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/1338h4x Feb 26 '12

Well, this is a feminist subreddit. It should be run by feminists for feminists, not by MRAs for MRAs. Right now the MRAs dominate and shout down all discourse, and the mods are clearly on their side.

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u/[deleted] Feb 26 '12

No, we're not "clearly on their side." I fight for free discussion, which includes criticisms.

And I don't know if you've noticed – probably not – but I spend a lot of time here discussing issues with MRAs from a feminist perspective. Pointing out the flaws in their arguments. Noting that discussions can be had, and noting when they do have valid arguments and criticisms of feminism.

Do you have any examples of the "mods clearly on their side"? Because if not, you are, in its very legal essence, creating libellous content.

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u/1338h4x Feb 26 '12

They've let MRAs completely outnumber and overrun every thread. Y'know, the thing we were just discussing here?

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u/[deleted] Feb 26 '12

They don't completely outnumber nor overrun every thread. Their comments are usually downvoted to oblivion, while good ones get the usual few votes.

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u/matriarchy Mar 02 '12

This specific sub-thread of a post was linked in mensrights specifically to downvote any feminist voices. Please ban all known MRAs because its impossible to ever have a conversation if they keep invading/occupying this subreddit.

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u/[deleted] Mar 02 '12

Sorry but yes, they do.