# In which forums is the use of "tard" acceptable? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [May 7, 2018, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-forums-is-the-use-of-tard-acceptable/813762 "2018-05-07T15:44:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2018, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-forums-is-the-use-of-tard-acceptable/813762/1 "2018-05-07T15:44:36Z")
Some time ago I was involved in a thread which made several references to “libtards”. At that time, our esteemed **Jonathan Chance** wrote: > [@Why do Trump and other "conservatives" want to defund opera and other arts?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-trump-and-other-conservatives-want-to-defund-opera-and-other-arts/783963/115): > > … I will say, however, that the use of -tard and variants is definitely not best practice and can result in warnings and other sanctions in future due to context. It would be best if it’s a usage retired from Great Debates and Elections moving forward. Recently, in a MPSIMS thread, Blank Slate posted this: > [@New York to issue letters of marque / Cuomo might have gone insane](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-york-to-issue-letters-of-marque-cuomo-might-have-gone-insane/813596/50): > > If it slows down the process until Trump and his tard army are relics of history, it’s absolutely the right strategy. Is the use of “Trump and his tard army” in MPSIMS acceptable? In reviewing [the forum rules](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=457052) I see: > [@](#): > > While we appreciate that conversations can turn heated when it comes to controversial subjects, insults do little more than distract from the conversation and drag down the overall tone. If you’d like to vent your anger, please take it to The Pit, our forum for flaming other posters. Group insults, while permitted in most cases, will not be tolerated if they are aimed at other posters participating in the discussion. If “Trump and his tard army” is apparently within the rules, is the use of “libtard” in a similar context not verboten either? For example, could I start a MPSIMS thread with a title like “Stupid libtards and the 'tarded things they do”? Or could I refer to Cuomo and “citizen fleet” as “libtard in chief Cuomo and his tard army”? ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2018, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-forums-is-the-use-of-tard-acceptable/813762/2 "2018-05-07T15:57:38Z")
Hurtful name calling that serves no purpose other than to insult and demean should be banned because it has no place in an intelligent debate. It just stirs up anger and triggers retaliation. Criticisms that are based in proven fact and which are couched in intelligent language, however, should be perfectly fine even if they reflect poorly on the political figure being criticized. For example, now that Trump’s own man, Giuliani, has outed him as a complete liar, the phrase “our lying president” would be acceptable because it is, in fact, a proven truth. A word like “libtard”, however, is nothing more than a nasty adolescent insult. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2018, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-forums-is-the-use-of-tard-acceptable/813762/3 "2018-05-07T16:02:12Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > Is the use of “Trump and his tard army” in MPSIMS acceptable? In reviewing [the forum rules](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=457052) I see: Did you report the post? Did you discuss this with the forum moderators by PM? Tolerance for certain terms may vary by forum. If in doubt, it is best to discuss such things with forum moderators. > [@](#): > > If “Trump and his tard army” is apparently within the rules, Unless you reported the post and verified that it was within the rules, you have no basis for this conclusion. I’m surprised at your questions, since you’ve been here long enough to know this. > [@](#): > > is the use of “libtard” in a similar context not verboten either? For example, could I start a MPSIMS thread with a title like “Stupid libtards and the 'tarded things they do”? Or could I refer to Cuomo and “citizen fleet” as “libtard in chief Cuomo and his tard army”? Those are pretty obviously Pit material. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2018, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-forums-is-the-use-of-tard-acceptable/813762/4 "2018-05-07T16:04:02Z")
The word tard is like a picture, it expresses 1000 words of opinion in one small word. We need a poll. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2018, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-forums-is-the-use-of-tard-acceptable/813762/5 "2018-05-07T16:12:48Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Did you report the post? Did you discuss this with the forum moderators by PM? > > Tolerance for certain terms may vary by forum. If in doubt, it is best to discuss such things with forum moderators. > > Unless you reported the post and verified that it was within the rules, you have no basis for this conclusion. I’m surprised at your questions, since you’ve been here long enough to know this. > > Those are pretty obviously Pit material. Yes, I reported the post. I received no response. I took that silence to mean the moderators consented with the usage, but I started this thread to have a further discussion around the issue. I wasn’t aware of the intermediate step of “discuss this with the forum moderators by PM”, and am not clear on who the MPSIMS moderators are. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2018, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-forums-is-the-use-of-tard-acceptable/813762/6 "2018-05-07T16:24:46Z")
The mods are Loach and the Honorable ITD. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2018, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-forums-is-the-use-of-tard-acceptable/813762/7 "2018-05-07T16:30:50Z")
Ooo, burn Loach. Word usage like ‘tard’ And similar denigrating insults are, as I said, intensely context sensitive to moderate. Note, though, that never said such are banned in GD. Instead, I stated that use of such isn’t best practice and could lead to sanction. Note, also, that acceptable behavior varies widely by forum. ---
**Author:** ![Bone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bone/32/407_2.png) [@Bone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bone)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2018, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-forums-is-the-use-of-tard-acceptable/813762/8 "2018-05-07T16:34:14Z")
MPSIMS mods are Loach and IvoryTowerDenizen. Asking about rules or clarification is fine, and PM is not required. No response though shouldn’t be taken as affirmative agreement. We haven’t made a specific rule prohibiting the use of the XXX-tard or other variants in GD and Elections, though we have had many many mod notes over the years cautioning against the usage. I struggle to see how it could be used constructively, though I may not be imaginative enough. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2018, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-forums-is-the-use-of-tard-acceptable/813762/9 "2018-05-07T17:01:45Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > Yes, I reported the post. I received no response. I took that silence to mean the moderators consented with the usage, but I started this thread to have a further discussion around the issue. I wasn’t aware of the intermediate step of “discuss this with the forum moderators by PM”, and am not clear on who the MPSIMS moderators are. As has often been pointed out in this forum, non-moderation of a post, even a reported one, does not justify the conclusion that it is within the rules. A few of us mods actually have lives;), and may have been busy or overlooked the report. Unless a mod has positively made a ruling that something is within the rules, you shouldn’t jump to that conclusion. I would certainly moderate “tard” in any context or combination in GQ if it were brought to my attention. ---
**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:** [May 7, 2018, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-forums-is-the-use-of-tard-acceptable/813762/10 "2018-05-07T17:30:10Z")
Well, there goes my enquiry into the habits of tardigrades… ---
**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:** [May 7, 2018, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-forums-is-the-use-of-tard-acceptable/813762/11 "2018-05-07T18:56:32Z")
Based on my own observations of moderation and the rule in question, such would be permitted, You even quoted the relevant part: “Group insults, while permitted in most cases, will not be tolerated if they are aimed at other posters participating in the discussion.” “Trump and his tard army” sure seems to be a group insult, so, unless it was directed towards a poster, it would seem to be acceptable. “Libtard” would be similar. The main problem would be that it’s more broad, as, if not limited in some way, it attacks all liberals. As such, it may more easily be seen as attacking a particular liberal or liberals in the thread in question. This is less of a problem with the idea of a “Trump army,” since such would only describe his most militant supporters. That said, I hate the prefix -tard, and view it the same as the “retard” slur. I would not mind in the slightest if I’m wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2018, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-forums-is-the-use-of-tard-acceptable/813762/12 "2018-05-07T18:57:31Z")
Apparently Schroedinger’s cat is both a tard, and not a tard, until there is a ruling. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2018, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-forums-is-the-use-of-tard-acceptable/813762/13 "2018-05-07T19:05:41Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Well, there goes my enquiry into the habits of tardigrades… Are you saying the subject of that thread would have been re: tardigrades? ---
**Author:** ![voltaire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voltaire/32/313_2.png) [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2018, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-forums-is-the-use-of-tard-acceptable/813762/14 "2018-05-07T19:48:55Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > A few of us mods actually have lives;), and may have been busy or overlooked the report. Well, if \*\*Loach \*\*and \*\*ITD \*\*haven’t weighed in by tomorrow, can we call them tardy? ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2018, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-forums-is-the-use-of-tard-acceptable/813762/15 "2018-05-07T20:50:30Z")
No, but we can demand that they be tard and feathered. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2018, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-forums-is-the-use-of-tard-acceptable/813762/16 "2018-05-07T20:52:48Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Apparently Schroedinger’s cat is both a tard, and not a tard, until there is a ruling. [Demonstration of a cat’s mental process.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Ua6dSOYM2w) ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2018, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-forums-is-the-use-of-tard-acceptable/813762/17 "2018-05-07T21:37:18Z")
> [@voltaire](#): > > Well, if \*\*Loach \*\*and \*\*ITD \*\*haven’t weighed in by tomorrow, can we call them tardy? Wouldn’t want that! I’m actually away at a conference and have exchanged very nice PMs with the OP, who pointed out this thread. Speaking personally, without having time or a lot of access to look at previous rulings, I don’t like the -tard suffix. I’d be inclined to leave a Mod note, unless there was some really specific context that made the comment not derogatory (can’t think of an example, but I’m willing to not have a bright line statement about it). I only have a few minutes between sessions, but I’ll try to look at the thread unless Loach gets there first. Given all that, the re:tardigrades joke was very good. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2018, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-forums-is-the-use-of-tard-acceptable/813762/18 "2018-05-07T22:42:31Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Apparently Schroedinger’s cat is both a tard, and not a tard, until there is a ruling. > > … > Shodan It’s a Leo tard. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2018, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-forums-is-the-use-of-tard-acceptable/813762/19 "2018-05-08T01:10:19Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > The mods are Loach and the Honorable ITD. Great. She’s honorable and I’m just chopped liver. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2018, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-forums-is-the-use-of-tard-acceptable/813762/20 "2018-05-08T01:15:28Z")
I thought a loach was a fish 😕 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-forums-is-the-use-of-tard-acceptable/813762.md?page=2)