# The Banning of Shodan **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [May 14, 2020, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-banning-of-shodan/853763 "2020-05-14T02:33:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2020, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-banning-of-shodan/853763/181 "2020-05-14T22:33:09Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > The point is that the word “harpy” has very specific behavioral connotations as well as being specifically gendered. It means a female creature carrying out a disgusting and vicious gratuitous attack. > > Of course, there **are** women who carry out disgusting and vicious gratuitous attacks, and I don’t think people do or should get into serious trouble for calling them “harpies”. If someone responds to a particularly nasty malicious diatribe by, say, Ann Coulter or Jenny McDermott by calling her a “harpy”, I doubt they’d get banned for it. > > But the researcher that **Shodan** attacked was merely discussing some of the dangers of unsupervised homeschooling and proposing that it be more strictly regulated. She wasn’t insulting anybody, she wasn’t being disgusting or vicious or gratuitously attacking anybody in any way. > > What she was doing was merely being a woman (and especially a middle-aged woman) expressing a reasoned and reasonable opinion that **Shodan** didn’t agree with. The only reason to call her a “harpy” was to get the misogyny-power boost of denigrating her gender, and by extension, all the other people who share her gender. I don’t see why the SDMB should be expected to consider that legitimate debate. Right, there is a clear difference. Not that I am condoning using that term vs Coulter or McDermott , but if one did, I’d be surprised if it earned more than a Note. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2020, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-banning-of-shodan/853763/182 "2020-05-14T22:39:14Z")
> [@UltraVires](#): > > This illustrates my point. You believe that Ann Coulter or Jenny McDermott could properly be called a harpy. Shodan believes that this Harvard professor fits the bill. > > That is a mere disagreement about substance yet you would attribute outright malice to Shodan because of your disagreement over the applicability of the term… No, it’s **Public Figure** vs some professor. And with either of them, one should link or quote some harpy like behavior on their part, some bit of pure nastiness. But not in that case with the professor. She just happened to be a _woman_ Shodan disagreed with. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2020, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-banning-of-shodan/853763/183 "2020-05-14T22:44:44Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > I might argue that writing and publishing somewhat controversial articles on sensitive topics makes the author a public figure and opens them up to criticism. Not name-calling but criticism. Someone who writes an article, but is otherwise unknown and noteworthy, attack the post, not the poster. Someone who has chosen to be in the public eye, I can see how they can be more fair game. That said, I don’t really see how insulting language like that really helps one to articulate a valid point or concern. I wouldn’t mind seeing a whole lot less of it in general. The entire point of insulting language is to inflame and upset people, which, IMHO, has very little place in a rational debate. In not just Shodan’s post, but in all the examples given of epithets attached to a figure’s name, I did not see how the insulting language did anything to advance the argument of the poster. But, I did see how it caused negative reactions in all the other posters. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2020, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-banning-of-shodan/853763/184 "2020-05-14T22:47:32Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > Someone who writes an article, but is otherwise unknown and noteworthy, attack the post, not the poster. > > Someone who has chosen to be in the public eye, I can see how they can be more fair game. > > That said, I don’t really see how insulting language like that really helps one to articulate a valid point or concern. I wouldn’t mind seeing a whole lot less of it in general. > > The entire point of insulting language is to inflame and upset people, which, IMHO, has very little place in a rational debate. In not just Shodan’s post, but in all the examples given of epithets attached to a figure’s name, I did not see how the insulting language did anything to advance the argument of the poster. But, I did see how it caused negative reactions in all the other posters. Agreed. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2020, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-banning-of-shodan/853763/185 "2020-05-14T22:52:33Z")
It pains me to say it, but the thread in which Melania Trump was called a cunt without any repercussions for the poster changes my opinion of **Shodan’s** banning and I think the sanction should be reduced. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2020, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-banning-of-shodan/853763/186 "2020-05-14T22:53:37Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > It pains me to say it, but the thread in which Melania Trump was called a cunt without any repercussions for the poster changes my opinion of **Shodan’s** banning and I think the sanction should be reduced. Once again-Was it reported? ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2020, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-banning-of-shodan/853763/187 "2020-05-14T22:54:50Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Once again-Was it reported? Does it matter? ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2020, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-banning-of-shodan/853763/188 "2020-05-14T22:57:29Z")
> [@Falchion](#): > > It took me less than 90 seconds using the board’s search function to find [a thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=22287286) from last week referring to both Melania and Ivanka Trump as a “cunt” with no apparent moderator action. Although, I do understand that there are different rules in different forums. I’m pretty sure it would rate a warning if someone reported it. As I understand it, mods don’t hover over threads looking for trouble. I personally would expect a warning for doing that in MPSIMS. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2020, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-banning-of-shodan/853763/189 "2020-05-14T22:58:44Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > Does it matter? :smack: Yes, it matters. If it was said outside of the Pit, and no one reported it, _then why would there be repercussions?_ ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2020, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-banning-of-shodan/853763/190 "2020-05-14T23:01:53Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Once again-Was it reported? I don’t know, I just found out about it today I think. I still think Emmett Till had it worse, but that’s liberal elites for ya. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2020, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-banning-of-shodan/853763/191 "2020-05-14T23:02:09Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > :smack: > Yes, it matters. If it was said outside of the Pit, and no one reported it, _then why would there be repercussions?_ Being serious, is it really to late for there to be repercussions? ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2020, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-banning-of-shodan/853763/192 "2020-05-14T23:07:55Z")
This won’t mean much, me having been **Shodan’s** biggest cheerleader for many years, but I also feel that the punishment exceeds the crime. I’d like to see him reinstated so that he can be shitcanned for something that has some teeth to it. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2020, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-banning-of-shodan/853763/193 "2020-05-14T23:09:15Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > Sorry, but I disagree that calling a specific woman a “harpy” somehow insults all women, everywhere. You might as well argue that calling a specific black person “n\_\_\_\_r” does NOT insult all black people, everywhere. (As in ‘Barack Obama is a [n-word].’ Most would agree that such a language choice _does indeed_ insult all black people. The term is an indictment of being black. The term is a claim that being black is, in and of itself, a negative condition. Similarly, “harpy”—when divorced from any specific context, as in an accusation that the woman is attacking unfairly or viciously as mythological harpies did—is an indictment of being female. It’s a way of claiming one-up status by dismissing what some particular woman has said or done, on the basis that she’s female (and therefore worth less). If this board doesn’t want to stand for that sort of messaging, that seems to me to be a legitimate position. ‘That person whose words I oppose is _female_–I rest my case’ might be messaging that would attract those looking for a _Boyz Clubhous No Gurls Allloud_ sort of experience. But that’s not what this place is about. As others have noted, “harpy” could be defended when an accusation of ‘being someone who attacks viciously and unfairly’ is being made. But the use Shodan made of it was nothing like that. It was just (again, as others have said): she’s female and I don’t like her message. I agree with those who’ve noted that a great deal of Shodan’s posting in political topics was intended to troll, and that it’s reasonable for those who run this message board to decide that’s not what the board is for. The banning seems reasonable to me given the long set of warnings and notes Shodan had received about doing deliberate trolling. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2020, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-banning-of-shodan/853763/194 "2020-05-14T23:10:27Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > Being serious, is it really to late for there to be repercussions? That would depend on what forum it was in, the context, _and whether it has been reported to the mods yet._ One report to the mods is much more effective then ten people saying to each other, “What about THIS post, huh?” ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2020, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-banning-of-shodan/853763/195 "2020-05-14T23:17:56Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > That would depend on what forum it was in, the context, _and whether it has been reported to the mods yet._ One report to the mods is much more effective then ten people saying to each other, “What about THIS post, huh?” I think it’s telling if Harvard Harpy was reported and the Melania comment was not reported. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2020, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-banning-of-shodan/853763/196 "2020-05-14T23:26:24Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > I think it’s telling if Harvard Harpy was reported and the Melania comment was not reported. Then you didn’t report it? ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2020, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-banning-of-shodan/853763/197 "2020-05-14T23:29:55Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Then you didn’t report it? I hate reporting things but I guess there is no other way. I wish we could bring back all or most of the provocateurs because they made the boards a more interesting and fun place. IMO Shodan was worn down by basically being one man vs many. Maybe they could make a Pit/Politics forum to let em all go after one another. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2020, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-banning-of-shodan/853763/198 "2020-05-14T23:32:03Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Then you didn’t report it? I don’t know what point you think you are making (obsessively). I’m finding this out in real time in this thread. I was unaware of either comment until Shodan’s banning and then the post on this page about the Melania comment. It sure seems you’re trying to distract and shutdown convesation that makes you uncomfortable. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2020, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-banning-of-shodan/853763/199 "2020-05-14T23:32:36Z")
He _had_ the Pit to crap all over things, but that just wasn’t good enough for him. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2020, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-banning-of-shodan/853763/200 "2020-05-14T23:36:03Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > No, it’s **Public Figure** vs some professor. And with either of them, one should link or quote some harpy like behavior on their part, some bit of pure nastiness. > > But not in that case with the professor. She just happened to be a _woman_ Shodan disagreed with. What does “public figure” have to do with it? This isn’t an invasion of privacy tort. I thought the standard was that you could insult any non-poster. And further, I agree that the best way to do it is provide links, but it has never been the standard that all GD or MPSIMS posts must conform to best practices. As stated prior, if you are concerned about the quality of posts, why not complain about the Tramp, Drumpf, his orangeness shit. That adds nothing and is also needlessly provocative. For whatever trolling or insulting comments Shodan made, I could literally go through GD right now and tick off 20 or so that are more provocative. It is telling that nobody felt the need to report calling Ivanka Trump a “cunt” but everyone called out Shodan for “harpy.” It is the weakest of weak sauce. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-banning-of-shodan/853763.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-banning-of-shodan/853763.md?page=11)