# Is there a specific rule about advocating Naziism? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [July 14, 2012, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-specific-rule-about-advocating-naziism/628217 "2012-07-14T16:41:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2012, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-specific-rule-about-advocating-naziism/628217/41 "2012-07-15T17:15:23Z")
> [@Astroboy14](#): > > No, my point is that 14 doesn’t _always_ denote a relationship to Nazism. IE: don’t look at my username and assume that the 14 has anything to do with that. No one is making that argument, so I think you’re safe. ---
**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:** [July 15, 2012, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-specific-rule-about-advocating-naziism/628217/42 "2012-07-15T17:20:00Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > So which numbers can we use now without accidentally meaning something? Is there a safe list? Do you think that poster “accidentally” posted “14/88”? ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2012, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-specific-rule-about-advocating-naziism/628217/43 "2012-07-15T17:31:30Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Do you think that poster “accidentally” posted “14/88”? I didn’t say he accidentally posted it. I suggested a post might accidentally have hidden meaning. 43/66. There, I posted a random number. Have I offended someone? Or do I have to check the master list first? ---
**Author:** ![Astral\_Rejection](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/258eb7/32.png) [@Astral\_Rejection](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Astral_Rejection)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2012, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-specific-rule-about-advocating-naziism/628217/44 "2012-07-15T17:41:15Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > I didn’t say he accidentally posted it. I suggested a post might accidentally have hidden meaning. > > 43/66. There, I posted a random number. Have I offended someone? Or do I have to check the master list first? What are you getting at? The neo-nazi posted a neo-nazi saying so common it has a [Wikipedia page.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fourteen_Words) There’s exceedingly little chance it was an innocuous comment. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2012, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-specific-rule-about-advocating-naziism/628217/45 "2012-07-15T17:57:48Z")
**Musicat** , are you serious? Do you really not see the problem here? Look, it is conceivable that someone might use 14/88 innocently. Maybe a survey interviewed 88 people and 14/88 said yadda yadda. And that would be entirely permissible. Most people would not even spot it. There would be no problem with saying 14/88 in such a context. But in the context of the post in question, there’s only one po0ssible meaning. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2012, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-specific-rule-about-advocating-naziism/628217/46 "2012-07-15T18:06:14Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > So which numbers can we use now without accidentally meaning something? Is there a safe list? Don’t use **81** either. That’s shorthand for Hells Angels. ---
**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:** [July 15, 2012, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-specific-rule-about-advocating-naziism/628217/47 "2012-07-15T18:07:04Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > I didn’t say he accidentally posted it. I suggested a post might accidentally have hidden meaning. Of course it can. But that isn’t restricted to numbers. You could inadvertently post a word or phrase that has some significance that you are unaware of in any case. While I don’t really think this is a serious question (at least I hope it’s not), no, we are not going to provide a list of all possible words, phrases, numbers, or symbols that may have some additional significance to someone somewhere. > [@](#): > > 43/66. There, I posted a random number. Have I offended someone? The chances are pretty remote. We have a poster whose username includes “88.” Many years ago it was suggested to him in the Pit that he change it because of the Hitler association, even though his posts never implied any Nazi or fascist leanings. (He didn’t change it; he explained that the number was assigned to him when he signed up for hotmail.) To my knowledge, the issue has not come up again. Posting some random numbers that coincidentally might have some hidden significance is quite different than a neo-Nazi deliberately posting numbers that are known to refer to Hitler. ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2012, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-specific-rule-about-advocating-naziism/628217/48 "2012-07-15T18:07:42Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > Well, I learned something. I never knew that was code for Heil Hitler. I thought 14 was a generous baker’s dozen, and 88 referred to the keys on a piano. Silly me. > > So which numbers can we use now without accidentally meaning something? Is there a safe list? I assume you’re kidding because your argument is retarded. It’s akin to saying "What? ‘Cunt’ isn’t allowed here? So which letters can we now use without accidentally meaning something? Is there a safe list? ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2012, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-specific-rule-about-advocating-naziism/628217/49 "2012-07-15T18:12:19Z")
Nazis aren’t all bad. Hell, a nazi killed Hitler, right? ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2012, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-specific-rule-about-advocating-naziism/628217/50 "2012-07-15T18:18:11Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > The chances are pretty remote. We have a poster whose username includes “88.” Many years ago it was suggested to him in the Pit that he change it because of the Hitler association, even though his posts never implied any Nazi or fascist leanings. Maybe the harm is in the eye of the beholder. To me, “88” is code for, in Amateur Radio Ham lingo, [“hugs and kisses.”](http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=73%20%26%2088) So let me go out on a limb here and say “73’s, y’all, and chill.” ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2012, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-specific-rule-about-advocating-naziism/628217/51 "2012-07-15T18:22:48Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > Well, I learned something. I never knew that was code for Heil Hitler. I thought 14 was a generous baker’s dozen, and 88 referred to the keys on a piano. Silly me. Is it your contention that if you, personally, are not familiar with something that it isn’t meaningful? Maybe you should look at this as an opportunity to learn something. Most people around here know about the 88 = HH = _Heil Hitler_ thing. ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2012, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-specific-rule-about-advocating-naziism/628217/52 "2012-07-15T18:26:17Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > Maybe the harm is in the eye of the beholder. To me, “88” is code for, in Amateur Radio Ham lingo, [“hugs and kisses.”](http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=73%20%26%2088) > > So let me go out on a limb here and say “73’s, y’all, and chill.” Can you say “context”? Gosh! That was _good_! I _thought_ you could. Did you know that some words can have more than one meaning? It’s true! “Context” helps us understand what the meaning of a word is. Here’s an example of how normal people use “context” to understand ambiguous terms. If someone is talking about how Hoagy Carmichael could tinkle those ivories and really make those 88 sing…he’s talking about _pianos_. Can you say “piano”? If, however, someone is talking about killing Jews, invading the Sudatenland or racial superiority, and drops in “14/88” or just “88” he’s talking about Hitler. Hitler is _bad_. Can you say “bad” _GOOD_ for you! 🙂 You’ve completed your first lesson in “context”. Let’s say it together. “Con-text”. 🙂 Well done! Let’s practice it for our next lesson. 🙂 ---
**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:** [July 15, 2012, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-specific-rule-about-advocating-naziism/628217/53 "2012-07-15T18:55:10Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > Maybe the harm is in the eye of the beholder. To me, “88” is code for, in Amateur Radio Ham lingo, [“hugs and kisses.”](http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=73%20%26%2088) You think **EnlightenedOne** posted that because he’s a ham radio operator? Because that what it means to you? Honestly, **Musicat** , I don’t know why you seem to be intent on running this silly argument into the ground. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2012, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-specific-rule-about-advocating-naziism/628217/54 "2012-07-15T18:59:59Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > Maybe the harm is in the eye of the beholder. To me, “88” is code for, in Amateur Radio Ham lingo, [“hugs and kisses.”](http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=73%20%26%2088) And if you posted “88” in the context of saying something nice to another amateur ham radio operator during a discussion of that topic, you wouldn’t get banned. You certainly might confuse some people, though, because the neo-nazi meanings of “88” (and 14/88) are well known on the internet. I don’t know if you’ve read the thread under discussion, but **EnlightenedOne** ’s intent is unmistakeable. (And nobody thinks you’re a Nazi based on that number, **Astroboy14**.) ---
**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:** [July 15, 2012, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-specific-rule-about-advocating-naziism/628217/55 "2012-07-15T19:09:30Z")
I assume we’d all recognize the difference between someone who chooses the username AH88 because their name is Andrew Hackett and they were born in 1988 and someone who chose the username to honor Adolph Hitler. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2012, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-specific-rule-about-advocating-naziism/628217/56 "2012-07-15T19:11:58Z")
Can we get back to whether it’s against the rules to endorse Nazi ideology? ---
**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:** [July 15, 2012, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-specific-rule-about-advocating-naziism/628217/57 "2012-07-15T19:14:55Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Can we get back to whether it’s against the rules to endorse Nazi ideology? I suspect the mods would rather not answer because then people could start quite legitimately asking what other ideologues are people banned for advocating. Communism? Zionism? Radical Islam? The idea that Christianity is evil? Not to say that the above ideas are all morally equal. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2012, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-specific-rule-about-advocating-naziism/628217/58 "2012-07-15T19:19:02Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > I didn’t say he accidentally posted it. I suggested a post might accidentally have hidden meaning. > > 43/66. There, I posted a random number. Have I offended someone? Or do I have to check the master list first? If you’re asking seriously about the existence of a “master list,” I’m gonna say “no, there isn’t.” If you’re seriously concerned that there might be a hidden meaning in your random number that some particular group has been using to espouse views that you don’t want associated with you, you could try looking in the Urban Dictionary (that’s where I looked up 14/88. I knew about the “88” but not the “14”). P.S. 43/66 doesn’t lead to anything. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2012, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-specific-rule-about-advocating-naziism/628217/59 "2012-07-15T19:19:04Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > I don’t know what your definition of trolling is, but the one I know applies only to people who throw out stuff to get a rise out of people. It’s not trolling if you genuinely believe in your stupid shit. What about those who throw out what they genuinely believe in to get a rise out of people? At least one staff member is on record as saying that also falls under “trolling”. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2012, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-specific-rule-about-advocating-naziism/628217/60 "2012-07-15T19:24:02Z")
Well, to take the example I linked to in the OP, how would you distinguish the poster’s intent? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-specific-rule-about-advocating-naziism/628217.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-specific-rule-about-advocating-naziism/628217.md?page=4)