General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: An internet truth regarding sexist/misogynist comments [View all]Violet_Crumble
(36,385 posts)I don't doubt for a second you've seen posts like that, Gormy, so you wouldn't have needed to search for them. The argument they used is just as stupid as arguing that Jew-hatred's allowed because while anti-Semitism is forbidden, there's nothing in the TOS about Jew-hatred.
I think how it works at DU is that it's admin that deal with TOS violations, not juries, who deal with whatever it is that a random jury of 7 DUers decide is community standards. But admin see every alert, and MIRT see anything that's a 7-0 hide, and admin aren't going to be confused by the wording of their own TOS. MIRT and admin show misogynist trolls the door on a regular basis, as well as others who indulge in other forms of bigotry. Some slip under the radar, but I learnt a while back from being on MIRT and seeing how it worked, that they get caught up with sooner or later.
The problem with a long toilet roll style TOS is that people just don't read it. Apart from long-time DUers at the start of DU3 and when it gets brought up occasionally, I doubt few who join DU even read the TOS. And having seen more than my fair share of anti-semites at DU, no TOS is going to shut up a bigot from bestowing us with their 'truth' (it's always the 'truth' with those types) about why they're right and we're some sort of reverse bigots for not seeing it blah blah blah.
When it boils down to it, I personally wouldn't have an issue with sexism being added (though I would insist that other forms of bigotry that pop up at DU be included as well), but I don't really think any finessing of a TOS is going to be able to do what probably no other internet forum has ever been able to do (with the exception of those that are pre-moderated) and stop bigoted posts appearing. It's what's done once they're there that matters, and at DU we've got juries and MIRT, and while it can be hit and miss, I've posted on forums with no moderation, and this is far preferable....