# Huey Freeman is banned **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [January 29, 2019, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huey-freeman-is-banned/828587 "2019-01-29T02:18:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2019, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huey-freeman-is-banned/828587/121 "2019-01-29T13:48:08Z")
> [@Huey Freeman](#): > > Hell, If I ever got a warning in the BBQ pit, I’d stop posting here too. So much for the measured approach to encouraging board behavioral change, at least in this instance. I’ve never called for or rejoiced at anyone’s banning, even the most virulent morons. So I can’t muster up anything besides a “meh” at **Huey** ’s departure. He got what he wanted - a brief warm glow of satisfaction at being once again martyred by the White Man, or (alternate explanation) a few months of joy out of stirring people up under a fake identity. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2019, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huey-freeman-is-banned/828587/122 "2019-01-29T13:59:59Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Only when there’s total pwnage… QFT+1 ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2019, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huey-freeman-is-banned/828587/123 "2019-01-29T14:02:27Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > I didn’t say that’s why everyone hated him. Dude was abrasive, misogynistic and offensive as fuck. I said that’s why he was _banned_. You didn’t. Others did. > [@](#): > > And are you questioning whether he was genuinely angry, or genuinely Black? Genuine, period. As the corollary to the famous cartoon goes, “On the Internet, no one knows you’re a dog. Everyone knows you’re an asshole.” He probably was an angry black man, but I have no way of knowing. And if he was faking it, he hardly would have been the first to adopt a fake persona here. > [@](#): > > No, actually, it’s very much the heart of this conversation - _why_ does Huey get the insta-banhammer (as opposed to, say, suspension), and not others? I am not and have never been a mod, but in my experience long-time posters get more slack, particularly those who have demonstrated that they can constructively contribute to discussions (even if they prefer to be, as you say, jerks). Huey came in all guns blazing and showed every sign of being unwilling to do anything except make offensive comments, accuse people of everything under the sun and be a jerk. As I said in the other thread: > [@Gyrate](#): > > HF’s posts strike me as the same sort of thing we used to get with those MRA idiots that went on and on poisoning every thread they could shoehorn their personal obsessions into or starting multiple threads on the same topic and bumping them endlessly. Such posts fall into the “Krugerrands in the septic tank” rule - if one spends the time going through them thoroughly one can occasionally find something of worth, but how much excrement are you willing to swim through in order to do so? > > As a result, I tend to simply scroll past his various angry, incoherent screeds. Whatever he’s attempting to accomplish here, his approach isn’t working. It is true that this messageboard needs a wider range of different voices, but that doesn’t mean that there should be unlimited tolerance for someone who just screams incoherently at the top of his lungs and smears shit on the walls, even in the Pit. Should he have been banned? I don’t know - I didn’t ask for it to happen, but I won’t miss him. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2019, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huey-freeman-is-banned/828587/124 "2019-01-29T14:18:34Z")
I am upset when any voice that can foster understanding of another viewpoint or that can speak truth to power is silenced. Huey was not that voice. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2019, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huey-freeman-is-banned/828587/125 "2019-01-29T14:21:08Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > Isn’t he the right person to invoke? Definitely not. In the 1960s–and even today–you can’t swing a dead cat without smacking into a self-righteous white liberal scolding black people for being so angry. Invoke any of them, not King. Admittedly I’m not a King scholar, but I’ve yet to run across any circumstance in which he sided with a white liberal against a black radical, chastising the latter for being so angry. > [@JKellyMap](#): > > I get what you’re saying, but MLK would be saddened that you think his words only apply in _some_ instances, as determined by the skin colors of the speaker and listener. Again, I’m no King scholar, but I’m pretty sure that the MLK you’re talking about here is the defanged, anodyne version that we’ve mythologized, not the actual man. And I’m pretty sure he’d not be down with a white dude explaining racism in a condescending manner to a person of color, and I’m pretty freakin’ sure he wouldn’t want to have his own words twisted into support for such an action. That “I Have a Dream” speech was talking about a future in which skin-based judgment wouldn’t happen. It wasn’t forbidding folks in the present from recognizing the different experiences of racism that folks have according to their skin color. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2019, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huey-freeman-is-banned/828587/126 "2019-01-29T14:30:42Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Definitely not. In the 1960s–and even today–you can’t swing a dead cat without smacking into a self-righteous white liberal scolding black people for being so angry. Invoke any of them, not King. > > Admittedly I’m not a King scholar, but I’ve yet to run across any circumstance in which he sided with a white liberal against a black radical, chastising the latter for being so angry. > Again, I’m no King scholar, but I’m pretty sure that the MLK you’re talking about here is the defanged, anodyne version that we’ve mythologized, not the actual man. And I’m pretty sure he’d not be down with a white dude explaining racism in a condescending manner to a person of color, and I’m pretty freakin’ sure he wouldn’t want to have his own words twisted into support for such an action. > > That “I Have a Dream” speech was talking about a future in which skin-based judgment wouldn’t happen. It wasn’t forbidding folks in the present from recognizing the different experiences of racism that folks have according to their skin color. You do realize that you’re whitesplaining Dr. King, don’t you? You just think you’re doing it the “right” way. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2019, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huey-freeman-is-banned/828587/127 "2019-01-29T14:31:26Z")
If **Huey Freeman** had much to teach us, I don’t care to learn it. I already know how to be an asshole. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2019, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huey-freeman-is-banned/828587/128 "2019-01-29T14:33:12Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > You do realize that you’re whitesplaining Dr. King, don’t you? You just think you’re doing it the “right” way. cool thx ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2019, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huey-freeman-is-banned/828587/129 "2019-01-29T14:33:52Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Again, I’m no King scholar, but I’m pretty sure that the MLK you’re talking about here is the defanged, anodyne version that we’ve mythologized, not the actual man. That idealized vision would have him say “yep, dude’s an asshole.” While I think he might have said that, he may have instead sided with those who think it better to concentrate on greater injustices. What I don’t think he would have said is “you only resent him calling you an inbred retard semen-eater because he’s black!” ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2019, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huey-freeman-is-banned/828587/130 "2019-01-29T14:35:51Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Which is why you don’t see me defending his actual virulent posts… It sure looked to me like you did. You characterized his posts as “Huey was banned for being an angry Black man who did not play nice with both the outright (and proud) racists on this Board, as well as the never-met-a-pile-on-they-didn’t-like posters.” I apologize that I misunderstood. However: > [@](#): > > Oh, you can’t tell me **Guin** doesn’t love the drama. Especially since her initial crowdplaying tactic of calling him a disguised White supremicist just got her pwned. No, I can’t. But if you pissed me off, it wouldn’t be okay for me to say you were inferior because you were black. Similarly, it doesn’t matter what **Guin** says: you don’t get to attack her for her mental illness, sex shame her, or treat her like an object who only has value if she has a man. There’s no excuse for bigotry, no matter what someone else does. So this comes off as defending one of the horrible things **Huey** said. > [@](#): > > Never said it did. But I think he did merit a little more Pit moderation than just a lazy instabanning. Now this does make me thing I misunderstood you, and that you and I are on the same page on this part. You don’t defend him, but you disagree with how the moderation was handled. But please don’t defend what he said to **Guinastasia**. You’ll note that she and I don’t exactly get along, but that’s irrelevant in this case. I will defend absolutely anyone from bigotry, especially when it seems that some of that bigotry is not being addressed as such. And I apologize if quoting the Reverend Dr. King offended you. It was not my intent. I just thought his words were better than any I could come up with. I’m also used to quoting him to the alt-right, and so I didn’t think about how it might come off as whitesplaining. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2019, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huey-freeman-is-banned/828587/131 "2019-01-29T14:45:51Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Definitely not. In the 1960s–and even today–you can’t swing a dead cat without smacking into a self-righteous white liberal scolding black people for being so angry. Invoke any of them, not King. > > Admittedly I’m not a King scholar, but I’ve yet to run across any circumstance in which he sided with a white liberal against a black radical, chastising the latter for being so angry. It didn’t seem to me that BigT was criticizing him for “being so angry.” It was for being a sexist, misogynist, ableist, and other things. I had mixed feelings about Huey. I thought it was valuable for majoritarian culture to be exposed to ideas from someone who has been tangibly harmed by our white supremacist society and describes in clear terms what his or her experience is, without cushioning. However, I soon stopped reading his posts because they largely became long blocks of insults and expressions of various kinds of bigotry. Still, I would have considered Huey’s viewpoint a contribution with some value, provided that the mods curb the extreme personal attacks on other posters. Again, as I said above, there should be a rule against using a poster’s revelations of personal difficulties and weaknesses against him or her in such a vicious manner, even in the BBQ Pit. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2019, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huey-freeman-is-banned/828587/132 "2019-01-29T14:55:38Z")
The guy was a jerk. You could see it. I could see it. He was aware he was being a jerk! And even in the pit, where it’s more acceptable, he went too far. I don’t see a problem banning him for being a jerk, after a couple of ‘dial it back’ mod notes. I really don’t see the need to split hairs or make some convoluted justification, to be honest. Failing to see a controversy, to be honest. Are we supposed to believe a white poster would have been perfectly accepted when saying such things? Because that’s beyond silly in my opinion. No chance! (Would they get banned? Hard to say, that seems to hinge much more on response/posting history/attitude, as far as I can tell!) ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2019, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huey-freeman-is-banned/828587/133 "2019-01-29T15:00:17Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > If **Huey Freeman** had much to teach us, I don’t care to learn it. I already know how to be an asshole. “That’s bait!” said Max. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2019, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huey-freeman-is-banned/828587/134 "2019-01-29T15:08:51Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > No, I can’t. But if you pissed me off, it wouldn’t be okay for me to say you were inferior because you were black. It’d also be wrong, because I’m not Black. > [@](#): > > There’s no excuse for bigotry, no matter what someone else does. So this comes off as defending one of the horrible things **Huey** said. I’m not _defending_ it, I’m _explaining_ it. You know about explaining things, don’t you, **BigT**? > [@](#): > > Now this does make me thing I misunderstood you, and that you and I are on the same page on this part. You don’t defend him, but you disagree with how the moderation was handled. Yes. > [@](#): > > And I apologize if quoting the Reverend Dr. King offended you. Didn’t offend me, it amused me, and pretty much for the reasons **LHoD** outlined: your using King’s words about a desired future as if it represented current reality is amusing. But don’t worry, I’m not going to get all _angry_ about it. That kind of actin’ up don’t go over too well round these here parts, no, Sah. _jigs_ ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2019, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huey-freeman-is-banned/828587/135 "2019-01-29T15:12:30Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > People still use this? It may not still be the latest thing, but why must 21st-century slang have such a short shelf life? If a usage is cool and fun, let it hang out in the lexicon a while instead of insisting it go on the trash heap. Speaking of which… > [@Scumpup](#): > > You do realize that you’re whitesplaining Dr. King, don’t you? You just think you’re doing it the “right” way. Oh snap! ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2019, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huey-freeman-is-banned/828587/136 "2019-01-29T15:27:27Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Gosh, what a surprise. > > **Banquet Bear** , **Heffalump and Roo** and (so fucking help me) **octopus** have already really said all I’d want to say in this thread. > > But I just want to add that it’s laughable. Huey was banned for being an angry Black man who did not play nice with both the outright (and proud) racists on this Board, as well as the never-met-a-pile-on-they-didn’t-like posters. That’s absolutely clear as day, and all the bending over to find a rule to justify it (which has clearly been shown with post cites to be bullshit) really wasn’t necessary, **Miller**. Because nobody’s actually fooled by that. If that were a banning offense, how is it you’re still around? ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2019, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huey-freeman-is-banned/828587/137 "2019-01-29T15:39:15Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > If **Huey Freeman** had much to teach us, I don’t care to learn it. I already know how to be an asshole. > > Regards, > Shodan Love it. Seriously. Excellent post, in every way. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2019, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huey-freeman-is-banned/828587/138 "2019-01-29T15:42:25Z")
> [@shodan](#): > > if **huey freeman** had much to teach us, i don’t care to learn it. I already know how to be an asshole. > > Regards, > shodan qft 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2019, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huey-freeman-is-banned/828587/139 "2019-01-29T15:55:34Z")
Since we’re doing the QFT thing, this: > [@Telemark](#): > > I am upset when any voice that can foster understanding of another viewpoint or that can speak truth to power is silenced. > > Huey was not that voice. ---
**Author:** ![Razncain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9d8465/32.png) [@Razncain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Razncain)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2019, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huey-freeman-is-banned/828587/140 "2019-01-29T16:12:20Z")
If Huey had some good arguments, he could have posted them in GD, but that’s why he stayed in the Pit, he wouldn’t have went very far without the insults. In fact, he just didn’t get out much anywhere else. Huey was running out of gas even before he was banned. His insults became more and more mean-spirited towards quite a few, but Shodan’s were a hell of a lot wittier and funnier with their exchanges, so his thread did have some good laughs in it. Was suprised how many fed the troll time and time again, and I’m sure Huey enjoyed all of the threads being created just for him and all of the attention he was getting. Some of the stuff the Dope speculated and suspicioned Huey might be or be a part of only fed the troll that much more, and wished those would have been kept to a minimum. There were quite a few that tried to engage him without the insults and far out speculation, but he either ignored their posts or didn’t seem as interested in their arguments. Okay, here is my QFT. I still like how this poster summed it all up in Huey’s thread: > [@Living while black in America](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/living-while-black-in-america/817611/1358): > > I guess its a question of tactics. > > I can understand the necessary outrage, that makes a black person attend a protest shouting “Fuck White people! Fuck the Police!” > > But if a white person is standing next to them shouting “Fuck Racism! Black lives matter!” its not particularly helpful for that black person to turn to them and shout “No! Fuck you! You racist Motherfucker!” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huey-freeman-is-banned/828587.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huey-freeman-is-banned/828587.md?page=8)