# "Hate speech" and the SDMB
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hate-speech-and-the-sdmb/148864
**Category:** About This Message Board
**Created:** [January 16, 2003, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hate-speech-and-the-sdmb/148864 "2003-01-16T00:37:06Z")
**Posts on this page:** 8
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)
#### Post date: [January 16, 2003, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hate-speech-and-the-sdmb/148864/1 "2003-01-16T00:37:06Z")
Per number 4 of Lynn Bodoni’s sticky in the pit
> [@](#):
>
> Pit rules:
>
> 1. Absolutely no hate speech.
Other than insults regarding race, nationality or sexual preference what exactly (or generally) is construed to be non-allowable “hate speech” on the SDMB?
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### Author:  [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)
#### Post date: [January 16, 2003, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hate-speech-and-the-sdmb/148864/2 "2003-01-16T21:51:56Z")
This question has around 80 views and no responses in this forum, but I would still like to know if there is an SDMB position on what constitutes “hate speech” other than “I know it when I see it”. If a mod deems appropriate and if the chances of this question getting an answer would fare better in the Pit I have no problem with it being moved.
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### Author:  [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)
#### Post date: [January 17, 2003, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hate-speech-and-the-sdmb/148864/3 "2003-01-17T17:42:24Z")
Well…
I’m pretty sure anything with the general tone of:
**"ALL XX people are XX and should be XXed with a rusty XX!** would pretty much qualify.
IMHO any post which serves no purpose but to disparage any identifiable group of people at length would be hate speech.
That being said, there are some groups of people I think almost all posters would agree are deserving of hate speech (classically overused example: child molesters).
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### Author:  [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)
#### Post date: [January 18, 2003, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hate-speech-and-the-sdmb/148864/4 "2003-01-18T14:06:37Z")
We’re not a legal system, and I suspect that no mod wants to try to offer a definition. We’d be writing volumes. And ultimately, I’d guess it would depends too much on context. Generally, anything defamatory of a “protected group” as a group in the U.S. – race, religion, ethnicity, national origin, gender, age, disability – would probably cross the line or come close.
Felons are not a protected class, so “hate speech” directed against child molesters would probably be permitted, up to a point. Calling for suspected child molesters to be lynched, for instance, might be over the line.
I think we’re probably going to have to let it go with, “We’ll know it when we see it.”
If you are worried because you have something to say and are concerned that we’ll consider it hate speech, then my advice would be: tone it down.
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### Author:  [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)
#### Post date: [January 18, 2003, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hate-speech-and-the-sdmb/148864/5 "2003-01-18T14:31:21Z")
I now see that there is a more generic thread in Great Debates: [What exactly is hate speech?’](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=157037)
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### Author:  [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)
#### Post date: [January 18, 2003, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hate-speech-and-the-sdmb/148864/6 "2003-01-18T16:18:13Z")
> [@](#):
>
> We’re not a legal system, and I suspect that no mod wants to try to offer a definition. We’d be writing volumes.
Hey!! What about that time where you guys quoted off “Rules for Posters, Volume XI, Section 4432.3 (a) (3)” in response to one of these inquiries? 😃
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### Author:  [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)
#### Post date: [January 18, 2003, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hate-speech-and-the-sdmb/148864/7 "2003-01-18T23:08:50Z")
No, no, that was 4432.3(a)(3)(ii), the rule that limits sarcasm.
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### Author:  [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)
#### Post date: [January 23, 2003, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hate-speech-and-the-sdmb/148864/8 "2003-01-23T21:27:59Z")
Like that would ever work. Oooh, I’m so scared. Yeah, these handcuffs are so tough. I guess I’ll be going to `jail’ now…
😃