# When is a -tard not a -tard? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [April 14, 2015, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-a-tard-not-a-tard/717639 "2015-04-14T13:39:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2015, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-a-tard-not-a-tard/717639/1 "2015-04-14T13:39:40Z")
We know that [“libtard”](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=14125549&postcount=3) is not allowed in GD, but it seems that [“Freeptards”](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=18281924&postcount=22) is OK. Can one of the mods explain this? > [@Marley23](#): > > Disparaging comments about political groups and figures are expressly allowed in GD and we’re not going to change that. But we can set some modest limits for civility’s sake. I think “libtards” is a bridge too far. 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!” ---
**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:** [April 14, 2015, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-a-tard-not-a-tard/717639/2 "2015-04-14T14:08:04Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2015, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-a-tard-not-a-tard/717639/3 "2015-04-14T14:12:30Z")
I’ll send it around the loop for discussion. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2015, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-a-tard-not-a-tard/717639/4 "2015-04-14T14:42:42Z")
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? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2015, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-a-tard-not-a-tard/717639/5 "2015-04-14T14:58:42Z")
> [@Jonathan\_Chance](#): > > I’ll send it around the loop for discussion. OK. Thanks. Also, that post in question was a direct link to another message board, which I think we try and discourage, no? ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2015, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-a-tard-not-a-tard/717639/6 "2015-04-14T15:01:38Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2015, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-a-tard-not-a-tard/717639/7 "2015-04-14T15:12:45Z")
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) ---
**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:** [April 14, 2015, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-a-tard-not-a-tard/717639/8 "2015-04-14T15:16:49Z")
> [@bump](#): > > 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. 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. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Joker\_and\_the\_Thief](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e79b87/32.png) [@The\_Joker\_and\_the\_Thief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Joker_and_the_Thief)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2015, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-a-tard-not-a-tard/717639/9 "2015-04-14T15:34:41Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > 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? 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. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2015, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-a-tard-not-a-tard/717639/10 "2015-04-14T15:50:58Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2015, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-a-tard-not-a-tard/717639/11 "2015-04-14T15:56:34Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I think if the mods are going to prohibit one use of -tard then they should be consistent and prohibit all uses of it. From henceforth the following words will be prohibited: mustard custard bastard leotard unitard petard Please post responsibly. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2015, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-a-tard-not-a-tard/717639/12 "2015-04-14T16:36:59Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > From henceforth the following words will be prohibited: > > mustard > custard > bastard > leotard > unitard > petard > > Please post responsibly. Those dastardly words. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2015, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-a-tard-not-a-tard/717639/13 "2015-04-14T16:54:21Z")
> [@Czaechasm](#): > > besides this single one which apparently wasn’t reported to the mods > [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > 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. It was not overlooked. This is not my first BBQ. ---
**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:** [April 14, 2015, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-a-tard-not-a-tard/717639/14 "2015-04-14T16:57:56Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > It was not overlooked. This is not my first BBQ. You didn’t mention that little tidbit in the OP. Sorry. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2015, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-a-tard-not-a-tard/717639/15 "2015-04-14T17:47:06Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > It was not overlooked. This is not my first BBQ. If freeptard was reported and allowed when libtard has been prohibited then I agree the mods are wrong. The two terms are equally bad. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2015, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-a-tard-not-a-tard/717639/16 "2015-04-14T17:49:08Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > From henceforth the following words will be prohibited: > > mustard > custard > bastard > leotard > unitard > petard > > Please post responsibly. Hoist by my own archaic term for a hand grenade. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2015, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-a-tard-not-a-tard/717639/17 "2015-04-14T18:52:34Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > You didn’t mention that little tidbit in the OP. Sorry. 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. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2015, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-a-tard-not-a-tard/717639/18 "2015-04-14T22:07:44Z")
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? ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2015, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-a-tard-not-a-tard/717639/19 "2015-04-14T22:10:31Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > 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? And if, as the next post, I quote you unnecessarily, am I a repetard? ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2015, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-a-tard-not-a-tard/717639/20 "2015-04-14T22:22:13Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > 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. 😉 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… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-a-tard-not-a-tard/717639.md?page=2)