# RESOLVED: Using the term "democrat party" should be a bannable offense **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [September 9, 2020, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-using-the-term-democrat-party-should-be-a-bannable-offense/920174 "2020-09-09T14:50:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2020, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-using-the-term-democrat-party-should-be-a-bannable-offense/920174/21 "2020-09-09T18:49:05Z")
Yeah, there is , and suggest you get over it. It’s no big deal unless you make it one. ---
**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:** [September 9, 2020, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-using-the-term-democrat-party-should-be-a-bannable-offense/920174/22 "2020-09-09T18:50:13Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > It’s no big deal unless you make it one. Agreed, no big deal. I think it’s being a jerk, and it should be modded that way. You’re free to disagree, of course. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2020, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-using-the-term-democrat-party-should-be-a-bannable-offense/920174/23 "2020-09-09T19:48:57Z")
In the interest of being able to protect my own freedom of speech and the right to say MAGATS, because I believe the term will persist and apply well past the Trump administration, I relinquish the right to act all butt-hurt at the terms Democrat Party or demon-crat, -rat, -brat, w/e. FFS. It’s a _slur_?.. What?.. Aren’t you embarrassed? ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2020, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-using-the-term-democrat-party-should-be-a-bannable-offense/920174/24 "2020-09-09T19:57:15Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Here’s another Lefty/Progressive vote for doing nothing, or for banning slur-ful terms for all people, all movements, etc. Targeting the right’s insults but not the left’s is unAmerican; don’t do that. > > In general, name calling is kindergarten crap. On a forum that prides itself on complete essays, not just complete sentences, using name-calling is beneath the dignity of both the posters and the audience. Some months ago I switched to referring the the current President as “Trump” or as “the President”. Not because I like or agree with the guy, but because calling him a silly name doesn’t advance my adult agenda. > > As a practical matter this idea to ban is dumb. All work & ~~small~~ nil benefit. > > Here’s my modest counterproposal: > > I’d be all for tweaking Discourse in the controversial categories so the minimum post length is 100 words. And anything padded with nonsense words, repetition, etc, is disappeared as spam. Followed after just a couple of offenses by disappearing the poster as a spammer. > > IMO If you (any you) don’t have at least 100 words’-worth to say, and aren’t willing to put in at least that much effort laying your ideas out, then your ideas aren’t worth listening to. > > FWIW this post, excluding this paragraph, is exactly 200 words. My 100 word threshold is not a high barrier to entry. I’m on board with this but I would shorten it to something like 30 or 50 words. Some things truly are not worth a hundred words. It would stop a lot of the drive-by snide comments though (thinking of a specific poster in mind whom I won’t name) ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2020, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-using-the-term-democrat-party-should-be-a-bannable-offense/920174/25 "2020-09-09T20:26:09Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > It’s trolling, pure and simple. It’s ignorant and juvenile beneath the dignity of posters here. It’s obnoxious. And you’re playing right into their hands. Ignore it. > [@Procrustus](#): > > It’s a slur. It’s intended as a slur. But I’m not much bothered by it. it’s kind of like if a 5 year old called me a “poopy head”. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2020, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-using-the-term-democrat-party-should-be-a-bannable-offense/920174/26 "2020-09-09T20:34:39Z")
I remember the first time I heard John Boehner say it and I thought: “Jeez, how petty is this guy??” That was long before anyone concieved that Republicans would later champion Donald Trump as their leader. But it stuck. People still pretend that they don’t know the difference between a Democrat, and “The Democrat Party”. I say not a bannable thing, because it allows me to dismiss a poster without having to do a lot of useless reading of what they post. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2020, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-using-the-term-democrat-party-should-be-a-bannable-offense/920174/27 "2020-09-09T20:38:04Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > I say not a bannable thing, because it allows me to dismiss a poster without having to do a lot of useless reading of what they post. This part is certainly true. It’s a simple and probably foolproof way to identify a useless poster. Thus, the suggestion to insta-ban them. But, I never expected my suggestion to be taken literally, only seriously. ---
**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:** [September 9, 2020, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-using-the-term-democrat-party-should-be-a-bannable-offense/920174/28 "2020-09-09T20:39:36Z")
> [@gdave](#): > > BTW, for whatever it’s worth, I’m all for some sort of ban on terms like “Democrat Party”, “Rethuglicans”, “Drumpf”, and the like in GQ, GD, and P&E. They add _nothing_ useful to discussion or debate. But, I also generally think civility is a valuable end in and of itself, not _even_ when talking to or about those I disagree with, but _especially_ then, and I know a _lot_ of folks, all over the political spectrum, feel differently. I’m for adding such terms to the _Great Debates_ sticky, under “any particular group of humans is inherently better than any other group”, which is how they’re used. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2020, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-using-the-term-democrat-party-should-be-a-bannable-offense/920174/29 "2020-09-09T20:54:20Z")
I think whatever the decision, the variants directed at the GOP should be given the same weight. What bugs me about the term is they want to pretend that it _isn’t_ meant to be offensive. When people use those other terms, they _know_ it’s offensive, that’s the whole point. Own it. It might not be _the_ most offensive thing in the world but like a previous thread pointed out, it would be almost exactly like knowing someone whose name was David but you persisted in calling him Dave despite the fact he’s made his preference to be called David known time and again. Dick move. ---
**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:** [September 9, 2020, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-using-the-term-democrat-party-should-be-a-bannable-offense/920174/30 "2020-09-09T20:56:29Z")
Yep. Pretty much exactly how I feel. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2020, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-using-the-term-democrat-party-should-be-a-bannable-offense/920174/31 "2020-09-09T20:57:25Z")
The thing about “democrat party” that really bugs my eyes is that it isn’t merely an internet messege board term. It comes from the US House, Senate, and now the White House. If Johnny messege board user says it, I know all I need to about that user. When US politicians use it, I wonder if they would recognize dignity if they fucking tripped over it. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2020, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-using-the-term-democrat-party-should-be-a-bannable-offense/920174/32 "2020-09-09T21:44:39Z")
As a Democrat, this seems like probably the _least_ offensive way someone could refer to my politics. Banning weak-sauce things like that is a waste of time, and I would argue it’s objectively less offensive than many things that I and others have used to refer to Republicans. It seems absurd to get riled up over a minor grammatical error, even if the person making that error has that as their goal. ---
**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:** [September 9, 2020, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-using-the-term-democrat-party-should-be-a-bannable-offense/920174/33 "2020-09-09T21:56:09Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > What bugs me about the term is they want to pretend that it _isn’t_ meant to be offensive. When people use those other terms, they _know_ it’s offensive, that’s the whole point. Own it. But owning it would bug you less, and the _aim_ is to bug you… ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2020, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-using-the-term-democrat-party-should-be-a-bannable-offense/920174/34 "2020-09-09T22:28:08Z")
Points I agree with have already been made above. But let me just add my (progressive/liberal) voice to those who oppose making “democrat party” a bannable offense. While I tire of posters who insist on writing “tRump” or other variants every single time they discuss politics, I’d hate to ban people on that basis. (And childish though it is, I’m sure I’ve referred to Trump as The Orange One or other sobriquets myself.) And our language rules should be non-partisan. If I expect conservative readers here to endure Cheeto references, it’s fair that I be expected to endure “democrat party.” ---
**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:** [September 9, 2020, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-using-the-term-democrat-party-should-be-a-bannable-offense/920174/35 "2020-09-09T22:33:27Z")
“Ban” is hyperbole - it should be treated like any other violation of the “don’t be a jerk” rule. Probably a mod note first, then a warning, and only a suspension or banning if the rule is broken again and again, or in some other way egregiously. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2020, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-using-the-term-democrat-party-should-be-a-bannable-offense/920174/36 "2020-09-09T22:37:03Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > “Ban” is hyperbole - it should be treated like any other violation of the “don’t be a jerk” rule. I accept this friendly amendment to my proposal. ---
**Author:** ![TheCuse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thecuse/32/2854_2.png) [@TheCuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheCuse)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2020, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-using-the-term-democrat-party-should-be-a-bannable-offense/920174/37 "2020-09-09T22:37:17Z")
I think both sides should cool it. Democrats here don’t like the term “Democrat Party,” and I’m sure Republicans don’t appreciate being called repukes or repukelicans. ---
**Author:** ![Kron](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kron/32/12444_2.png) [@Kron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kron)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2020, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-using-the-term-democrat-party-should-be-a-bannable-offense/920174/38 "2020-09-09T23:07:35Z")
I find the attitude behind it annoying as hell, but I’m mostly embarrassed that the idiots think it has some value as a dig… I don’t understand the offense behind the term. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2020, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-using-the-term-democrat-party-should-be-a-bannable-offense/920174/39 "2020-09-09T23:10:33Z")
Don’t ban anything. I emphatically disagree that we should be forced to use only proper terms in places like GQ, GD and P&E. This only benefits the MAGA asshats because they get their hate, racism and facism normalized even further when we’re forced to treat them as an equivalent to the forms of liberal silliness that pops up. As usual, the right demonstrates a mountain of bad behavior and then the left overreacts and self-polices itself to the point of basically disarming. When epithets are warranted we use them. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2020, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-using-the-term-democrat-party-should-be-a-bannable-offense/920174/40 "2020-09-09T23:14:02Z")
Some people (not necessarily Dopers, but some other folks) also genuinely are mistaken. In the same way that Republicans are exactly derived (spelling-wise) from the Republican Party, they think Democrats are of the Democrat Party. The difference between Democrat and Democratic may not have occurred to them. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-using-the-term-democrat-party-should-be-a-bannable-offense/920174.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-using-the-term-democrat-party-should-be-a-bannable-offense/920174.md?page=3)