To permaban or not to permaban—that is the question:
Remybrown (RB) frequently relies on ragebait, consistently skating the line of acceptable conduct. He has crossed that line often and has already faced sanctions, yet we find ourselves debating further action.
I will admit I favored a permanent ban entering this discussion. However, the defense made me reconsider by suggesting RB was engaging in parody. I respect parody, and I wondered if I had simply missed the nuance. Then I remembered RB's "Why rape is not a bad as DUI" thread. What is the parody there? Who is the target, and what is the joke? If there is humor intended, it targets victims for the entertainment of a toxic audience. Good parody punches up at power; it does not punch down at the vulnerable. This type of speech harms the site. Some might argue that RB generates traffic, but it is not healthy traffic.
So, what is our next step? RB has already served a month-long ban. Does anyone truly believe more temporary sanctions will change his behavior? I do not. At some point, we must draw a hard line, and crossing it must carry permanent consequences. That line has been crossed. While the current vote may not favor permanent expulsion, a platform worth its salt must respect its own rules enough to strictly enforce them. Maybe we will get it right at the next RB trial.
