# 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:** 5
**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, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-thinly-veiled-racist-threads-continually-allowed-in-gd/638612/81 "2012-10-24T13:32:34Z")
> [@Revtim](#): > > I have this rare magical ability that if I get tired of a subject, I can **not open the fucking thread**. What about all the times when the racists insert their shit into a perfectly fine thread that otherwise was quite enjoyable? ---
**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, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-thinly-veiled-racist-threads-continually-allowed-in-gd/638612/82 "2012-10-24T13:33:16Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > What about all the times when the racists insert their shit into a perfectly fine thread that otherwise was quite enjoyable? Then it’s threadshitting and against the existing rules. ---
**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, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-thinly-veiled-racist-threads-continually-allowed-in-gd/638612/83 "2012-10-24T13:40:55Z")
> [@Revtim](#): > > Then it’s threadshitting and against the existing rules. But not avoidable, which is my point. ---
**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, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-thinly-veiled-racist-threads-continually-allowed-in-gd/638612/84 "2012-10-24T13:40:56Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > What about all the times when the racists insert their shit into a perfectly fine thread that otherwise was quite enjoyable? > [@Revtim](#): > > Then it’s threadshitting and against the existing rules. Or hijacking the thread, yes. And we’ve warned some of these posters for that exact behavior. [Here’s an example.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=13993557&postcount=111) I think I mentioned earlier that most of **New Deal Democrat** ’s warnings were for ignoring moderator instructions about posting his racial views in threads that were not about those subjects. ---
**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, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-thinly-veiled-racist-threads-continually-allowed-in-gd/638612/85 "2012-10-24T14:40:14Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > But not avoidable, which is my point. Not sure what your point is. It’s as avoidable as any other board restriction - the person doing it gets warnings, and is banned if they don’t stop. ---
**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, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-thinly-veiled-racist-threads-continually-allowed-in-gd/638612/86 "2012-10-24T15:00:52Z")
> [@Revtim](#): > > Not sure what your point is. Your point seemed to be “just don’t open those threads” - my point was that you can’t always know which threads those might be. Happily participating in some otherwise-interesting thread on Africa? Ha, surprise! Nobody expects the Racist Inquisition! > [@](#): > > It’s as avoidable as any other board restriction - the person doing it gets warnings, and is banned if they don’t stop. That’s great, but by that point, my board experience is _already_ greatly lessened. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2012, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-thinly-veiled-racist-threads-continually-allowed-in-gd/638612/87 "2012-10-24T15:14:11Z")
The mods are _psychotic_, not psychic. 😛 How are they supposed to predict when a post/er will be racist in nature? ---
**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, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-thinly-veiled-racist-threads-continually-allowed-in-gd/638612/88 "2012-10-24T15:18:03Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Your point seemed to be “just don’t open those threads” - my point was that you can’t always know which threads those might be. Happily participating in some otherwise-interesting thread on Africa? Ha, surprise! Nobody expects the Racist Inquisition! As noted, that’s hijacking the thread and we give mod notes and warnings for that. ---
**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, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-thinly-veiled-racist-threads-continually-allowed-in-gd/638612/89 "2012-10-24T15:19:05Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Your point seemed to be “just don’t open those threads” - my point was that you can’t always know which threads those might be. Happily participating in some otherwise-interesting thread on Africa? Ha, surprise! Nobody expects the Racist Inquisition! Sorry, still not getting your complete point. Do you think something proposed by the OP will prevent threadshitting, or are you just lamenting the inevitable douchebaggery that occasionally happens on a messageboard? ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2012, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-thinly-veiled-racist-threads-continually-allowed-in-gd/638612/90 "2012-10-24T15:53:03Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > - my point was that you can’t always know which threads those might be. Happily participating in some otherwise-interesting thread on Africa? Ha, surprise! Nobody expects the Racist Inquisition!. Nearly zero points for making a point. 11 plus for making a funny. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2012, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-thinly-veiled-racist-threads-continually-allowed-in-gd/638612/91 "2012-10-24T16:03:25Z")
> [@Lazlo Hapsburg](#): > > I would show you proof of that. But I am prohibited from showing you the contents of private messages… > > 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. If you did not feel free to publicly back up your assertions, you should not have made the accusation in public at all. If you were going to make your claim in an open thread, you should have posted your backup details in an open thread. Otherwise, kept shtum. ---
**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, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-thinly-veiled-racist-threads-continually-allowed-in-gd/638612/92 "2012-10-24T16:06:42Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > If you did not feel free to publicly back up your assertions, you should not have made the accusation in public at all. If you were going to make your claim in an open thread, you should have posted your backup details in an open thread. Otherwise, kept shtum. This hijack, in this and in other threads, has run its course. Further comments by Lazlo and further responses to Lazlo on the topic of an unidentified poster being banned for sock puppetry are now prohibited throughout ATMB. [/Moderating] ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2012, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-thinly-veiled-racist-threads-continually-allowed-in-gd/638612/93 "2012-10-24T19:59:18Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > 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” That’s not a problem. GD is the wrong forum for characterizing posters: that’s what the Pit is for. The problem is characterizing arguments as racist, as that’s using rather inflammatory language in practice. Speaking as a poster, I’d attempt a 2 step approach. 1) Verify that the poster is indeed a bigot. Don’t assume. Past pit threads can help. For first offenses, a couple of probes by you and other posters might be appropriate. Not just one. 2) Once tests are completed, t’s are crossed and i’s are dotted say, “Racists often make arguments like that. Here’s why they are confused.” Now that’s pretty inflammatory as well. Which is why I stress the importance of step 1. And we’re operating on pretty rough and mod-monitored territory here. IANAMod, this is not a suggestion to anyone. As a straight white guy, I typically avoid these discussions altogether. I concede I would be far less blase if I were at blunt end of these attitudes. In fact, I’d probably find the situation untenable and if I had sufficient presence of mind (unclear) would go GIGO and even perhaps CarnalK on their asses. ---
**Author:** ![brickbacon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/898d66/32.png) [@brickbacon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brickbacon)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2012, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-thinly-veiled-racist-threads-continually-allowed-in-gd/638612/94 "2012-10-25T00:45:10Z")
> [@Revtim](#): > > I guess you have a “remembering what I just posted even though it was quoted by what I’m responding to problem”, huh? Dude, are you on drugs on something? Here was my first post in this thread: [QUOTE=me] Now, I am sure you guys are saying, “well, just expose their folly through debate”. **The problem is that we have. Time and time again. I cannot count how many hours I (and others) have spent exposing these people’s true beliefs and motives, and the worthlessness of their claims.** [/QUOTE] Now, of course, buy your twisted logic, “we” means “me and only me”. > [@Revtim](#): > > You said, in response to us suggesting you simply not open the goddamn threads: 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. Or, it makes sense to answer a question with “I” when the question is asked of me. You make some big stink about how _I_ should not complain, but rather that _I_ should not open the threads. _I_ responded with what _I_ usually do. This is really not that complicated. > [@Revtim](#): > > I have this rare magical ability that if I get tired of a subject, I can **not open the fucking thread**. As someone already explained to you, the drivel is not just contained to threads with clear racial overtones. More importantly, the frequency of the posts, and the character of the posters leads many to not bother trying to argue points with someone known as a dishonest and racist. You can see the difference in the amount of push-back they get in recent threads vs. older ones. I understand why people decide they don’t want to bother getting involved, but allowing that bullshit to stand has real negative consequences I think we should all strive to avoid. ---
**Author:** ![humblebumble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5e925/32.png) [@humblebumble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/humblebumble)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2012, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-thinly-veiled-racist-threads-continually-allowed-in-gd/638612/95 "2012-10-25T01:23:10Z")
Unfortunately, racism is still prevalent in our society. You have to understand that these people you mentioned feel comfortable behind their digital wall. They would never show their true colors in real life because emotionally, they are scared little children. You are merely seeing their true colors because they are under the veil of anonymity. Some people desperately cling to their imaginary social order where white people are on top. It makes them feel better themselves, and it will never stop. Some people have the need to constantly oppress groups of people. In the real world, their attempts at oppression will fall upon deaf ears. However, on the Internet, they can call upon anonymous users with similar thoughts to join in their crusade. Don’t take the snark personally. It makes some people feel better about themselves, usually because they feel they cannot rise above their own failures without putting other people down. It’s easy to use someone else as a scapegoat. It’s easier to use an entire race of people as scapegoats. I understand your feelings. You just need to rise above it and go on with your life. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2012, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-thinly-veiled-racist-threads-continually-allowed-in-gd/638612/96 "2012-10-25T01:44:11Z")
> [@](#): > > Why are thinly veiled racist threads continually allowed in GD? Because they have no place in the Game Room. ---
**Author:** ![Kozmik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8dc957/32.png) [@Kozmik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kozmik)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2012, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-thinly-veiled-racist-threads-continually-allowed-in-gd/638612/97 "2012-10-25T01:46:50Z")
> [@humblebumble](#): > > Some people desperately cling to their imaginary social order where white people are on top. Unlike the real social order where no _one_ is on top. ---
**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 25, 2012, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-thinly-veiled-racist-threads-continually-allowed-in-gd/638612/98 "2012-10-25T11:41:27Z")
> [@Revtim](#): > > Sorry, still not getting your complete point. My point is that “Don’t open the fucking thread” is an incomplete response to the problem, basically. ---
**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 25, 2012, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-thinly-veiled-racist-threads-continually-allowed-in-gd/638612/99 "2012-10-25T11:45:02Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > As noted, that’s hijacking the thread and we give mod notes and warnings for that. Already acknowledged - but you get my point about how my board experience would _already_ be ruined by that point? ---
**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 25, 2012, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-thinly-veiled-racist-threads-continually-allowed-in-gd/638612/100 "2012-10-25T13:16:36Z")
> [@brickbacon](#): > > Or, it makes sense to answer a question with “I” when the question is asked of me. You make some big stink about how _I_ should not complain, but rather that _I_ should not open the threads. _I_ responded with what _I_ usually do. This is really not that complicated. No, it’s not complicated. If you don’t like the threads, don’t open them. Nothing could be simpler, really. What gets complicated is when you for some reason expect the rest of the board to change, instead of you. And before you respond again with something about these racists needing to be confronted, note I am suggesting that only _you_ not open them, not everybody on the board. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-thinly-veiled-racist-threads-continually-allowed-in-gd/638612.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-thinly-veiled-racist-threads-continually-allowed-in-gd/638612.md?page=6)