# Trolls R Us redux \[Now the argument clinic\] **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 27, 2020, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolls-r-us-redux-now-the-argument-clinic/913349 "2020-06-27T06:30:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 231
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2021, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolls-r-us-redux-now-the-argument-clinic/913349/4623 "2021-09-10T21:29:30Z")
As the moderator in question: From my point of view there was several parts to the Warning & Suspension. 1. the Title was highly offensive and triggering. 2. 6 flags in a little over 2 hours (and shutdown by a non-GD mod) 3. The post read a lot like a rape fantasy. 4. If it was a new poster, that poster would have been insta-banned as a troll. In other words the thread had the effect of trolling, though I do not believe the OP is a troll. No one ever said Rape threads were off-limits, but I will say, “Tread carefully, avoid trollish sounding Thread Titles and really avoid it coming off as a rape fantasy.” Additionally, though the OP doesn’t seem to get it, that thread was very Misogynistic. I did clearly state that part. * * * Oh, this is a statement. I’m not here to debate it. I think you made it clear already you don’t like the decision. I’m stating in general how I saw it. In fact I’m not suppose to debate it in the Pit. So just a flat statement. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2021, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolls-r-us-redux-now-the-argument-clinic/913349/4624 "2021-09-10T21:33:37Z")
I’m getting the feeling that I’m gonna get that pony before I get the list of potentially offensive topics the discussion of which is banned. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Librarian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_librarian/32/402_2.png) [@The\_Librarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Librarian)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2021, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolls-r-us-redux-now-the-argument-clinic/913349/4625 "2021-09-10T21:36:04Z")
Because the hypothetical was a tortured construct to provide a “moral” justification for rape. If you leave out the rest of the bullshit it comes down to “if you really want to or you think it serves some purpose rape is ok”. This kind of reasoning (while popular in incel circles) is more commonly known as rape apologist bullshit. To pretend it is some interesting “academic”debate is an insult to our intelligence. ---
**Author:** ![DemonTree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/demontree/32/8646_2.png) [@DemonTree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DemonTree)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2021, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolls-r-us-redux-now-the-argument-clinic/913349/4626 "2021-09-10T21:36:37Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > I AM TRYING TO EAT BREAKFAST In the middle of the night? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2021, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolls-r-us-redux-now-the-argument-clinic/913349/4627 "2021-09-10T21:36:56Z")
There is no list. I think you know that. There is also unlikely to be a Pony. Not too likely to get even an ice cream cone from here. How about a koan? _“Almost every wise saying has an opposite one, no less wise, to balance it.”_ ---
**Author:** ![DemonTree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/demontree/32/8646_2.png) [@DemonTree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DemonTree)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2021, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolls-r-us-redux-now-the-argument-clinic/913349/4628 "2021-09-10T21:38:06Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > Because the threat of getting tortured is not a situation that is routinely faces by many millions of Americans every single day. What’s so fucking special about Americans? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2021, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolls-r-us-redux-now-the-argument-clinic/913349/4629 "2021-09-10T21:42:55Z")
This same tired argument comes up every time some gross topic is shut down and the hand-wringing about ‘censorship’ and ‘intellectual freedom’ starts up. “Oh ho! Let’s discuss every hypothetical thing that might get shut down in every hypothetical future! Let’s draw every bright line, right here right now! I demand you give me a justification for allowing or banning every potential other gross topic! You can’t?! You won’t?! Then you’re obviously in the wrong!” The moderators are here to decide, in the moment, what does and doesn’t violate our community standards. I think they do a marvelous job. And we don’t allow the same breadth of conversations we allowed 20 years ago? Fucking **good.** Twenty years ago, a lot more garbage was perfectly acceptable in polite conversation than now. Times change. Folks should feel free to toddle off to one of those cesspool “free speech” platforms if you want the wild west. [Just watch out for the child porn](https://www.vice.com/en/article/v7engd/trump-gettr-app-child-abuse-problem). (Vice article, not a link to anything gross) I’m glad that this community, which I’ve also been part of for a very long time, is adapting and changing. I only wish we’d started before we lost posters over the lack of it. ---
**Author:** ![SmartAleq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smartaleq/32/163_2.png) [@SmartAleq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAleq)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2021, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolls-r-us-redux-now-the-argument-clinic/913349/4630 "2021-09-10T21:44:56Z")
> [@SenorBeef](#): > > Incidentally, you guys that are like “I didn’t come on a message board to read people writing a lot!” are the dumbest motherfuckers on the planet. It’s not the volume, it’s the idiocy. Brevity is the soul of wit. Fucknut. > [@MrDibble](#): > > Just fuck off, now, you don’t have anything useful or novel to say. “What’s that? Write another novel, you say?” – **Senior Beef,** probably. > [@DemonTree](#): > > In the middle of the night? _\*adds “time zones” to the list of things that confuse morons_\* ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2021, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolls-r-us-redux-now-the-argument-clinic/913349/4631 "2021-09-10T21:49:14Z")
You’d be at home in Afghanistan, North Korea, China, and a myriad of other places where expression is limited by the state and rabble. ---
**Author:** ![DemonTree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/demontree/32/8646_2.png) [@DemonTree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DemonTree)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2021, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolls-r-us-redux-now-the-argument-clinic/913349/4632 "2021-09-10T21:50:05Z")
> [@SmartAleq](#): > > It’s not the volume, it’s the idiocy. Brevity is the soul of wit. Fucknut. 🤣 🤣 🤣 And denial is not just a river in Egypt. > [@SmartAleq](#): > > \*_adds “time zones” to the list of things that confuse morons_ \* I daresay even you are capable of looking up the time in South Africa. I’ll wait. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2021, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolls-r-us-redux-now-the-argument-clinic/913349/4633 "2021-09-10T21:50:29Z")
> [@octopus](#): > > You’d be at home in Afghanistan, North Korea, China, and a myriad of other places where expression is limited by the state and rabble. 👍 😃 👍 ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2021, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolls-r-us-redux-now-the-argument-clinic/913349/4634 "2021-09-10T21:50:48Z")
Well, the focus is dishonest and the cognitive dissonance deliberate. That’s why the American left can denounce capitalism while sipping Starbucks and Tweeting on an iPhone. Some of which are made with literal slave labor. If only American lives matter than there is no problem demanding minimum wage here and exploiting slaves there. It’s no problem using drones to incinerate families there while needing a safe space from scary words here. ---
**Author:** ![DemonTree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/demontree/32/8646_2.png) [@DemonTree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DemonTree)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2021, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolls-r-us-redux-now-the-argument-clinic/913349/4635 "2021-09-10T21:51:57Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > No one ever said Rape threads were off-limits, but I will say, “Tread carefully, avoid trollish sounding Thread Titles and really avoid it coming off as a rape fantasy.” Not that I want more rape threads, but I’m glad to hear we won’t be suffering additional censorship in GD. Those sound like pretty reasonable rules. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2021, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolls-r-us-redux-now-the-argument-clinic/913349/4636 "2021-09-10T21:52:35Z")
> [@octopus](#): > > You’d be at home in Afghanistan, North Korea, China, and a myriad of other places where expression is limited by the state and rabble. This is so funny! If Ed came in and announced this as a new rule you’d think it was the bee’s knees! 🐝 ---
**Author:** ![The\_Librarian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_librarian/32/402_2.png) [@The\_Librarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Librarian)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2021, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolls-r-us-redux-now-the-argument-clinic/913349/4637 "2021-09-10T21:54:20Z")
So now authoritarian regimes are a bad thing? It’s hard to keep up. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2021, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolls-r-us-redux-now-the-argument-clinic/913349/4638 "2021-09-10T21:54:25Z")
> [@DemonTree](#): > > {…} I’m glad to hear we won’t be suffering additional censorship in GD {…} Additional? ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2021, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolls-r-us-redux-now-the-argument-clinic/913349/4639 "2021-09-10T22:06:06Z")
> [@DemonTree](#): > > What’s so fucking special about Americans? Nothing. This board just happens to mostly be populated with them. But getting tortured isn’t a threat that millions of British people are facing every day, either, so I’m not sure what you’re getting so worked up about. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2021, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolls-r-us-redux-now-the-argument-clinic/913349/4640 "2021-09-10T22:06:34Z")
Both of those hands facing the same direction was bugging me, so I whipped this up real quick. [![](https://i.ibb.co/W6sNMkg/Okay-Buddy.gif) ](https://i.ibb.co/W6sNMkg/Okay-Buddy.gif) Of course, somebody giving you a thumbs-up this way wouldn’t have their fingers towards you, but one step at a time I suppose. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2021, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolls-r-us-redux-now-the-argument-clinic/913349/4641 "2021-09-10T22:07:00Z")
Still no pony . . . but my cricket collection is getting legendary! ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2021, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolls-r-us-redux-now-the-argument-clinic/913349/4642 "2021-09-10T22:08:05Z")
Yeah. Authoritarianism be it a from a theocracy, dictatorship, or in the name of placating the mob is all bad. Don’t feign surprise. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolls-r-us-redux-now-the-argument-clinic/913349.md?page=230) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolls-r-us-redux-now-the-argument-clinic/913349.md?page=232)