# Why is calling Trump Supporters MAGAts allowed? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [July 31, 2024, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-calling-trump-supporters-magats-allowed/1005060 "2024-07-31T14:23:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2024, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-calling-trump-supporters-magats-allowed/1005060/81 "2024-08-02T23:12:09Z")
Maybe in a MMPers thread or some other frivolous fare… but in Politics and Elections? Or Great Debates? Just don’t do it. Save it for Facebook. There is no such thing as a good GIF in a serious discussion. ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2024, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-calling-trump-supporters-magats-allowed/1005060/82 "2024-08-02T23:18:02Z")
> [@CoolHandCox](#): > > It’s clearly a homophone of maggot. It’s derogatory. I would not pronounce those two words the same, and I honestly didn’t think of MAGAt as pejorative. It’s just quicker to type than “Trump-supporters”. ---
**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:** [August 2, 2024, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-calling-trump-supporters-magats-allowed/1005060/83 "2024-08-02T23:36:41Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > There are some opinions that are so objectively repugnant and dangerous, that those who hold them can and should be severely criticized. _Dehumanizing_ is perhaps a step too far, but MAGAt doesn’t seem akin to “vermin,” etc. But I acknowledge, there’s no bright line. I have to say I feel the line between maggot (however you spell it) and vermin seems pretty thin to me. ---
**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:** [August 2, 2024, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-calling-trump-supporters-magats-allowed/1005060/84 "2024-08-02T23:37:12Z")
> [@Mijin](#): > > It’s just quicker to type than “Trump-supporters”. I tend to call them magas. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2024, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-calling-trump-supporters-magats-allowed/1005060/85 "2024-08-02T23:39:27Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I tend to call them magas. I think that is how they refer to themselves so I don’t see any problem with that. Heck, they wear hats and shirts with that printed on them. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2024, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-calling-trump-supporters-magats-allowed/1005060/86 "2024-08-02T23:39:46Z")
> [@Akaj](#): > > That said, if someone were to call me face-to-face what MAGAts typically say on social media about Democrats, I would have no problem calling them a despicable, stupid and disgusting maggot. Just laugh at them. If pressed, maybe go on about how crazy they are to hold such lunatic beliefs. They’re fools. ---
**Author:** ![Chingon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chingon/32/17645_2.png) [@Chingon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chingon)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2024, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-calling-trump-supporters-magats-allowed/1005060/87 "2024-08-02T23:46:30Z")
It’s not very clever, I would support it getting modded just based on that. None of the Trump nicknames around here are anywhere near funny. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2024, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-calling-trump-supporters-magats-allowed/1005060/88 "2024-08-02T23:54:06Z")
Broadly, I think it would be a bad idea to try to sanitize language on the SDMB so it can never offend or bother anyone or be judged funny enough to be allowed. 1. It’d be a miserable task for the mods to keep up on. 2. There should be some room for emotion rather than act like a chatbot and drain all character and passion out of the discussions here. Of course, there are lines that should never be crossed but I do not think this is one of them. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2024, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-calling-trump-supporters-magats-allowed/1005060/89 "2024-08-02T23:59:06Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > It’d be a miserable task for the mods to keep up on. Thank you. I’d only add that it would impose more work mostly for P&E mods only, since it’s unlikely this would be an issue in any other forum besides the Pit, and it’s fine there. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2024, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-calling-trump-supporters-magats-allowed/1005060/90 "2024-08-02T23:59:39Z")
> [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](#): > > There is no such thing as a good GIF in a serious discussion. What does that have to do with this thread? ---
**Author:** ![Chingon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chingon/32/17645_2.png) [@Chingon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chingon)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2024, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-calling-trump-supporters-magats-allowed/1005060/91 "2024-08-03T00:01:53Z")
I wasn’t serious. Just poking fun at the lame-o quality of the insults. ---
**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:** [August 3, 2024, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-calling-trump-supporters-magats-allowed/1005060/92 "2024-08-03T00:15:53Z")
> [@Odesio](#): > > Just laugh at them. It ain’t fuckin’ funny. They want to deny basic rights, they say liberals are deliberately trying to ruin the country, they want to deport and in some cases even kill those they disagree with. They think that reality is fluid depending on who tells them what they want to hear. This isn’t some political disagreement to them-this is an actual war, a war they think they can win if they throw enough rules out the window. You are showing up at Wimbledon ready to play a nice game of badminton. Good luck with that. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2024, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-calling-trump-supporters-magats-allowed/1005060/93 "2024-08-03T00:19:50Z")
Seconded. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2024, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-calling-trump-supporters-magats-allowed/1005060/94 "2024-08-03T00:47:42Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > It ain’t fuckin’ funny. They want to deny basic rights, they say liberals are deliberately trying to ruin the country, they want to deport and in some cases even kill those they disagree with. They think that reality is fluid depending on who tells them what they want to hear. You’re not wrong but telling them the above isn’t going to matter to them. Laugh at them, tell them they’re fools for believing the obvious lies from the Trump camp, and mock their ridiculous beliefs. They don’t respond to reason. It probably won’t change their minds, but being mocked pisses them off more than being called evil. ---
**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:** [August 3, 2024, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-calling-trump-supporters-magats-allowed/1005060/95 "2024-08-03T00:59:55Z")
And when they get pissed off what do they do? ---
**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:** [August 3, 2024, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-calling-trump-supporters-magats-allowed/1005060/96 "2024-08-03T01:13:14Z")
I guess what I’m saying is that if the board’s intent is to treat the new Right and the Left on equal terms they have to consider the fact that the new Right fully expects to get away with pretty much everything and anything they get away with elsewhere, and they _truly_ do not understand what you are trying to accomplish here. The mindset is different, the attitude is different, reality itself is different and is determined by polls from the right people and run by the right people. The mods need to some exploring elsewhere on the web to see what’s what out there and determine whether they want to be a just a mite tougher politically, keep it “as is”…or just give up and go with the political flow. ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2024, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-calling-trump-supporters-magats-allowed/1005060/97 "2024-08-03T01:30:27Z")
Is the purpose of the forums a place to discuss issues in a civil manner (the pit aside) or is it a propaganda arm of the left? At least places like [rpg.net](http://rpg.net) have shed all pretense. ---
**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:** [August 3, 2024, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-calling-trump-supporters-magats-allowed/1005060/98 "2024-08-03T01:45:29Z")
> [@octopus](#): > > Is the purpose of the forums a place to discuss issues in a civil manner Right wingers that don’t resort to the usual tactics are always welcome on the SDMB. ---
**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:** [August 3, 2024, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-calling-trump-supporters-magats-allowed/1005060/99 "2024-08-03T01:48:45Z")
Best practice? I think occasional body slams directed against broad voluntary groupings is acceptable political rhetoric. But MAGAts and libtards cross my arbitrary line of being dumb-sounding, vaguely offensive, or reminiscent of vermin. Dumbocrats: maybe it would work ironically. Republiturds: very lame. MAGAhats sounds ok to me since MAGA folk like wearing MAGA hats. Demonrats sounds potentially amusing if used sparingly. Democrat Party is lame, but you do you: it has broad usage among a certain subset of publicly butthurt conservatives. Demolition Democrats could have some viable application. Knuckle dragging conservatives usefully distinguishes from the other kind. Fascist is probably underused, just as Nazi comparisons are over-used. Winger? Moonbat? Good clean fun, provided it doesn’t refer to a particular poster outside of the pit. ---
**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:** [August 3, 2024, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-calling-trump-supporters-magats-allowed/1005060/100 "2024-08-03T01:54:53Z")
> [@octopus](#): > > At least places like [rpg.net](http://rpg.net) have shed all pretense. Pretense of _what?_[rpg.net](http://rpg.net) is a role playing game message board. They don’t even have a real-world political thread to speak of, let alone forum. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-calling-trump-supporters-magats-allowed/1005060.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-calling-trump-supporters-magats-allowed/1005060.md?page=6)