When is a -tard not a -tard?

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1

We know that “libtard” is not allowed in GD, but it seems that “Freeptards” is OK. Can one of the mods explain this?

I’m one of the posters around here who will argue AGAINST those claiming liberal/conservative bias by the mods, but I can’t think of any way to avoid bias if you’re going to all -tard, as a suffix, in some instances but not in others. And as much as you guys like to avoid clear lines, this is one time when it makes sense to do so.

After all, what value does using that suffix add to a debate? None. I can see it now-- “all those Hillarytards are going to be surprised come the general!”

2

If no moderators were posting in that thread, and no one bothered to report the post(did you?), then they probably don’t know about it.

3

I’ll send it around the loop for discussion.

4

Is there a distinction between not being allowed to call people (out there) “libtards” because we also have liberals here and being allowed to call people (out there) “freeptards” because we’re pretty sure nobody here is a Free Republic type?

5

OK. Thanks.

Also, that post in question was a direct link to another message board, which I think we try and discourage, no?

6

You know, I find it kind of interesting (and not a little bit hypocritical) that the suffix “-tard” is ok when talking about people with conservative political views, but people around here get their politically correct panties in a double-knot when the term is used in any other way.

I’m not talking about the mods either.

7

What scares me is the hair splitting that this may lead to. Will we now need a list of approved words and verboten words?. So much of this type of “violations” will come down to *context and setting, *making this type of rulemaking counterproductive to the goals of the forum. Can’t this just remain a case by case call?
(yeah I know, case by case calls lead to claims of persecution and harassment - what was I thinking)

8

And I’m sure you’ve got examples(besides this single one which apparently wasn’t reported to the mods) to prove your point, right? Let’s see that hypocrisy.

9

I don’t know if that’s a reasonable inference from the lack of known Free Republic users. Anyone who goes there probably knows well enough not to talk about it here.

10

I think if the mods are going to prohibit one use of -tard then they should be consistent and prohibit all uses of it.

But it’s not clear that this was an example of inconsistency. It could be, as others have suggested, a case of something being overlooked.

11

From henceforth the following words will be prohibited:

mustard
custard
bastard
leotard
unitard
petard

Please post responsibly.

12

Those dastardly words.

13

It was not overlooked. This is not my first BBQ.

14

You didn’t mention that little tidbit in the OP. Sorry.

15

If freeptard was reported and allowed when libtard has been prohibited then I agree the mods are wrong. The two terms are equally bad.

16

Hoist by my own archaic term for a hand grenade.

17

No biggie. It’s just that given the choice between assuming it was reported and assuming it wasn’t, I didn’t understand why you would assume the latter. I’ve been around the block a few times. :wink:

18

If you hate cops and think they are stupid, does that make them leotards?

Is a mustard a cognitively challenged mouse?

If you’re a retail clerk telling stories about the idiotic things your customers do, are you talking about your custards?

If we don’t like a moderator decision, can we call them modtards?

If you think high-school Physical Education classes are dumb, are the teachers petards?

19

And if, as the next post, I quote you unnecessarily, am I a repetard?

20

My assumption is that you either go to ATMB first, or you wait until after you’ve reported and gotten a reply back that you thought was unsatisfactory. And I assumed you’d have mentioned that a mod had said that “freeptard” was okay.

I personally would be a fan of removing all -tard neologisms, though I admit I have a vested interest…