That’s all fair enough. Although, for what it’s worth (at least in my head), my view of “how moderation happens” included reporting and moderation. It was about what we, as a community, want to tolerate and not tolerate. I did not assume (or intend to suggest) that this language was being reported, but not acted upon. Your point about “reading” is well-taken.
I take your question.
To paraphrase another poster who was paraphrasing John Mulaney, this analogy does not hold. I know that because you use the word “harpy” but use “n_____r” in place of the racial slur.
Well, more like because of his views on minorities…
To paraphrase another poster who was paraphrasing John Mulaney, this analogy does not hold. I know that because you use the word “harpy” but use “n_____r” in place of the racial slur.
It’s a dubious honour, having one of my posts compared with the one that got Shodan banned. It probably goes without saying that my socio-political opinions have always run in contrast to his. But if not, there, it’s said.
For those who were offended by my comments about Melania and Ivanka in other threads, I offer an not entirely endearing Hitchian response of, “You’re offended? So what. I’m still waiting to hear your counter-argument.” So clutch your pearls, faint on the couch and bunch your panties all you want. Because if you don’t quite see the difference between the insult I leveled at two particular highly public individuals who have done some pretty loathsome things in public life, and the insult leveled by Shodan at a professor who didn’t even disagree with him on the specific topic of discussion, then I’m afraid I’m at a loss for words to explain it to you. We are all at liberty to interpret words and intent as we see fit. We are free to ignore context to reach conclusions that we prefer. But be mindful that** Shodan**'s posting history showed a very specific pattern of behaviour over the years and those in a position to make the decision to ban him did so using that knowledge. No doubt my posting history shows a specific pattern some may not find agreeable. But I hope it is not disagreeable in nearly the same way.
That said, I feel like “harpie”, while bad, should not have been the final straw. Nor obviously his conservative views in a predominantly liberal leaning board. What should have been the final straw is his ongoing disingenuous approach to many debates and frequent refusal to argue in good faith. But his thinly veiled misogyny and bigotry… those were features. Offensive ones to many of us, to be sure. But I’m wondering if some of us are working a little too hard at never being offended. Including those who dislike my use of the word “cunt” as cited in this thread.
If we are ranking slurs, then yes, the n-word gets top billing.
That does not make other slurs acceptable.
My take on a slur is anytime you are insulting an individual by associating them with a group, which insults the group. Both the N-word and the H-word do this. That the former is associated with far more horror and hatred than the latter does not give the latter a pass.
Unlike H, there is no time when you should use the n-word. If I am talking about my next quest in World of Warcraft, and I have to collect feathers from a dozen harpies, then that is a perfectly acceptable and non offensive use of the word. If I am talking about the 1800’s and I am referring to those who are enslaved, then the use of the N-word would have very few non offensive places.
dup
The banning is bullshit but not unexpected. Triggering the 97% equals trolling while the 97% can get away with a lot more because its “obviously” warranted and accurate. There can’t possibly be any personal pleasure in it either because… social justice blah blah blah
Well that’s a nice glib way to wriggle out of it. Possibly a technique you have found effective in similar situations in the past.
But in the context of this discussion it’s worth noting that you can get away with this type of move because your positions are well within the mainstream of this particular MB and people have noticed your 42,000 posts defending positions that they mostly agree with but don’t have as much time to elucidate. So you have buddies who will watch your back.
But if a guy in Shodan’s position on the spectrum of board opinion were to misrepresent his opponents’ positions in the exact manner that you just did, it would provoke a much stronger counter-reaction, and if he tried to blow it off in the manner that you just did it would provoke people even more - possibly spawn a Pit thread on the subject - and eventually contribute in an incremental way to his being banned over some minor/dubious infraction.
I’m almost convinced. Perhaps if you list some of the loathsome things that Melania Trump has done in public life, I’ll be 100% convinced.
Don’t you think that this phrasing is somewhat sexist and undercuts the point you are trying to make?
I don’t see any value in misogynistic slurs like “cunt” (not 100% sure if “cunt” is a misogynistic slur in every English dialect, but it is in American English) and even “harpy” and I have absolutely no problem with the board deciding they’re unacceptable. Including when used against conservative high-profile women (and even the Trumps!).
I would LOVE if it were possible to have a debate on this board without resorting to insults of each other or third parties. But it’s been board culture for as long as I’ve been here that mocking, condescension, hyperbole, sarcasm and snideness have all been accepted here. If it’s accepted on one side, it needs to be accepted by all parties.
I went to check out the thread that this started with. A few posts in, I see this.
Hysterical is a misogynistic word according to this article and many others that I’ve read. If you do a search on hysterical and misogyny, you’ll find a bunch of articles on this. Here are a few.
Everyday Misogyny: 122 Subtly Sexist Words about Women (and what to do about them)
Hysterical is on the list of misogynistic terms in this article.
Here’s another article.
On the sexist etimology of “hysteria,” and what academia did about it
And another.
The word hysterical no longer silences women. Nice try, Chancellor
My point is that if you’re combing through people’s posts with a fine tooth comb and looking for anything that can be categorized as misogyny in a place where hyperbole and sarcasm are allowed, you’re going to find it. But to point it out for some people and not for others should not be the standard.
I didn’t know what this meant, so I looked it up. For anyone else that didn’t know this, it’s supposedly a meme that says “The only things the American people really got out of the ordeal was this new sassy way to be dismissive”
In other words, a convenient way to dodge a question when someone doesn’t want to answer.
It’s so true, words are dangerous. Even the ones that seem harmless today can be weaponized. Best if we don’t allow any of them.
That’s not a slippery slope-that’s the cliffs of Dover.
I’m hoping all posts will be required to be in emoji language. Then we can discuss whether or not the eggplant emoji is racist and if the opening flower emoji is sexist.
This is not the time or the place. Also, not my job. I can sleep at night knowing we disagree about this. It offends me not in the least.
No. Do you think responses like yours underscore my point?
Would you go as far as to classify them as “hate speech”? Or does hate speech require more context than simply the use of words “cunt” and “harpie”?