r/ShermanPosting Apr 11 '24

Think before you post.

69 Upvotes

I'm going to keep this as brief as possible (it unfortunately will still not be brief despite my efforts,) but the tl;dr is that we collectively need to do better when it comes to respecting the site's rules and utilizing the report feature.

Specifically though, we need to talk about Reddit's sitewide Rule 1.

I need everyone to review the Content Policy, because some of the content being posted lately does a poor job of adhering to it. I'm not going to go into it in full detail, but rather will highlight some specific parts that we as a community fail to respect more often than not.

Rule 1: Remember the human.

Remember the human. Reddit is a place for creating community and belonging, not for attacking marginalized or vulnerable groups of people. Everyone has a right to use Reddit free of harassment, bullying, and threats of violence. Communities and users that incite violence or that promote hate based on identity or vulnerability will be banned.

Reddit further defines these terms here, here, and here.

Being annoying, downvoting, or disagreeing with someone, even strongly, is not harassment. However, menacing someone, directing abuse at a person or group, following them around the site, encouraging others to do any of these actions, or otherwise behaving in a way that would discourage a reasonable person from participating on Reddit crosses the line.

Do not post content that encourages, glorifies, incites, or calls for violence or physical harm against an individual (including oneself) or a group of people; likewise, do not post content that glorifies or encourages the abuse of animals. We understand there are sometimes reasons to post violent content (e.g., educational, newsworthy, artistic, satire, documentary, etc.) so if you’re going to post something violent in nature that does not violate these terms, ensure you provide context to the viewer so the reason for posting is clear.

Using this subreddit as a place to name-and-shame (such as linking to a user's comment, here on reddit or externally,) imply harm against specific individuals (such as indicating that someone should be subject to immolation because of a shirt they wear,) organize campaigns to harass or disrupt external destinations (such as a telephone number or another subreddit,) or simply to mock a specific individual violates this policy.

Likewise, memes about General Sherman 'not going far enough' (or similar) that are clearly satirical or humorous in nature are staunchly different than posts that encourage the immolation of living individuals or the mass murder of American Southerners. This is a comedy sub in line with other historical meme subs: while there may be occasional educational or academic discussion of non-humorous aspects of the American Civil War, there is no point in time when it is acceptable to call for violent action against living persons.

We have been lenient with enforcing bans for this recently, generally issuing bans in the realm of 7 to 14 days, with 30 day bans for egregious or repeat violations. We've only resorted to permanent bans when we're certain that a user isn't just forgetting themselves (or has been banned several times already.)

That changes as of this post.

From now on, users will be permanently banned for violating this rule, and will need to appeal and explain to us why we should unban them. This may seem draconian and perhaps a bit dramatic, but if we're honest? We've had to ban an inordinate number of our own users from the sub over the past 6 weeks for failing to uphold this simple request from the site's admins.

Enough is enough: consider this post to be your warning.

Examples

Things that might be okay: (not an all-inclusive list)

  • Posting a screenshot with all names and profile pictures/avatars (and any other identifying information, if relevant) redacted
  • Posting a photo of a vehicle you saw with any license plates, faces, or other identifying information redacted
  • Creating clearly humorous memes about relevant historical figures or relevant scenarios
  • Posting a link to a website with relevant material, such as an article about General Sherman's personal effects going up for auction
  • Creating a discussion topic to talk about which generals were good and which ones were bad
  • Creating a post that expresses frustration with something in your life relevant to the sub, such as a neighbor's flag hanging over your backyard's fence

Things that definitely aren't okay: (not an all-inclusive list)

  • Telling other users to harm themselves
  • Telling other users that you will harm them
  • Creating a meme of a current political figure that expresses a desire to inflict harm upon that individual
  • Linking to another subreddit and encouraging users to visit and disrupt that destination subreddit
  • Taking a screenshot of an argument you had elsewhere on the site with the intent to mock the person you were arguing with
  • Encouraging users to violate laws, such as desecrating a burial site or vandalizing property

Abuse of the Report Button

Reddit's admins have been known to outright remove users from the site for lodging false or abusive reports. It violates the User Agreement. If you lodge a false report, we as moderators can (and do) submit those false reports to the admins via this form. What happens after that point is out of our hands, but understand that the consequences (if any) are entirely your own fault.

Threatening, Harassing, or Inciting Violence

Making derogatory comments about the Confederate States of America, its symbols, its historical figures, and so on is not a violation of this policy. The CSA does not exist: it is a historical entity that expired nearly 160 years ago. There are no living Confederates to harass: they're dead. Reporting a post or a comment that mocks the CSA or its ideals as a form of harassment or marginalization is as equally credible as implying that a Roman Legionnaire might be offended by a meme created or a statement made today.

Mocking the American South, its culture, the people living in the American South, and so on is a violation of this policy. The American South does exist, and there are living Americans to feel harassed by such commentary. Reporting a post or a comment that mocks the American South is correct, as this is a form of targeted harassment. Calling other users offensive terms such as 'inbred', or implying that they engage in incestuous behaviors (among other insults,) are violations of this sitewide rule.

Promoting Hate based on identity or vulnerability

Making derogatory comments about the Confederate States of America, its symbols, its historical figures, and so on is not a violation of this policy. The CSA does not exist: it is a historical entity that expired nearly 160 years ago. Those of us living today are no more Confederates than we are Martians. The CSA is not a class of vulnerable individuals in our society, as the CSA does not exist in our society in any form beyond its existence as a historical entity. Claiming to identify as a Confederate is as meaningful as claiming to identify as a Martian.

Mocking someone for living in the American South or for identifying as an American Southerner is a violation of this policy. The American South does exist, and there are living Americans that are a part of the culture of the American South that might be negatively affected by such commentary or behavior. Reporting a post or a comment that encourages violence or discrimination against those that live in the American South is correct, as this is a promotion of behaviors that could cause negative or harmful effects on those that live in the American South.

These are often reported together, and so I want to address them together. If you live in the American South, then you are not a citizen of a nation called the Confederate States of America. You are a citizen of the United States of America. The American South is not the same thing as the CSA. If you are mocking a user for something stereotypically associated with the culture of the American South, such as speaking with a drawl, then you are not ShermanPosting: you're a dick, and are violating Reddit's Rule 1.

There is a sharp distinction to be made here. If you fail to understand what that difference is, then I recommend not participating in this sub until such understanding has been achieved.

As an aside, we are not another place on this site for users to, put politely, engage in arguments about the daily news. Any discussions that pertain to modern politics must be directly and obviously relevant to the American Civil War and the surrounding period. Simply standing next to a Confederate flag is not enough to qualify if the actual content of discussion is otherwise completely irrelevant. A politician posturing for a new Civil War is not relevant - politicians make this threat nearly weekly, it isn't noteworthy.

Other common issues

No Brigading

Stop reporting users you disagree with for 'brigading' the sub. You can disagree with someone without that individual having some intent to cause a disruption to the conversation taking place here. /r/ShermanPosting shows up on /r/all often enough that users will randomly find this sub, trickle in, and try to engage in the comments in some way. If these users violate our sub's (or the site's) rules, then please report them for doing so. Being annoyed at another user is not that user 'brigading' the sub.

In fact, this rule exists predominantly to keep our own users in check: if you see one of our own users attempting to organize some sort of brigade against another subreddit (or any other external destination,) then please report them for violating this rule.

No Denialism

Disagreeing with another user isn't 'denialism'. Denialism is when another user claims or implies things that bear no historical merit, such as claiming that the moon landing was a hoax, that the USA (and General Sherman in particular) weren't horrible to the indigenous peoples of the Americas, or that the Confederate States of America wasn't fighting to preserve the institution of slavery. Simply stating something benign like, "I'm from Georgia and don't like this meme," isn't denialism: it's just someone disagreeing with the humor of this sub. Downvote if the comment isn't contributing to the conversation and move on with your day. If the user spams that comment or engages in other behaviors that might violate the sub's rules or the site's rules, then report them accordingly in those scenarios.

The entire purpose of this rule is to help us to reduce the amount of senseless fighting that can happen on this sub whenever these topics crop up. Downvote those comments and report them so that they can be removed. It isn't there for you to tell the mods that you don't like someone's comment (good for you, we guess?)

If you use the report feature to tell us that you don't like someone's comment and the reported comment doesn't violate any rules, then you'll be reported to the admins for abuse of the report button.

Think before you post.


r/ShermanPosting 2d ago

Weekly Thread

3 Upvotes

A place to discuss any and all topics, share art, ask questions, and more.

All rules, except Rule 1, apply.


r/ShermanPosting 4h ago

What in tarnation

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67 Upvotes

This wasn't satire

"We're obeying the laws which allow us to own people! Don't KILL us!!"


r/ShermanPosting 8h ago

The Battle of Atlanta took place today in 1864: The Confederate States of America lost this final major Civil War battle and was on track to cease to exist as a country, in which slavery was legally allowed and celebrated. Robert E. Lee surrendered to Ulysses S Grant in Appomattox, VA in April 1865.

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135 Upvotes

r/ShermanPosting 19h ago

My 3rd Great Grandfather: Thomas Jordan, who served as a Private in the 77th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment, Army of the Cumberland.

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155 Upvotes

He served from February 1864 to December 1865 when the unit was mustered out in Victoria, TX.

In 1864

He fought in Atlanta Campaign May 1-September 8

- Tunnel Hill May 6–7.

- Demonstration on Rocky Faced Ridge and Dalton May 8–13.

- Near Dalton May 13.

- Battle of Resaca May 14–15.

- Near Kingston May 18–19.

- Near Cassville May 19.

- Kingston May 21.

- Operations on line of Pumpkin Vine Creek and battles about Dallas, New Hope Church and Allatoona Hills May 25-June 5.

- Operations about Marietta and against Kennesaw Mountain June 10-July 2. Pine Hill June 11–14. Lost Mountain June 15–17.

- Assault on Kennesaw June 27.

- Ruff's Station, Smyrna Camp Ground, July 4.

- Chattahoochie River July 6–17.

- Peach Tree Creek July 19–20.

- Siege of Atlanta July 22 – August 25. Utoy Creek August 5–7.

- Flank movement on Jonesboro August 25–30. Battle of Jonesboro August 31-September 1.

- Lovejoy's Station September 2–6.

Operations in northern Georgia and northern Alabama against Hood September 29-October 26. Nashville Campaign November–December.

Columbia, Duck River, November 24–28.

Battle of Franklin November 30.

Battle of Nashville December 15–16.

Pursuit of Hood to the Tennessee River December 17–28.

In 1865

At Huntsville, Ala., until March 1865.

Expedition to Bull's Gap and operations in eastern Tennessee March 13 – April 25.

Moved to Nashville, Tenn., April 25, and duty there until June.

Moved to New Orleans, La., June 17–25

Indianola, Texas, July 13–21.

Duty at Indianola and Victoria, Texas, until December.


r/ShermanPosting 1d ago

Helpful Image for those who are Confused

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6.0k Upvotes

Sorry if this has been posted recently; I’ve been off Reddit for a while.


r/ShermanPosting 1d ago

Finally got my John Brown bumper sticker!

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993 Upvotes

Traitors should get what they deserve.


r/ShermanPosting 2h ago

Mark steel (British comedian) radio show on the civil war

1 Upvotes

This is old but got really nostalgic for it. Would be interested to hear what people think

https://youtu.be/yVcIEEVAcKI?is=upAcj2OAYjt1WXU6


r/ShermanPosting 20h ago

Game even had the perfect title

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20 Upvotes

r/ShermanPosting 1d ago

General Sherman from "war of the Simpsons" an episode that is over 8 confederacys old.

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784 Upvotes

r/ShermanPosting 1d ago

Great read. My dude HATED rebels

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105 Upvotes

r/ShermanPosting 2d ago

Comfort, TX, where a US flag with 36 stars flies at half-staff every day of the year, over a mass grave. Treue der Union

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656 Upvotes

r/ShermanPosting 2d ago

Surge soda lasted longer than the confederacy

202 Upvotes

r/ShermanPosting 2d ago

This is the most stupidest thing I've ever come across my feed

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1.2k Upvotes

r/ShermanPosting 2d ago

"History" you were never taught

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1.1k Upvotes

It should be noted the historical marker he tries to use as proof says the town was largely deserted. No rape. No gunfire on civilians. Nothing in it resembles the caption sitting above it.

The History is on June 11, 1863, an expedition under Colonel James Montgomery—acting on orders from General David Hunter—landed at Darien and found it nearly empty. Two soldiers who were there wrote it down independently. Sergeant George Stephens counted one old woman and two white residents who’d asked to be left behind. Corporal James Gooding counted fewer than twenty people, mostly enslaved. No resistance. No engagement. Montgomery gave the order to burn it regardless—an empty town put to the torch on principle, not provocation.

Colonel Robert Gould Shaw, for his part, did not quietly comply. He told Montgomery directly he wanted no part of it; Montgomery took full responsibility himself. Later, Shaw wrote to his wife calling the whole ordeal a “dirty piece of business” and “as abominable a job as I ever had to share in.”

Shaw was disgusted, but he complied with the order to have a company assist only because Montgomery was his superior officer and refusing would mean facing a court-martial for mutiny during wartime. Shaw lamented, “after going through the hard campaigning and hard fighting in Virginia, this makes me very much ashamed of myself.”

Sergeant Stephens wrote home that “the men of this regiment have a distaste for this sort of warfare—we want to enter the field honorably—to fight a legitimate warfare.”

Credit to Sarah Pioggia on the History of the event.


r/ShermanPosting 2d ago

US soldiers in Vietnam (1968)

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224 Upvotes

r/ShermanPosting 2d ago

Robert Is Going To Be So Upset When He Finds Out About His Father In This Theatre Given Whom He Saved Last Year On The Train Platform...

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20 Upvotes

r/ShermanPosting 2d ago

Dan Butterfield appreciation post

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43 Upvotes

Composed “taps” and other army bugle tunes

Enthusiastically contributed to the “bar room and brothel ” atmosphere at Joe Hookers HQ

Designed the first corps insignia for the AotP ( Phil Kearny had the original idea , Hooker and Butterfield implemented it Army wide

Looks like a child wearing a fake mustache who’s worried his disguise may be seen through


r/ShermanPosting 2d ago

William G. "Parson" Brownlow, or "The Figjting Parson" with his son James P. Brownlow, Colonel of the fabled 1st East Tennessee Cavalry, and hos staff

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16 Upvotes

r/ShermanPosting 3d ago

John Brown jumpscare

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2.4k Upvotes

r/ShermanPosting 4d ago

Great quote...

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1.9k Upvotes

r/ShermanPosting 3d ago

The enlistment photo of Pvt. John Harrison Simpson of the 3rd Tennessee (union) cavalry. He was 15.

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148 Upvotes

Born in Knoxville on May the 22nd of 1847, he enlisted in the 3rd Tennessee at some point in 1863, shortly after the regiment was officially mustered in (they had flught at Stonws River before then).

At the battle of Sulpher Creek on September 25th of 1864, he was knocked off his horse, trampled by another horse, which broke his leg and cracked a rib, and was captured along with​ the majority of his regiment by Major General Forrest. He was sent to Cahabwa Prison in Alabama. He was eventually paroled in April of 1865, missing the Battle of Nashville.

He, along with 260 others from his regiment, was abord the Sultana when it Exploded, and was among the survivors. He was one of only two Tennessee survivors of the explosion when he died on July 1st, 1929, aged 82. He worked as a Stonemason the rest of his life.


r/ShermanPosting 3d ago

How would a meeting between these two go down?

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331 Upvotes

r/ShermanPosting 3d ago

John Brown's Body

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17 Upvotes

r/ShermanPosting 4d ago

On this day 163 years ago, the brave men of the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment led the assault on Fort Wagner, South Carolina.

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599 Upvotes