In principle, that is.
I’m not the board owner, so my opposition doesn’t mean squat. In fact, I don’t even know whether that is the policy of the SDMB administration. Perhaps the WNs did something jerky. I can’t recall seeing any of the threads.
But let’s just talk about a hypothetical policy that says the WNs can’t participate here. I oppose that.
Do I oppose them? Yes, I do from what little I know. I oppose the notion that any so-called race is superior to another, but I’m really not sure whether that’s what they advocate. Maybe they advocate voluntary segregation, which is something I would not oppose.
Let’s assume the worst. Let’s assume that they believe that white people are superior to me and to other people of color. Even if that’s the case, I don’t believe they should be automatically excluded for several reasons.
They’re stupid if they believe that? Well, yes. But I think that people who believe Saddam Hussein is harmless are stupid, too. And such people aren’t banned.
Their ideas are dangerous? Not to me. If they believe that they are superior to me, I invite them to take me on. Debate me. I don’t fear a fair and reasonable debate. In fact, I think that I could change one or two of their minds. I’ve done it before with other people on libertarianism and Christianity.
I have nothing to learn from them? Bullshit. I learn something from everyone I encounter. Frankly, I’d like to know how they think, and whether they feel somehow threatened by my Cherokee heritage.
They’re ignorant? Maybe. Well, probably. But what the hell are we here for? What’s it say on the banner? Should the motto be changed to “Fearing ignorance since 1973”?
For all the faults with a message board that I recently called out in the Pit, at least they don’t ban people they don’t like or don’t understand. And as a member in good standing here for three years now, I love this board and all the people who post in it and administer it. You all know that I am a staunch defender of TubaDiva, even when I disagree with her.
But refusing to engage the White Nationalists in debate is a mistake, in my opinion. I think debate could be healthy. And I don’t mean the kind of tomato throwing exchanges we have in the Pit, but earnest discussions in Great Debates (which has gone a bit flat lately, anyhow).
Yes, they might tend to say things that are shocking to us. But frankly, many people on the board say things that shock me all the time.
I say let them come in, and don’t be afraid. Certainly, they must abide by the board rules, but why ban them for being icky?
Anway, that’s how I see it. Flame away if you must.
That’s the last thing we should do. It would only lead to even worse spamming of OUR board, and the server’s slow enough as it is. Maybe you don’t post here that often, but lemme tell you, I’m already waiting whole minutes while threads load–we don’t need any more disgruntled folks jacking with the server.