babble is rabble.ca's discussion board but it's much more than that: it's an online community for folks who just won't shut up. It's a place to tell each other — and the world — what's up with our work and campaigns.
Distasteful words at best...or something else?
July 8, 2012 - 9:57pm
look out belowwwwwwwww...........
i was reading the thread on poisoning Arafat. came across a distatseful post. was going to respond to it right there. then i wondered if it was a deliberate attempt to get off topic.
brought it here instead.
i don't know the dynamics here. it made me super uncomfortable on multiple levels. the fat crappy comment was bad enough. threats and talking down take things to a poisonous level.
the questions i am asking are why? is this going to be allowed? is it a personal history? is it a toxic drive off topic? the only thing i really know is it stinks and smacks of over privileged disease.Hi quizzical.
Catchfire did intercede in the thread you're talking about, so babble policy on allowing such bullshit hateful language seems clear.
Unfortunately, mainstream fat-phobic insults will show up here, as will other oppressive comments. Most of those who used to challenge such comments have been driven away or have simply given up. The mods can't hold the line by themselves.
I'm glad you're here.
It escalated when this was added by Merowe:
Didn't you lose your job as a moderator on this board because you couldn't distinguish between your dreary personal agenda and your duties as a mod? So where exactly the fuck do you get off mounting yet another personal attack on me? I don't care if you're fat. I'm much more troubled by your relentless small-mindedness. This threads not about your pathological health problems. Read the fucking title. It's about the great Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. Moderators please do your job and remind Michelle, once again about the policy governing personal attacks. Just because I'm being nasty doesn't mean I'm not right. You're supposed to make such distinctions.
Unfortunately, the left has lots of clueless folks who use oppressive language without realizing it, as well as belligerent asshole types who revel in using it. Challenging either type is difficult, especially when the challenger is in the targeted group the oppressive comment was made about in the first place - opens them up to further ridicule when they self-identify.
I think most of us at some point in our lives are "clueless folks who use oppressive language" about something - I certainly have in the past on babble, and have learned so much about it during my time here, and am still learning. It's when people are called on it that they can go in one of two directions - the belligerent asshole who revels in it route, or the tries-to-understand route.
And sometimes people take a detour into the belligerent asshole route on their way to ultimately arriving at understanding on the issue. Maysie can tell you that I have done that at least once or twice over the years!
I've mostly been sticking to the "community" threads about gardening and lifestyle and cooking and music and tech stuff lately, with only the occasional foray into the more politically contentious threads. Now I remember why. :)
Thanks for speaking up, quizzical. I appreciate it.
Merowe received a three-day suspension for his sustained personal attack on Michelle.
As for the root cause of the incident, THIS:
The immoderate language used in this thread makes it hard for me to believe that it is being moderated:
Live 'n' learn, eh?! If ya call this livin'.
the proper course of action was of course to reply with links to some websites that speak to the starvation deaths some 100~km from that particular palace of excess
or just not reply at all and continue on topic because what you were "pulled over for" is inconsequential to your continued honest expression
seems like one of those topics where feelings will (and probably should)overrule decorum reserved for those privileged enough to not be ruled by those same emotions;
Okay, enough of this. Closing.