The departure of dittany

[Pan]

I only know that she has left, and in her post she didn't say much as to why, though some people can speculate and imagine why.

Quite a few days ago (last weekend I think) there were threads that pinpointed the lack of consideration that MNHQ has toward the sort of trolls that infest the FS section from time to time - different in nature and purpose to your average troll that infects MN from time to time.

It may well be that d. is in contact with regular posters whom she trusts. I don't know.

What I do know is that d. was a fabulous source of invigoration and illumination to a lot of posters, myself included, though we didn't always agree with her.

I would like a review from MNHQ of their current "talk guidlines" policy, in order that the FS is provided with a consideration that recognises the particular vulnerability that it experiences.

D. left for her own reasons - but this presents itself as a sort of 'test case' for MN to respond sensitively.

Would anyone agree and post here in support of this?

I am not shit-stirring, DontCallMeFrothyDragon, but his opening post just smacks of male entitlement to tell the 'little ladies' what to do. I mean wtf?! Who is tell mn how to run their site? A site which is free to all users, remember, not a fee-paying club.

So, because he's a man, he can never, ever make suggestions for how to improve this section of the site.

We're being trolled, left, right and centre. We need something to change. Just so happened that Pan had an idea and vocalised it. He's not speaking from a sense of male entitlement at all.

I don't think wamster is shit stirring, I think she is making a valid point, the the context of this debate, however, er bolshily expressed. Its just something to think about. Someone's gender does matter. And it impacts on what they are saying/doing. Sometimes its benign, sometimes its malign. sometimes its currying favour, sometimes its used as a get out of jail free card. on both sides.

Just pondering.

I absolutely agree that anyone seriously condoning violence against women/girls (or violence against anyone) should be deleted and banned if they persist. I think that would fall under incitement laws anyway.

The derailing stuff, as you say, it's a lot harder, and dealing with it would require all sorts of special measures (extra mods, pre-emptive bannings, many more deletions) that i think would be horribly divisive and disruptive across MN, and totally change the nature of the site. because you can bet that if one board gets special consideration, before you turn about 10 more boards will be asking for the same privileges.

korma, anyone?

I personally don't think the FWR board needs special protection. It just needs MN to implement their existing policies more consistently and thoroughly.

No, to be honest, LRD I don't think that he should- he can make suggestions of course he can. Anybody can make suggestions here about anything as long as not rude or abusive. But this is not the same as should. He shouldn't because as a man he is in the privileged group and does not understand how it feels to be a woman. Not his fault, not at all his fault. He can't help being male. But I do think that he should show respect and stop giving others the impression that he is the 'big man' with the right ideas to tell the little ladies who don't know any better to improve things.

Pan's a valued member of the FS. I've never come across a post of his that reeked of male entitlement, and I doubt I ever will. I'd like it if someone could point out a post which proves this is the case.

What Pan has done is draw attention to an issue. An important member of the section has left, partly due to the trolling which is taking place here atm. The trolls are not being dealt with. All Pan has done is ask that these trolls are dealt with, in a way that ensures we don't lose more members to these types. The post could have come from anyone. It just so happens it came from Pan.

Cel - this is what I don't get, that HQ left comments standing that I thought were pretty awful. I know that's their right, but thinking about the SN community eventually winning over HQ to the idea that 'retard' was an unacceptable word, I hope we can do the same. It really made me feel sick.

To be honest, if posters who did the above stuff were deleted then banned for persistent offences, I would be so happy. It'd get rid of a lot of the trolls we've had over the last few months.

I agree it's important not to be too heavy-handed about trolls, but I don't really think this is a new problem, and I don't think Feminism as a section needs special privileges. Just the old rules applied properly.

Korma? Karma? Sag Paneer, please.

With apologies, to LRD, my post above is to the other dragon.

Ahh, I was confused!

not everyone is brave kerry

kerry, we have been. That's what all this is about.

I do think HQ should delete comments about rape/underage girls. I'm amazed they don't think it's a liability.

We do, Kerry. We tell them, we report, we ignore... Nothing works with trolls because they don't care that they're being an arse. That's the point of their presence.

And why only apologies to LRD? Would being compared to or confused for me be such a bad thing, Wamster?

You see my problem, at the moment, with Pan calling for more moderation to control trolls/abusive messages, is that he himself has indulged in a particularly nasty piece of personal abuse on the other thread. And, may I had, a particularly aggressive male term of abuse. Nobody on the FWR board needs defending from attacks by someone who uses the term 'wankstain'.

And by god, I wish it were someone other than bob, but there you are. Got to be fair.

It was me who suggested getting a mod on this section.

I do think MN needs to have a full time mod on this section, as I feel it has a different character to the other sections and attracts quite a different demographic.

Maybe other sections need moderation too, as Dragon suggests.

I mod other boards and cannot believe some of the stuff that goes down here. I don't post as much on MN anymore because of the free-for-alls, flaming, trolling, ad hominum attacks and general fisticuffing muppetry.

MNHQ take note.

( Frothy, I considered myself honoured!)

I agree kerry. There should be a concerted effort to not engage, just report, as per other trolls.

Oh come on... Bob deserved that...

And it wasn't aimed at a female, so I forgave him PDQ