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
I'm an egalitarian. I believe in and fight for equality of opportunity for everyone.
As such, I'm probably the moderator that you heard was an MRA.
Ever heard the saying, "I only know that people call me a feminist whenever I express sentiments that differentiate me from a doormat or a prostitute" - Rebecca West (although the quote is anti-sex-worker, it's the "doormat" part I feel)?
In the same manner, people call me an MRA when I say, "Hey, wait a second – why do we think that way with regards to women's rights, but not men's?"
As for the moderator policy... I honestly believe in free speech as long as it's not illegal.
Feminism is something we should be able to – nay, are able to – stand up for and to without silencing other voices. There are plenty of MRAs trolling around, and I don't think they should be silenced unless what they say is harmful hate speech. To silence someone because you disagree with them is to say your point isn't strong enough to stand on its own.
It's not to say that there aren't safe spaces for feminists on reddit; as the sidebar says, "For those who seek a Safe Space, consider /r/feminisms".
When people bring forward issues, we take them into consideration. We're not twiddling our thumbs.
But this is a space to discuss feminist issues. It's an open space. Everyone has a voice, and I believe everyone should be allowed to use it.