DU locks so many things for being flamebait, for having out of control arguments, etc.

[CreekDog]

and yet this thread that seeks to openly question whether Lara Logan was raped and minimize the assault against her if she wasn't actually penetrated (yes, that's a detailed discussion that went on in that thread).

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x435572

with all that, the topic persists unlocked.

so much is locked for so much less. so many threads are locked when they have "run their course".

is it because some moderators don't believe that the thread is sexist that they are refusing to provide consensus to lock it?

i'm also wondering if the sensitivity with respect to offending women is less than the sensitivity towards posts that would be offensive to Obama/Obama supporters.

[EarlG]

1. Generally speaking

we try to keep threads open when the OP is cross-posting content from a mainstream source, which in this case was the Village Voice. The Village Voice article was a discussion of the way the media was handling the Lara Logan incident.

There was disagreement among the moderators as to whether they should take action or not, and when that happens the default position is that no action should be taken.

[CreekDog]

2. are your rules sacrosanct? better to leave a sexist post/thread up rather than update policies?

because your policies/rules lock this kind of mild criticism of Obama:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=433x615967

yet allow a thread to openly argue that sexual assault cannot include rape as in the thread i referenced.

remember, the thread where posters said Logan's sexual assault couldn't have been rape and couldn't have been as bad as rape...that's still open.

who is making the decision that these rules will not be changed to deal with this issue (this is not the only time this has happened). are there any women helping make that decision?

i'm talking about what gets locked and how this didn't qualify...this thread, with these posts horrified by it:

18. 'the need to know trumps privacy' - callous, anti-woman, heinous. nt
31. This is a terrible thread.
There's a reason that rape victims are afforded privacy in the media and the courts. We should afford that same privacy on a discussion board.
32. Moderator, delete this thread.
What an insulting, degrading piece of claptrap and a horrific invasion of a victim's privacy.
What's next? Demanding pictures of the event?
49. This BS speculation is fucking disgusting and an insult to rape victims.
57. "The need to know trumps privacy"
Geez, what sort of perverted voyeur are you, really. This post is disgusting, beyond disgusting. And frankly I'm surprised it hasn't been locked before now.
66. This is very insensitive to even think about it.
95. Honestly, if they won't lock it based on its horrendous misogyny
alone, the abhorrent prurient nature of the questions being asked-- there is also the thinly veiled Muslim bigotry here. It is clear that the poster is painting this episode as being consistent with the "animal nature" of the people of Egypt, given the comments about celebration being the inciting event.
I gave some benefit of the doubt last night, despite my horror, but the thread has only gotten worse and worse and my perception of the motivations behind some of those posts have me disgusted beyond words. I think this is a very clear example of the kind of post that the admins need to use to reconsider related policy. Uggh.
75. I'm glad I got here in time to unrec this bullshit.
Trust me. Sexual assault is bad. It can and does (first hand experience) cause PTSD for a lot of women who have experienced it.
Sexual assault is bad. Rape is bad. Neither one of those is a fucking walk in the park.
If you want to mire yourself down in semantics about the meanings of words, go for it, but don't expect those of us who have been sexually assaulted and/or raped to take to kindly to your belittling of the trauma of that experience. When you have walked a mile in our shoes, THEN discuss which one you think is worse.
Your OP is a disgrace to see on DU. Un-rec.
80. This post is like raping her all over again.
82. the need to know trumps privacy?
This is fucking voyeurism deluxe. Disgusting post.
91. I am sicked by this. Does it make it any less outrageous if she wasn't penetrated?
96. it's not anyone's fucking business
what is going on at this site these days????
104. When I first read about this, it gave me such a sick feeling. Your post
made me even sicker. I was ready to come in and get banned confronting DUers about this bullshit because of the large post count....but DUers, awesome as they are, are already taking you to task. They said everything I wanted to, albeit less violently.
Seriously...I fucking SEE you.
107. We may have an winner for "Creepiest OP Ever" here (nt)
119. She was detained against her will for 30 minutes and sexually groped by aggressive men.
Whether or not one of them actually stuck a penis in her is irrelevant. It's disgusting to even hear the question asked.
126.
There seems to be a certain tone deafness here regarding insults towards women.

[CreekDog]

3. okay, i give up, let me know if you ever plan to address the oft-cited issue

i think it's clear that alerting, emailing and so forth is pointless.