What's the difference between calling a poster a c**t and...

suggesting they stuff a cactus up their cunt? Obviously there’s a difference. But in terms of “directing” the word at other posters? This must get a pass, since mods posted quite happily to that thread without a murmur. I just like to know where to draw the line - so it’s A-OK to refer to other posters’ cunts, but not call them cunts, is that the bright line? We’re saying the one kind of misogynistic slur is just peachy but the other, isn’t? Or it’s OK to be misogynistic to misogynists?

Not that I am in the least agreement with the poster being attacked, but I think that particular post deserved a Warning. Not even a Note, because that was clearly a very deliberate, malicious word choice to use, against someone who has particular views about women. As wrong as we may think those views are.

Traditionally the Pit language rules are enforced verbatim, to the letter, and no more or less. So this would be allowed.

A while back it was decided that “go fuck a cactus” is allowed even though “fuck you” isn’t, and that was probably the inspiration behind the unique choice of words in the post you mention.

Yeah, but we were told “cunt”, specifically, was a special word in the eyes of Ed, and there’s been that push to be a bit less misogynistic in general.

In terms of the Pit rules we’re told:

Telling someone to put a cactus in one isn’t the same thing as calling them one in the eyes of the law.

I guess, if we were in a court of law, that would matter…
and calling someone a cuntlapper is also not the same as calling them a cunt, BTW.

This has been the subject of quite a few threads over the years. Here are two examples from the recent past.

Why didn’t these posts in the Pit warrant any mod notice at all?

Restricted language in The Pitt

No, this is no court of law. For all their faults, courts of law do not—at least in this country—typically see random citizens show up to tattle on their neighbors and demand justice for petty slights that in no way involve them.

Like I said, I thought Ed considers cunt a special word, and those examples are just about fuck

Misogyny doesn’t “in no way involve” me. It very much does involve me.

And “tattle on their neighbours”? What is this to you, high school? Because to me, it’s a community, one where I’d prefer things like misogyny, racism and homophobia wasn’t tolerated. So I report instances of those things. And I ask for a Mod response here when I don’t get one to my post reports, so that I can be clear on whether I should be clicking that red exclamation in the future, or I was over-reacting.

Have any BBQ Pit Mods seen the post in question? (I realize the Marley has participated in the thread, but we tend to not Mod fora for which we are not directly responsible. Each forum has a “culture” that is more consistently Modded by those who routinely watch them.)

(Since I do not Mod the Pit, I too will refrain from speculating.)

I did report it yesterday.

He not only participated, he replied to that very post, without batting an eyelash. So* he’s *obviously A-OK with that particular style of vitriol.

Thanks for the laugh, I’m so glad that theatre of the absurd isn’t dead.

I also reported it. As I now know they’ve seen it (due to the report) and know that they haven’t acted upon it, I’ve got no beef with the decision. I thought it was a borderline statement, just didn’t know which side of the border it was on.

That said, it was a tough one to report, given the target.

True enough - but if we only cared about abuse when it happens to people we like, well, what good would we be?

AS it stands, I’d like a Pit Mod (or Admin I guess )to at least reply before I could say I was satisfied (or not, depending on what they say)

Theatre of the Nonny, more like.

The word Cunt as a description of female anatomy has actually be claimed by feminists as one of their own proud terms for a long time. They even have [a coloring book](http://www.amazon.com/Cunt-Coloring-Book-Tee-Corinne/dp/ 0867193719) (Amazon link but nsfw probably so I broke the link.)

And rappers have reclaimed nigger - i dare you to use it in a Pit thread, though…

The Bard of Avon! Much Ado About Nothing, I think it was?

I was thinking more Greek tragedy - with the anonymous masked chorus and all…

Maybe the mods realize the rules about “fuck you” and “cunt” are pretty ridiculous anyway, so if there is any technicality or loophole that gets them out of enforcing it, they take it?

No, this is the dope. Never mind…