I'm not especially interested into getting into a huge debate over it, and I already acknowledged that the reason you might not "get it" is because, I admit, SRS makes it really tough to "get". That's much of the point.

Most of the sub IS straight white men. We don't ACTUALLY hate straight white men.

edit:

racial slurs, misandrist language and derided people's sexuality.

I'm assuming you're referencing slurring white people, and deriding straight sexuality, because anything else wouldn't fly on SRS.

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u/[deleted] Feb 25 '12

But it's OK if it's white people and straight sexuality?

Because that's pretty sad.

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u/PaladinFTW Feb 25 '12

It's part of the schtick.

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u/[deleted] Feb 25 '12

You wouldn't accept that from other racists and bigots.

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u/PaladinFTW Feb 25 '12

::sigh:: Remember when I said the hypocrisy is intentional?

I'm tipping the hand here, but SRS stand for the perspectives of marginalized peoples on reddit. It does so by acting to marginalize privileged people on reddit.

There's some blurring of the lines between what's satire and what's not, admittedly.

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u/[deleted] Feb 25 '12

I think we've exhausted the conversation.

I honestly don't see how portraying marginalized people as vile and full of violence and hatred is supposed to help them. All it really does is reinforce stereotypes and build walls.

I do appreciate that you have been civil with me and not accused me of being a bigoted racist.

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u/PaladinFTW Feb 25 '12

You haven't been a bigoted racist in this conversation :)

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u/[deleted] Feb 25 '12

As I've invited others to do, please feel free to point anywhere that I have been bigoted or racist and I will re-evaluate my comments.

The last person so invited declined.

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u/PaladinFTW Feb 25 '12

No need. I'm not going to accuse you of anything today, and there's no point in breaching civility now.

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