FWIW, I reported it. Perhaps there were others who did the same?
So asking for consistency and clarity is “going down the drain?” Or, perhaps, and vastly more likely, it’s the let’s say octopus is “derailing” gambit.
For the Pit, the forum where the post in the OP took place, there is in fact exactly such a sticky. It even covers this exact situation:
I agree with you that the rest of the board should similarly collect the rules into one easy-to-find place, but even if they do the Pit will need its own separate version, as it is a somewhat unique beast.
The issue is the some are and some aren’t. Now, honestly, I am not sure how to write a better and more consistent rule that would not lead to more trouble than it tries to solve. My interest in discussions on language of this sort is if it’s possible
Yeah, this was in my opinion hate speech and probably ban-worthy.
Seems like we have a strong consensus that this was inappropriate and an example of prohibited hate speech.
Are you surprised by that?
What’s your view?
Definitely a slur that should be modded. Also incredibly stupid.
I’m not seeing much controversy here.
I dunno. On second thought, this was obviously a racist epithet. But it was directed against a conservative. Haven’t we liberals decided that that’s okay, under our “Proud to be a hypocrite” initiative? I forget exactly what we decided at the meeting, but the gist is that we really only oppose things like racism because it helps us win elections, not because we’re taking principled stands, so saying racist shit against a conservative is fine.
Or something.
Sorry, that was directed at Bricker. I wonder what he thinks about this (he didn’t really say, except he didn’t want moderation of the post)
I also wonder if he thought the teeming millions would not find this objectionable. You’d think he’s been around long enough to have some faith in our basic humanity. Maybe not.
Unfortunately, my view will be of little help. I wouldn’t mod any “hate speech.” I’d mod threats, and let purveyors of hateful speech become deserving social pariahs.
Or Presidents.
I’d say the jury is still out. The post has apparently been reported. No mod action yet. Is it possible that the mods have withheld even a note, much less a warning, based on my implicit request in this thread? Is the hate speech offense against me, or against the peace and dignity of the board?
Or is it just the ordinary lag between report and action that has nothing to do with the subject matter?
I think that’s a legitimate view. Not the views to the powers that be here, but certainly one valid way to handle offensive speech.
What did you expect in terms of discussion you wanted to stimulate with your OP?
I would hope that the Mods wouldn’t ignore their own rules just because a poster says “Don’t worry about it-it doesn’t bother me”.
I thought there’d be a few more free speech-ish absolutists besides me.
I thought there might be at least one person taking the view that based on my privileged position, the harm done by racist speech is too minimal to warrant sanction.
I expected most people to adopt the view that it was wrong and modd-able, but I did not expect the unanimity that’s appeared thus far.
Still out on what: whether the teeming millions find this objectionable? On our basic humanity?
On the one hand, I understand not wanting this sort of nasty shit directed at you. On the other hand, you have, on the very rare occasion, implied that liberals adopt positions out of expediency, not out of genuine belief, and there’s just a touch, a smidgen, of implication here that “the left” is gonna be a bunch of enormous hypocrites here.
If it’s the former concern you have, absolutely. If it’s another episode of Hypocrisy Hunters, let’s change the channel.
Bricker, you say that you’re not seeking action, only clarification. If such a situation were before a court, if I’m not mistaken, the answer would be “Case dismissed, on ground of lack of standing by the plaintiff”, or something to that effect. Is that correct?
Playing devil’s advocate for a moment, a distinction between this slur and others is that few have even heard of this one. Did Bricker himself have to look it up?
I’m not buying it. On the facts, pocho has made its way into the dictionary: “an American of Mexican parentage, especially one who has adopted U.S. customs and attitudes; an Americanized Mexican.” Nor do I buy the premise of my devil’s advocacy: if somebody ascribes opinions due to someone else’s minority status, that’s something that deserves mod attention in my view. Put another way, there are distinctions between Or-- and worse racial slurs, but I’m not sure they matter qualitatively. Quantitatively, novel situations lean more heavily towards mod notes than dead obvious no-brainers.
Speaking as a poster, while I enjoy much of Huey Freeman’s take-no-prisoner’s style, I think he crossed a line here and I hope he agrees.
Really it’s about fostering productive discussion; the latter is highly relevant. The Pit is a safety valve not a mud throwing contest (per se): attacks on minorities for the alleged sin of being minorities have no place on this board and are deserving of mod attention.
ETA:
I hope my fellow posters reconsider some of their skepticism about Bricker in this thread. His clarification makes the OP’s stance appear more legit IMHO. Personally, my free speech absolutism has taken a hit since 2016. Karl Popper’s paradox of tolerance weighs more heavily on my mind now.
ETA2:
I opine that we discuss mod behavior a little too much in IMHO, at the expense of discussion of best practice. Though admittedly the topic in the OP is a third thing entirely.
Not mods, mod. There is only one Pit mod and he claims to have a life outside of the board. No one else gets notifications from the Pit.
This is the first time I’m on today. I’ll point it out to the others for discussion.
For certain values of “having a life,” at least.
I’m writing a response to the OP now. Could take a minute, this isn’t a subject I want to rush through.