# Why are thinly veiled racist threads continually allowed in GD? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [October 23, 2012, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-thinly-veiled-racist-threads-continually-allowed-in-gd/638612 "2012-10-23T13:32:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![brickbacon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/898d66/32.png) [@brickbacon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brickbacon)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2012, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-thinly-veiled-racist-threads-continually-allowed-in-gd/638612/61 "2012-10-23T20:53:56Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > I’m saying if they are not breaking the rules, then they’re not going to get warned for rules violations. Their positions on these topics are not against the rules. I am saying it should be against the rules, or you should allow people to respond in a manner befitting their arguments. ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Wayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4bbf92/32.png) [@Charlie\_Wayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Wayne)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2012, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-thinly-veiled-racist-threads-continually-allowed-in-gd/638612/62 "2012-10-23T21:11:38Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > This is simply untrue. No moderator called you a liar, or said you were lying. If you think we did, please link to the posts. > > On the other hand, you have several times accused us of lying, while failing to produce any evidence of it, either in public or private. > > At any rate, this is a hijack and completely off topic. If you want to continue to complain about this fantasy, open another thread. > > ETA: I see that Marley addressed this already. I cannot open another thread because I am prohibited from discussing these matters in public. I would show you proof of that. But I am prohibited from showing you the contents of private messages. As for calling you a liar, here is exactly what I said, "“Wow! I’m really shocked you would make a post that is so blatantly untrue.” That is not the same as calling you a liar. You could easily have been mistaken since you were not there and do know know the facts. There are many other reasons why someone could post something that was not true without them being a liar. Aside from mistake, there is also misunderstanding (it may have been possible that you did not understand something), misinformation (someone may have informed you of something incorrectly). In any event, I would never give you the name of the party who was banned for several reasons. Not the least of which was that some mod said they would publish the name. I would never give you the name without first getting permission form that permission. Did you never stop to think that it would be improper for someone to give out info without having permission from whoever was involved? Even if such permission was forthcoming, it would almost certainly not include some mod from posting and making public. Don’t you see how offensive it can be to be told that you want to know the name and on the same day saying that if I told you the name, it would be posted publicly. I’m sorry I can’t remember exactly which of the mods said it would be made publicly. I’m hoping you will so I don’t have to take a lot of time to look back at the history and show it to you in what will likely be a lost cause anyway. I just wanted to let you know, this was no fantasy and it is profoundly unfair for you to tell me to open another thread when Marley has specifically prohibited me in a PM from ever discussing this matter pubilcy again. ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Wayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4bbf92/32.png) [@Charlie\_Wayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Wayne)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2012, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-thinly-veiled-racist-threads-continually-allowed-in-gd/638612/63 "2012-10-23T21:21:05Z")
The above post was made in error. I would ask any mod to please delete it. ---
**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:** [October 23, 2012, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-thinly-veiled-racist-threads-continually-allowed-in-gd/638612/64 "2012-10-23T21:21:34Z")
> [@Lazlo Hapsburg](#): > > I’m sorry I can’t remember exactly which of the mods said it would be made publicly. I’m hoping you will so I don’t have to take a lot of time to look back at the history and show it to you in what will likely be a lost cause anyway. Say _what?!?_ ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2012, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-thinly-veiled-racist-threads-continually-allowed-in-gd/638612/65 "2012-10-23T21:40:03Z")
> [@Mods banning people when they seem to have offered another chance?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-banning-people-when-they-seem-to-have-offered-another-chance/635140/81): > > In the mod/Admin loop, we share. > > Based on all posts/PMs so far, it won’t show up. Nothing about the supposed banned name being made public, just that it would be shared amongst the staff. ---
**Author:** ![Garfield226](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Garfield226](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Garfield226)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2012, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-thinly-veiled-racist-threads-continually-allowed-in-gd/638612/66 "2012-10-23T22:05:19Z")
> [@Lazlo Hapsburg](#): > > I would show you proof of that. But I am prohibited from showing you the contents of private messages. I don’t know about your specific case, but this is generally false. While it may be uncouth to reveal what was intended to be a private message, I believe it isn’t against the rules per se. ---
**Author:** ![Cheshire\_Human](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Cheshire\_Human](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheshire_Human)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2012, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-thinly-veiled-racist-threads-continually-allowed-in-gd/638612/67 "2012-10-23T22:24:10Z")
> [@Lazlo Hapsburg](#): > > I recall just a week ago how two of them just outright called me a liar when I was not lying one little bit. > > They seemed to base this opinion on the fact that I would not rise to their challenge to provide them with some information about someone when most anyone would or should realize that before someone can make known some private info, they really need to first of all get permission. But when you show up and start acting like an idiot, and they speculate that you might _be_ an idiot on that basis, and you then proceed to prove that you are, in fact an idiot, by the questions you are 'just asking, so they conclude that you really _are_ one, are they wrong, or just oversensitive to idiocy? I can’t understand this, so I’m ‘just asking questions’, here, OK? ---
**Author:** ![Cheshire\_Human](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Cheshire\_Human](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheshire_Human)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2012, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-thinly-veiled-racist-threads-continually-allowed-in-gd/638612/68 "2012-10-23T22:53:46Z")
> [@brickbacon](#): > > Um, I live with it too :dubious:. Did you think I am so affected by this that it’s affecting my health? I see you may have a problem with [Irony](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irony). Perhaps that link will help. [Sarcasm](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarcasm) might also be a term you should get to know. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2012, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-thinly-veiled-racist-threads-continually-allowed-in-gd/638612/69 "2012-10-23T23:49:09Z")
> [@Lazlo Hapsburg](#): > > I just wanted to let you know, this was no fantasy and it is profoundly unfair for you to tell me to open another thread when Marley has specifically prohibited me in a PM from ever discussing this matter pubilcy again. My post was made before I saw **Marley’s** instructions to you. I agree that you should let the matter drop rather than make any new threads on the subject. And don’t hijack other threads to complain about it. I’m not going to try to discuss this further with you, because it’s obvious at this point it’s pointless. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2012, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-thinly-veiled-racist-threads-continually-allowed-in-gd/638612/70 "2012-10-24T03:26:34Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > Because **tomndebb** thinks they have merit. **Marley** may, too. It’s especially odd seeing as **Chief Pedant** ’s position is irrelevant to his current thread, and he admits he knows it is inflammatory. But someone can always justify it. > > What was most upsetting was telling **Ibq** that he couldn’t post responses to what appeared to be baiting, but Chief Pedant was allowed to continue making those remarks. Surely both should have been against the rules. Especially, as again, the topic of whether race-based differences are inherent was completely irrelevant to the point made in the OP that the Supreme Court should stop beating about the bush and just accept racial quotas based on current demographics. This is just silly. Any review of my frequent posts in the various “race” threads going back to April, 1999, and further back into the AOL board, will demonstrate that I find no “merit” in any of the various race claims that are put forth. On the other hand, I see no reason to believe that calling people names is a way to rebut an argument. People who supported the Iraq invasion did not win arguments by calling their opponents traitors. People who favor gun control do not win any arguments by referring to their opponents as “gun nuts.” If both sides engage in name-calling, the actual points of the discussion get lost in the yelling. If one side is able to drive off their opponents with name-calling, then the arguments of those driven off remain unanswered and the next person who wishes to advance them has an opening claim that the louder yelling side never “really” won the debate, but simply out-shouted their opponents. (And I certainly have to say that I enjoy the irony of a poster who has made a hobby–or, perhaps a fixation-- of complaints that the rules regarding insults in Great Debates should both be broadened and be much more strictly enforced now calling for the complete suspension of those rules if insult happens to include the word “racist.”) ---
**Author:** ![Cheshire\_Human](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Cheshire\_Human](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheshire_Human)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2012, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-thinly-veiled-racist-threads-continually-allowed-in-gd/638612/71 "2012-10-24T03:46:37Z")
> [@tomndebb](#): > > (And I certainly have to say that I enjoy the irony of a poster who has made a hobby–or, perhaps a fixation-- of complaints that the rules regarding insults in Great Debates should both be broadened and be much more strictly enforced now calling for the complete suspension of those rules if insult happens to include the word “racist.”) **BigT** … _Bless his heart!_ He’s _such_ a valuable poster, isn’t he! ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2012, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-thinly-veiled-racist-threads-continually-allowed-in-gd/638612/72 "2012-10-24T04:04:22Z")
> [@Cheshire\_Human](#): > > **BigT** … _Bless his heart!_ He’s _such_ a valuable poster, isn’t he! You…do…realize that the snarkiness of that post may have shortened BigT’s life by months–maybe years, right? A single snarky comment can kill a person according to BigT. You _monster_. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Cheshire\_Human](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Cheshire\_Human](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheshire_Human)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2012, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-thinly-veiled-racist-threads-continually-allowed-in-gd/638612/73 "2012-10-24T04:13:39Z")
> [@Fenris](#): > > You _monster_. :mad: I try my best… But he’s still here… Oh, well… ---
**Author:** ![bldysabba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecccb3/32.png) [@bldysabba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bldysabba)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2012, 9:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-thinly-veiled-racist-threads-continually-allowed-in-gd/638612/74 "2012-10-24T09:27:10Z")
**Brickbacon** It may seem like I have my toes on the wrong side of the political correctness line here, but bear with me and I’ll try and summarize my understanding of the latest thread started by Chief Pedant 1. Blacks in America score lower, on average, than other communities regardless of economic background\* 2. Therefore, race/ethnicity should be allowed as a criterion for providing affirmative action instead of economic background Now, I know Chief Pedant’s explanation for point 1) is usually `genes’. But in this case, if point 1) is true, it doesn’t matter what his explanation for it is. If point 1) is actually true, then the rest of his thesis still holds even if his explanation for point 1) is wrong. What’s more, if you believe affirmative action is useful (I don’t), his suggestion would be more helpful to the black community. Also, these words… > [@](#): > > Originally posted by **Chief Pedant** > As to the overall good of SIRE-based diversity…I hold that as a given. …don’t seem like they would be held by someone who is involved in spreading hatred against other races. \*I do not have a view on whether this is true or not ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2012, 9:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-thinly-veiled-racist-threads-continually-allowed-in-gd/638612/75 "2012-10-24T09:52:28Z")
I’m just going to continue linking all these types of threads that come to my notice back to the [SDMB Bigoted Asshole Omnibus Thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=653465&highlight=bigot&page=74), if that’s still OK, mods? Otherwise I’ve given up attempting to engage every instance of racist prattle **CP** and **Chen** put out. ---
**Author:** ![voltaire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voltaire/32/313_2.png) [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2012, 9:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-thinly-veiled-racist-threads-continually-allowed-in-gd/638612/76 "2012-10-24T09:55:23Z")
> [@bldysabba](#): > > What’s more, if you believe affirmative action is useful (I don’t), his suggestion would be more helpful to the black community. (I don’t want to get into a discussion/debate about this in this ATMB thread (or anywhere, really), so just consider this something to ponder about what you just said, since I won’t be replying in this vein any further.) If someone considers AA useful, they just _might_ not consider it useful when it’s premised on and designed around the assertion that Blacks are inherently/genetically inferior, intellectually. I mean, shit, at that point you’d have to come up with a different name for whatever that is, because it wouldn’t be AA. What would be the end-point or goal? Corrective breeding? :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2012, 10:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-thinly-veiled-racist-threads-continually-allowed-in-gd/638612/77 "2012-10-24T10:08:11Z")
> [@tomndebb](#): > > On the other hand, I see no reason to believe that calling people names is a way to rebut an argument. People who supported the Iraq invasion did not win arguments by calling their opponents traitors. People who favor gun control do not win any arguments by referring to their opponents as “gun nuts.” The difference is, there are no honest\* terms to describe such people that aren’t taken as insulting because it’s such a thoroughly discredited position (ie racist or bigot). We can talk about gun owners or Iraq war supporters and _call_ them “gun owners” and “Iraq war supporters” without anyone claiming that’s an insult. Where’s the equivalent neutral term for referring to racists? There isn’t any - so instead we have to spend a huge amount of time dancing around the elephant in the living room, never using the only terms available. And frankly, the debate over racism has largely been won by shaming the racists and shouting them down, with a hefty dose of force & coercion thrown in. If they were amenable to reason, they wouldn’t be racists. - As opposed to a blatant propaganda phrase like “race realist” ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2012, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-thinly-veiled-racist-threads-continually-allowed-in-gd/638612/78 "2012-10-24T11:51:53Z")
I do not accept the fundy premise that shaming is a good thing in a debate forum. Whatever might happen in the politial and social spheres, I do not pretend that we are actually changing society in our little cyber bar. We are getting together to swap stories, exchange information, and argue. This board is left-leaning with streaks of libertarianism and atheism. To the extent that we cower people into silence, we simply reduce the amount of information that we share. A lot of the “information” posted here is wrong, but the dynamics of the board work better when we demonstrate error than when we chase away the people with whom we disagree. When we have silenced all the people who do not hold the “correct” views on a range of topics, we will be left with a boring little clique of posters who are simply posting +1 and QFT after any OP. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2012, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-thinly-veiled-racist-threads-continually-allowed-in-gd/638612/79 "2012-10-24T12:20:00Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > I’m just going to continue linking all these types of threads that come to my notice back to the [SDMB Bigoted Asshole Omnibus Thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=653465&highlight=bigot&page=74), if that’s still OK, mods? Go to it and good luck. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2012, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-thinly-veiled-racist-threads-continually-allowed-in-gd/638612/80 "2012-10-24T13:06:28Z")
> [@brickbacon](#): > > I guess you have a reading comprehension problem, huh? I didn’t say I was the only one who bothered responding, nor did I imply that absent my response, the racist claims would go unanswered. My point was that I, and others, judging by the reduction in responses, are tired of refuting the same stuff over and over again. I guess you have a “remembering what I just posted even though it was quoted by what I’m responding to problem”, huh? You said, in response to us suggesting you simply not open the goddamn threads: > [@](#): > > I do usually ignore the threads, but the frequency and negative consequences of ignoring them completely makes it hard for me to do. It’s one thing to ignore some of the laughably transparent threads, but when someone who is seemingly reasonable presents a bunch of seemingly legit pseudo science, ignoring means some non trivial number of people will buy into that bullshit, thereby making my real life more difficult. This only makes sense if you have some kind of delusion of grandeur that your personal response is necessary to prevent that “non trivial” number of people from becoming racist. The rest of the rabble here might try to make some arguments, but only the mighty intellect of **brickbacon** can _really_ save the fence-sitters from descending into cross-burning mobs… :rolleyes: > [@brickbacon](#): > > I think it’s clear that I understand that threads I don’t like will exist. My point is this allowing the same group of posters to post redundant threads in GD when they don’t intend to engage in honest debate, when others are not allowed to accurately characterize their behavior, and when their conduct reflects poorly on the board itself does not serve the interests of anyone here. It serves the interest of those of us who wish to fight the ignorance of racism. If you don’t wish to do so, your solution is to **not open the goddamn thread**. > [@brickbacon](#): > > Should I be able to post a weekly threads intimating the holocaust never happened? Should I be able to start “debates” about products I am selling, or post transparent advertisements I am paid to post? Of course not. I think the reason are obvious. Post whatever you want. I have this rare magical ability that if I get tired of a subject, I can **not open the fucking thread**. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-thinly-veiled-racist-threads-continually-allowed-in-gd/638612.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-thinly-veiled-racist-threads-continually-allowed-in-gd/638612.md?page=5)