I’ve heard in a land, far, far away, that “fat” topics are being automatically locked. Is this true? We cannot discuss obesity on the Straight Dope anymore?
This would be terrible, since obesity is such a pervasive condition in this country, and there is such rampant ignorance about it, it seems a ripe subject for the SD to address from time to time.
The reasoning is supposedly that all threads involving obesity automtically turn into a train wreck…but that would seem to only apply to the Pit, not GD.
No, it’s not a banned topic. I (and I believe most other staff members) WILL keep a close eye on threads about obesity, because those threads have a tendency to turn into trainwrecks. But I won’t automatically close a thread on obesity like I would on, say, advice on how to circumvent copyright protection on a game disc.
Now, it’s true that a FAT BASHING thread will automatically be closed, but I don’t think that this is what you’re asking about. I will also close just about all sorts of bashing threads, except for the ones which bash idjits. As far as I’m concerned, bashing idjits is not only allowed, it’s encouraged.
I know of this “land far, far away” and I have to tell you, I recognize the voice of one of our trolls in many of the “anonymous” posts. Many items which are presented as facts are not true, or are only partially true.