AIBU to think deleting the TIME thread because of misogynist infestation is itself anti-feminist?

[HomeHelpMeGawd]

I know that MNHQ needs to pull the plug if things get out of hand, but I was dismayed to see a this happen to a thread started in order to express outrage at TIME magazine's decision to include feminist as a candidate for the '2014 word that should be banned'. I presume it happened because there were a significant number of misogynistic posts. But this shrinks the space in which feminists can talk. If we can't have a thread on a feminist board on MN to express outrage about TIME magazine's behaviour, where the fuck are we supposed to go with this? Surely MNHQ can find a way to act that better supports women in the future?

Evening folks. We're sorry we had to delete that thread. It was a really interesting discussion. Unfortunately we had an invasion of trolls from a particularly nasty corner of the troll world and some of the words and images posted just have no place in the public domain. While we deleted and banned many of them, the sheer volume of posts meant that the only solution was to delete the thread. Apologies that it spoiled an interesting debate. We felt on balance that it would do more harm to leave it up than to delete it. Hope you understand our position.

The tide against the word feminism has been turning actually after about 15 years in the dog house for the word so I'm encouraged not discouraged. I doubt the poll will change that trend.

We certainly need to encourage debate. In fact freedom of speech is so important I would rather threads were retained even with objectionable posts than we have censorship unless absolutely needed. You can always ignore and not respond to posts of people who are not intelligently debating something.

Iona, thanks for the update

1. Have you involved the police?
2. Is MNHQ thinking about how it can manage systematic disruption in the future without having to shut down threads? Because at the moment, there's a risk that trolls will simply use you to shut down threads they don't like

I think, if feminist is the wurst surf of 2014, wouldn't it be an opportunity to set out the issues in the wider media?

'Wurst surf'???? Worst word.

I didn't contribute on the thread but I'm horrified that it got so bad.

It sounds like MNHQ made the right call. However, the posts described illustrate exactly what misogyny is all about, and why we need feminism.

Agree balls.

Absolutely Balls I agree with you

My favorite tweet on this whole sorry business. And it's from a man.

Sorry, but the word "magazine" will disappear before "feminist" does.

It didn't take me three guesses to work out where they came from. The funny thing is that they are taking it SO seriously and being such busy little worker bees - like they think they are actually working towards getting the word banned!! When they succeed in 'winning' the poll all it will achieve is yet more debate on feminism - which is a good thing. It just raises more awareness!

Indeed. The fish fights hardest when it is close to death on your rod. The death throes of sexist men are fun to watch, but their slow death is inevitable.

Time has issued an apology.

www.salon.com/2014/11/17/time_apologizes_for_suggesting_ban_on_the_word_feminist/

Can't the MN mods just lock threads that get too out of hand so at least people can still read them, if not post. Sure, delete the troll posts, but leave the legit ones.