Regarding The Acceptability of Sexist Comments and Misogyny on DU

[boston bean]

The hosts of four groups on DU, Feminists Group, History of Feminism, Feminism and Diversity and Women's Rights have come together to ask for your input on the topic of sexist and misogynistic posts on DU and whether the language of the Terms of Service provide sufficient guidance on whether such posts are acceptable.

The Terms of Service on Democratic Underground are absent of any mention of sexism or misogyny directly. There is a prohibition of bigotry based on gender but we have seen that not all DUers interpret this language to include sexism and misogyny. We are advocating for these bigotries to be explicitly added to the Terms of Service on DU, to aid in our struggles to eliminate these bigotries from DU. We request your input and your support is critical. Spread the news and show your support here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/12565203

[seabeyond]

1. done

[boston bean]

2. thanks sea!!!

[hlthe2b]

3. I see this as a truly positive development.

Now, let's work hard to craft some language that will help us make some inroads on addressing this problem.

[boston bean]

4. I agree hlthe2b.

This is very positive. I believe it's reached critical mass.

I am very hopeful.

[redqueen]

5. Thanks, bb.

[boston bean]

7. Thank you RQ!

[sufrommich]

6. I'm really,rellay happy to see the feminist groups

coming together for this!

[MadrasT]

9. +1

[boston bean]

10. me too, sufrommich!

It feels really good. I am happy to stand with all my sisters!

[sufrommich]

11. Yay for us! nt

[MadrasT]

8. Thank you boston bean, and all other group hosts who are involved.

[boston bean]

12. ah madras, my friend in arms!! :)

[MadrasT]

14. Back atcha

I've been kind of quiet, but I am here.

[boston bean]

15. I like it better when I can hear you!

[ismnotwasm]

13. Done

What an awesome idea

[boston bean]

22. Thanks ismnotwasm!!!

[s-cubed]

16. Thanks. nt

[boston bean]

23. Thank you s-cubed!!!! :)

[WheelWalker]

17. Done. This is change I can support.

[Tumbulu]

18. Thank you- this really is the thing to do

I am grateful that we agree on this!

[boston bean]

24. I agree, it is the right thing to do!

Come round more often, will ya?

[Tumbulu]

28. Oh thanks!

I will!

[Android3.14]

19. Any links to examples?

I've not run across much of this, but I may not frequent those threads.
What kind of incidence are you noticing?

[noamnety]

20. Here's an example

"I can't find anything that would specifically exclude sexist slurs so long as the context isn't intended to slight an entire gender, which would be bigotry"

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1240174603#post510

it's clear some people are interpreting the lack of guidance of "don't call women c***'s" as a free for all.

[wildflower]

21. I support it

Just posted on the thread.

[boston bean]

25. Great! Thanks Wildflower!

You need to come round more often too!

Don't be so shy!!!

[wildflower]

30. I will try!

back to you and everyone here!

[JTFrog]

26. I rec'd it.

I wish they would just copy and paste the rule from DU2.

[boston bean]

27. Thanks JT!!

I agree, and like the DU2 terms, but the words sexism and misogyny are missing from that as well...

But it sure is a hell of a lot better than what we have now...

[mzteris]

29. And sometimes

It's not even just crass overt slurs nd insults. It's the subtle witch or hag or even HOF... Or old woman. Etc...

That's s hurtful and harmful to some of us.

It's the singling out and jeering derogatory treatment. It's the dismissal of our concers, dismissive of our feelings, rejection of our outrage as if it,we, don't matter.

We're only women after all, so who cares..?

(Do they have idea how much like Rush Limbaugh they sound?)

[misschicken]

31. Why wasn't this included in the TOS from the beginning?! nt

[Texasgal]

32. anyone know if we have gotten a response

from Skinner yet?

[MadrasT]

33. Do I hear *crickets*?

Fucking epic meltdowns all over the place and it's like nobody upstairs gives a flying fuck.

And so it continues...

[boston bean]

34. I don't even hear crickets.

at this point it would be nice to hear even just a little chirp.

[hlthe2b]

35. Personally, I see the end of META as a positive step forward in this...

With the lack of an audience to cheer on the ugly sexist comments, I think we might have some hope of seeing some reduction.
Not an absolute answer or solution to the larger problem, but still, I think it will help.

Today, is a good day, I think....

[CTyankee]

36. Where do we even start with some of the remarks in this thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1014&pid=419579

Some very disgusting and frankly disturbing comments...I'm freaked out...

[hlthe2b]

37. well, the worst are from one poster and I see others calling them on their disgusting comments...

Including some gungeon regulars, which surprised me. So, maybe there's a tiny bit of hope, even in that otherwise disgusting thread...

[CTyankee]

38. Well, one truly disturbed individual who clearly has some personal issues of his own

kinda bent the whole tone for me. One thing about Meta, he coulda been called out there.

But yes, good to see some push back.

[boston bean]

39. Unpinning this. I've asked skinner 3 times in ATA

if he would consider adding sexism and misogyny to the TOS.

He has been non-commital, and as of today, it has not been added.

Maybe some day he will get around to it or agree it needs to be added. Or maybe not.

[seabeyond]

40. and wasnt i the dumb shit from looking at it a glass half full kinda perspective. lol

thanks for the reminder.

[Gormy Cuss]

42. Skinner seems to think that we want a panacea

when what we want is a little clarity in the TOS.

IMHO your arguments were persuasive. I tried too. I don't understand his perspective.

[smirkymonkey]

41. K&R

Thank you!

[chervilant]

43. Are there too many sexists online?

Is Skinner a sexist? If not, why hasn't he taken the time to respond to our concerns?

The vitriol is becoming a dangerous deluge. I'm seeing women post vile, sexist crap, and alerts get more of the same -- eg:

AUTOMATED MESSAGE: Results of your alert

At Fri Apr 5, 2013, 11:45 PM you sent an alert on the following post:

Bill Maher a must see. Bernie Sanders so hot under http://www.democraticundergroun…

REASON FOR ALERT:

This post is disruptive, hurtful, rude, insensitive, over-the-top, or otherwise inappropriate. (See <a href="http://www.democraticunderground.com/? com=aboutus#communitystandards" target="_blank">Community Standards</a>.)

YOUR COMMENTS:

Why use inflammatory, sexist language to promote this OP? Do you think Bernie Sanders would be amused? This is offensive.

JURY RESULTS

A randomly-selected Jury of DU members completed their review of this alert at Fri Apr 5, 2013, 11:51 PM, and voted 1-5 to LEAVE IT ALONE.

Juror #1 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE and said: Bernie Sanders has a sense of humor, and this post isn't even close to "offensive". Juror #2 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE and said: Offensive to you. To me, not so much. Juror #3 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE and said: No explanation given Juror #4 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE and said: Good Lord! Seriously? TheKentuckian Juror #5 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE and said: No explanation given Juror #6 voted to HIDE IT and said: rude. Hide it.

Thank you.

In other words, calling a woman a "bimbo," and suggesting that Bernie Sanders looked like he was "grabbing her tits" is acceptable!