# Accusing a Group of Malice in GD

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/accusing-a-group-of-malice-in-gd/1006062>\
**Category:** About This Message Board\
**Created:** [August 22, 2024, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/accusing-a-group-of-malice-in-gd/1006062 "2024-08-22T20:42:47Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 9

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**Author:** ![Max\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\
**Post date:** [August 22, 2024, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/accusing-a-group-of-malice-in-gd/1006062/9 "2024-08-22T21:20:33Z")

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> [@If conservatives think being gay is a choice, what do they think are the benefits of being gay?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-conservatives-think-being-gay-is-a-choice-what-do-they-think-are-the-benefits-of-being-gay/1006014/44):
>
> > [@If conservatives think being gay is a choice, what do they think are the benefits of being gay?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-conservatives-think-being-gay-is-a-choice-what-do-they-think-are-the-benefits-of-being-gay/1006014/44):
> >
> > And on top of that since personal attacks will get you into trouble it’s rather disingenuous for someone to defend a group by claiming _themself_ as a counterexample, since nobody is allowed to contradict them

> [@Max\_S](#):
>
> You can’t, in a civil discussion with members of a group, characterize that group as motivated by malice and hurtful intent. The reason I don’t _get to_ refute your characterization of conservatives as malicious actors is because you don’t _get to_ make that assertion in the first place.

From the [terms of service](https://boards.straightdope.com/tos):

> **Insults.** Do not directly insult or personally attack other posters. The general rule when disagreeing is to comment on the post, not the poster – that is, focus on the argument rather than the poster’s personal shortcomings. This rule applies to all insults, including those meant as jokes and quotes from books and movies – we don’t wish to draw fine distinctions between joke insults and real ones. The rule against insults doesn’t apply to off-board individuals, nor does it apply in the BBQ Pit, where you can insult anybody, including other posters, subject to some limitations – see _ **Pit rules** _ and _ **Hate speech** _ .

~Max

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