# Is hate speech really not banned on the boards? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [October 31, 2015, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-hate-speech-really-not-banned-on-the-boards/736283 "2015-10-31T20:20:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2015, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-hate-speech-really-not-banned-on-the-boards/736283/61 "2015-11-02T04:28:38Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > This is an American message board. Why should there be? Well, it’s in Chicago, that’s almost Canada if that counts. ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2015, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-hate-speech-really-not-banned-on-the-boards/736283/62 "2015-11-02T05:17:00Z")
The board has had moderators in other countries before. **Coldfire** was from Holland while **Gukumatz** was from Norway. And I believe **Colibri** is in Central America, although that is still usually seen as Northern America. It’s just that, right now, we don’t have anyone from outside of here. ---
**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:** [November 2, 2015, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-hate-speech-really-not-banned-on-the-boards/736283/63 "2015-11-02T05:54:48Z")
…and it shows. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2015, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-hate-speech-really-not-banned-on-the-boards/736283/64 "2015-11-02T06:01:19Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > …and it shows. Why does it matter? ---
**Author:** ![Ibn\_Warraq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e19b73/32.png) [@Ibn\_Warraq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibn_Warraq)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2015, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-hate-speech-really-not-banned-on-the-boards/736283/65 "2015-11-02T06:17:26Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > Why does it matter? Er… This particular line of questioning began by noting that a large number of conservative posters complained about the lack of conservative moderators and he merely made a joke about whether this was true also about having more ethnically diverse moderators. That said, I’ll take your remarks as evidence you think people who whine about “liberal bias” amongst the mods are being idiots. ---
**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:** [November 2, 2015, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-hate-speech-really-not-banned-on-the-boards/736283/66 "2015-11-02T06:29:31Z")
> [@Idle\_Thoughts](#): > > And I believe **Colibri** is in Central America, although that is still usually seen as Northern America. Panama. After living here for more than 25 years, and working extensively in Latin America, Africa, and Asia, I think I have some perspective on the developing world. > [@Mr. Dibble](#): > > …and it shows. The vast majority of board members are North American, with a significant minority from Europe and Australasia. Only a tiny minority are from elsewhere. In fact, we do take into account input from other areas (as for example, disallowing a username that included “Hottentot” because it was considered offensive in Southern Africa). Why would you expect us to have a South African (or developing world) perspective? ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2015, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-hate-speech-really-not-banned-on-the-boards/736283/67 "2015-11-02T06:35:05Z")
> [@Ibn\_Warraq](#): > > Er… This particular line of questioning began by noting that a large number of conservative posters complained about the lack of conservative moderators and he merely made a joke about whether this was true also about having more ethnically diverse moderators. This board doesn’t _have_ a large number of conservative posters. ---
**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:** [November 2, 2015, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-hate-speech-really-not-banned-on-the-boards/736283/68 "2015-11-02T07:08:19Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > Why does it matter? [Quote=Colibri] Why would you expect us to have a South African (or developing world) perspective? [/QUOTE] Some perspective on exactly _why_ “Africans are genetically retarded” _is_ hate speech would be appreciated, that’s why. And with respect, **Colibri** - you’re a great mod, and you do have lots of developing world experience, I know - but you’ll never actually _be_ one of us. And I feel that that disconnect is why “polite” racists are allowed free rein here - nobody on the current Mod staff comes from the outside or seems to understand. ---
**Author:** ![Ramira](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ramira/32/344_2.png) [@Ramira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ramira)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2015, 9:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-hate-speech-really-not-banned-on-the-boards/736283/69 "2015-11-02T09:20:21Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > I swear, I will never get over this place if I am here a million years. of course not, it would remove the opportunity to search for opportunities to complain about the perception of bias against your own political tendency and engage in the similar games > [@](#): > > A poster who uses a derogatory ethnic slur, and _almost literally in the next breath_ complains about bigotry. where did this occur? disdain ---
**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:** [November 2, 2015, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-hate-speech-really-not-banned-on-the-boards/736283/71 "2015-11-02T19:57:04Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > And I feel that that disconnect is why “polite” racists are allowed free rein here - nobody on the current Mod staff comes from the outside or seems to understand. One of our current moderators is African-American, and a former mod who is African-American still participates in the mod loop. My niece and nephew are biracial (their father is Guyanese). One of my sister-in-laws is South African (though white, she and her family were Mandela supporters). Another member of our extended family is Trinidadian (of mostly South Asian ancestry). You see these ideas as being “allowed,” while we see it as allowing them to be refuted. These ideas don’t go away if we prohibit their discussion here. I think the discussions do more to provide ammunition to those who wish to refute the arguments than provide support to those who advance them. I don’t agree that the best way to combat pernicious ideas is to prohibit their discussion. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2015, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-hate-speech-really-not-banned-on-the-boards/736283/72 "2015-11-02T20:00:04Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > One of our current moderators is African-American, and a former mod who is African-American still participates in the mod loop. My niece and nephew are biracial (their father is Guyanese). One of my sister-in-laws is South African (though white, she and her family were Mandela supporters). Another member of our extended family is Trinidadian (of mostly South Asian ancestry). > > You see these ideas as being “allowed,” while we see it as allowing them to be refuted. These ideas don’t go away if we prohibit their discussion here. I think the discussions do more to provide ammunition to those who wish to refute the arguments than provide support to those who advance them. I don’t agree that the best way to combat pernicious ideas is to prohibit their discussion. Have the mods considered the idea that such discussions be moved to the Pit, which would allow such assertions (in my view, at least) to be more accurately characterized? ---
**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:** [November 2, 2015, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-hate-speech-really-not-banned-on-the-boards/736283/73 "2015-11-02T20:04:08Z")
I think that would have the effect of making each thread a train wreck instead of an actual discussion. Threads may be started in the Pit, certainly. However, having a policy that means all threads on a subject get moved to the Pit is the moral equivalent of banning discussion. I don’t think it’s something I’d endorse. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2015, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-hate-speech-really-not-banned-on-the-boards/736283/74 "2015-11-02T20:05:36Z")
> [@Jonathan\_Chance](#): > > I think that would have the effect of making each thread a train wreck instead of an actual discussion. They’re not already? > [@](#): > > Threads may be started in the Pit, certainly. However, having a policy that means all threads on a subject get moved to the Pit is the moral equivalent of banning discussion. I don’t think it’s something I’d endorse. I think I disagree, but thanks for responding. ---
**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:** [November 2, 2015, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-hate-speech-really-not-banned-on-the-boards/736283/75 "2015-11-02T20:14:03Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > One of our current moderators is African-American, and a former mod who is African-American still participates in the mod loop. That doesn’t make them African or Muslim, does it? I was quite clear I meant a non-American minority experience. I’m aware there _used_ to be such mods, or at least one. I’m _also_ aware the moderation has changed in the last while. > [@](#): > > My niece and nephew are biracial (their father is Guyanese). One of my sister-in-laws is South African (though white, she and her family were Mandela supporters). Another member of our extended family is Trinidadian (of mostly South Asian ancestry). Again, with respect, none of that makes _you_ an outsider. Any more than I expect my wife to have the outsider experience just because she’s my wife. > [@](#): > > You see these ideas as being “allowed,” while we see it as allowing them to be refuted. These ideas don’t go away if we prohibit their discussion here. I think the discussions do more to provide ammunition to those who wish to refute the arguments than provide support to those who advance them. I don’t agree that the best way to combat pernicious ideas is to prohibit their discussion. Yes, I get that. What you all don’t seem to get is that I’m not actually very interested in repeatedly combating those ideas in some Sisyphean labour. Not when it comes in the form of insult. Sure, you insiders don’t see “Your entire continent is retarded” as insulting. Well, I do. ---
**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:** [November 2, 2015, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-hate-speech-really-not-banned-on-the-boards/736283/76 "2015-11-02T20:25:13Z")
> [@Deeg](#): > > It’s threads like this that make me appreciate how hard the moderating job is and how good it generally is. Concur. ---
**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:** [November 2, 2015, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-hate-speech-really-not-banned-on-the-boards/736283/77 "2015-11-02T20:28:48Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Yes, I get that. What you all don’t seem to get is that I’m not actually very interested in repeatedly combating those ideas in some Sisyphean labour. Not when it comes in the form of insult. Sure, you insiders don’t see “Your entire continent is retarded” as insulting. Well, I do. We get a constant stream of new members who may not have seen these ideas refuted before. And you’re not the only one who combats them. If you feel them insulting, there’s no obligation for you to participate in them. As a scientist and environmentalist, I find the arguments of climate change deniers (who oddly enough seem to overlap with “race realists” to a remarkable extent) even more pernicious than those of racists, because I believe that such denialism will result in more deaths and suffering in the coming century than racism will (although the most serious affects will fall most heavily on the developing world). I would not, however, advocate banning such arguments. And despite my feelings about it, I rarely participate in such discussions because I know there are others here who are better able than me to combat these ideas (and have more stomach for the fight). ---
**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:** [November 2, 2015, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-hate-speech-really-not-banned-on-the-boards/736283/78 "2015-11-02T20:36:56Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > We get a constant stream of new members who may not have seen these ideas refuted before. And you’re not the only one who combats them. I’m well aware of that - in fact, I’ve cut back quite a bit. > [@](#): > > If you feel them insulting, there’s no obligation for you to participate in them. There’s no obligation for me to post anything. But that’s not the point of what I said - mods like **Jonathan** have _said_ they strive for a civil tone in GD. And here we are, telling you that to us, the tone is decidedly not civil from the outset, from the very thread conception. And you say “just ignore it” as though that meant there wasn’t a double standard. > [@](#): > > As a scientist and environmentalist, I find the arguments of climate change deniers (who oddly enough seem to overlap with “race realists” to a remarkable extent) even more pernicious than those of racists, because I believe that such denialism will result in more deaths and suffering in the coming century than racism will (although the most serious affects will fall most heavily on the developing world). I would not, however, advocate banning such arguments. And despite my feelings about it, I rarely participate in such discussions because I know there are others here who are better able than me to combat these ideas (and have more stomach for the fight). Climate change denialists aren’t insulting anyone’s ethnicity just by posting their arguments (just their intelligence). Race realists are. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2015, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-hate-speech-really-not-banned-on-the-boards/736283/79 "2015-11-02T20:42:32Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > What you all don’t seem to get is that I’m not actually very interested in repeatedly combating those ideas in some Sisyphean labour. Who is forcing you to do so? ---
**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:** [November 2, 2015, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-hate-speech-really-not-banned-on-the-boards/736283/80 "2015-11-02T20:43:51Z")
> [@Drunky\_Smurf](#): > > Who is forcing you to do so? The voices in my head, clearly :rolleyes: ---
**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:** [November 2, 2015, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-hate-speech-really-not-banned-on-the-boards/736283/81 "2015-11-02T20:51:15Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > And here we are, telling you that to us, the tone is decidedly not civil from the outset, from the very thread conception. And you say “just ignore it” as though that meant there wasn’t a double standard. So the solution, in your view, is what? Ban any discussion of race and intelligence? What exactly do you want to see happen here? > [@](#): > > Climate change denialists aren’t insulting anyone’s ethnicity just by posting their arguments (just their intelligence). Race realists are. There are a lot of discussions here that people might find personally insulting. We’re not going to prohibit discussions just on the basis that some people find them offensive. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-hate-speech-really-not-banned-on-the-boards/736283.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-hate-speech-really-not-banned-on-the-boards/736283.md?page=5)