r/HistoryPorn
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u/GlitchedGamer14
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Feb 19 '20
We need to talk about how people discuss controversial events, organizations, and people
Introduction
Here on r/HistoryPorn, we deal with a lot of sensitive and controversial topics such as the Holocaust and Nazism, Communism, certain wars and atrocities, and certain political figures. When these topics come up, we often see people expressing strong emotional perspectives. While totally understandable, this often leads to unproductive discussion and rule breaking behavior. Furthermore, the moderator team is often falsely accused of defending or supporting those topics or figures by enforcing the rules. Thus, we feel that it is necessary to briefly talk about the purpose of our community, and why we enforce these rules.
This subreddit’s purpose
The purpose of HistoryPorn is that people can submit photographs of historical events, and/or the people in them, and members can discuss those people, events, and the contexts surrounding them further in the comments section. We want these discussions to be substantial and constructive so that users can share their thoughts and perspectives, knowledge, and experiences regarding the topics. This sets us apart from many other communities on Reddit; rather than encouraging jokes, slapfights, and vulgar statements about certain subjects, we want to encourage substantial discussions so that people leave threads having gained something from the discussion.
The rules
This is where our comment rules come into play. The rules that apply to this post are: Don't attack other users (or those in the photographs), don't troll, don't go on political rants, and don't use overly vulgar language. For instance, in every post featuring a picture of a Nazi, there will be a variety of rule-breaking comments that we have to deal with. Such comments include ones that call for all Nazis to die, comments that consist of nothing but obscenities and vulgar statements, and comments that compare those historical figures to contemporary political figures. None of these contribute to a constructive discussion that furthers our understanding of history. We agree that Nazis are terrible but wishing them to be dead doesn't really accomplish anything; those in the pictures are long-dead, or at least not reading these Reddit threads. We should note that this is merely an example; as we said above, we see similar issues in threads about other figures and events as well.
Vulgar statements are simply vulgar statements that don't contribute constructively to the discussion. As well, while it is tempting to make comparisons to modern political events, because we are on the internet this often simply means that we have another internet slap fight on our hands instead of a productive discussion about the historical event in question. Given the sensitive nature of these topics, people often get confused and angry when we remove those comments and sanction those who made them. However, as we said, there are many places on Reddit where people can make those sorts of comments. At HistoryPorn, we want users to aim for a higher level of discussion.
What we’d like to see
All that being said, this does not mean you can't criticize historical events, organizations, and people. In fact, we encourage it. However, we want these criticisms to have substance, instead of breaking the rules just because of the subject at hand. If we allowed rule breaking comments on these controversial threads, we'd devolve into a place where high quality discussions wouldn't likely be the norm anymore. These threads would be filled with the same old "fuck nazis/fuck communism/fuck imperialism/etc." in every thread. So we certainly don't want to stop discussion, we simply want discussion to be about the historical subject pictured and of good quality. It is entirely possible to discuss committed atrocities and terrible people in a historical discussion without vitriol.
If you want to criticize things, express yourself properly. Talk about the crimes that the subject committed. Talk about why those figures, organizations, or events were bad. Bring up a personal anecdote (for instance, perhaps you knew a veteran who experienced the subject first-hand, or the post reminded you of something you read). It doesn't matter what route you take, so long as you do so in a way that adds to the discussion and doesn't break the rules. People should leave your comment having gained something from reading it. Obviously we won't be deleting comments that aren't "substantial enough". We just want people to try and be constructive. We wouldn't pass an assignment in a history course by saying "communism is a cancer that kills people", even though it's "only" insulting Communism. We’d still be expected to explain why it was bad, when it killed people, etc. In that same vein, explain yourself here and don't use obscenities or vulgarity as a crutch for your point.
Conclusion/TL;DR
We hope that helps to explain the stance of the moderator team, and why we oftentimes remove seemingly agreeable comments. We aren't Nazis, Communists, Fascist, Imperialist, or any other kind of "ist". All we want to do is ensure that discussions on r/HistoryPorn remain substantial, constructive, and high quality. Profanity, calls for people to die, and other simple and vulgar comments do not add anything to the discussion, and will be removed regardless of context. If you want to criticize people, events, or organizations, do so in a way that adds to the discussion and gets your point across without breaking the rules.
r/HistoryPorn • u/Agreeable_Tank229 • 12h ago
Bride from Hälsingland, Sweden between circa 1870 and circa 1899 [892×1500]
r/HistoryPorn • u/HeStoleMyBalloons • 12h ago
Sgt. Jeff Seabaugh, a squad leader with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, moves his Marines to their objective during a mission in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Zubayr, Iraq. March 23, 2003 [2100 × 1400]
r/HistoryPorn
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u/lightiggy
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12h ago
Bruno Tesch (hat) poses with soldiers holding his products in Warsaw. He was one of many businessmen to exploit the Holocaust for profit. During the war, Tesch sold massive quantities of Zyklon B to the SS, knowing how it would be used. The SS used it to murder 1.1 million people, 1940 [1357 x 798].
r/HistoryPorn • u/lonely_dude__ • 15h ago
A rare picture of Albert Einstein, Hideki Yukawa, John Wheeler, and Homi J Bhabha in conversation as they walk through Marquand Park in Princeton, N.J, 1954. [1080x1080]
r/HistoryPorn • u/DELAIZ • 14h ago
Célio Meireles created a form of protest during the Brazilian military dictatorship, stamping money with questions about political assassinations. 1976[378x480]
it started with the question of who killed Herzog, a journalist the government said committed suicide. the tradition continues today with questions still being asked about possible political and police assassinations
r/HistoryPorn • u/AstroScholar21 • 7h ago
Locals stand next to the massive Burmese Mingun Bell, the largest ringing bell in the world at the time. In this photo, damage from an 1839 earthquake is still visible. circa 1873. [2000x1614].
r/HistoryPorn • u/HeStoleMyBalloons • 1d ago
HMS Cleopatra throws out smoke to shield the convoy as HMS Euryalus elevates her forward 5.25 inch guns to shell the Italian Fleet. Second Battle of Sirte. 22 March 1942 [3306 x 2480]
r/HistoryPorn • u/TheCatInTheHatThings • 8h ago
On 23rd March 1933, Nazi Germany passed the “Enabling Act”. One way they ensured the bill would pass was by arresting political opponents before the vote. Among those arrested was this man, Friedrich Puchta, a social democratic politician. Year of the photograph is unknown. [1125x837]
r/HistoryPorn • u/kyno1 • 10h ago
Nancy Wake, 1945, a top spy for the Allies. Called 'The White Mouse' by the Gestapo, she was the most wanted woman in Europe.[800x1207]
r/HistoryPorn • u/HeStoleMyBalloons • 1d ago
U.S. Marines from the 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment escort captured Iraqi prisoners of war during Operation Iraqi Freedom. 21 March 2003 [1728 × 1152]
r/HistoryPorn • u/usopsong • 20h ago
Today’s the memorial of Clemens August Graf von Galen (beatified in 2005), the German count and Catholic Bishop known for his fierce opposition to Nazi rule and policies, particularly the T4 euthanasia program. His sermons inspired resistance groups such as the White Rose. (c. 1930s) [601x773]
r/HistoryPorn • u/xgorxeipx • 9h ago
Group of teenagers from Złaków Kościelny wearing Łowicz type of costumes. Central Poland, 1932 [769x714]
r/HistoryPorn • u/HeStoleMyBalloons • 11h ago
A U.S. Marine Corps M1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tank fires its 120mm main gun during fighting between Iraqi and Coalition forces near Umm Qasr, Iraq. 23 March 2003 [1728 × 1152]
r/HistoryPorn • u/SteO153 • 20h ago
Border sign at Khyber Pass in Pakistan (Pakistan/Afghanistan border 1955) [2867x2308]
r/HistoryPorn • u/Snoo_90160 • 1d ago
Fire drill in Cloth Hall Museum in Kraków, Poland. The painting in "Prussian Homage" by Jan Matejko. Poland, 1930. [1080x752]
r/HistoryPorn • u/sgt_hard_times • 21h ago
Politician Joseph Smallwood campaigns in favor of confederation with Canada during the 1948 referendum to decide the fate of the Dominion of Newfoundland. Newfoundland would join Canada on March 31, 1949 as its tenth province. [1138 x 910]
r/HistoryPorn • u/ApprehensiveTell4433 • 1d ago
Gas masks for babies tested at an English hospital, 1940. [1502 x 2048]
r/HistoryPorn • u/Szabo84 • 1d ago
The first image of Mercury, taken by NASA's Mariner 10 in 1974. [768 x 768]
r/HistoryPorn
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u/Repulsive_Size_849
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1d ago
22 March 1920 , the mass killing and destruction of the Armenian population of Shushi by Azerbaijani forces began as part of the Shushi pogrom [circa 1920] [ 2029x1186]
r/HistoryPorn • u/Pretty_Management906 • 1d ago
Rear seat of JFK's limousine, right after the assassination, 1963. (originally in color) [900x676]
r/HistoryPorn • u/fredi6529 • 1d ago
Richard Nixon meeting troops of the 1st Infantry Division at Di An on his first trip to South Vietnam as President. 30 July 1969 [1600 x 1061]
r/HistoryPorn • u/dannydutch1 • 2d ago
A group of elderly men sitting on a mat, taken in Peshawar, now in Pakistan, circa 1865. Two of the men are looking at each other with contempt, suggesting that they may actually be enemies who have been persuaded to be photographed together as examples of native "thugs." (1200x900)
r/HistoryPorn • u/kyno1 • 1d ago