BigButton

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In computing, the BigButton is either the Reset button or the power switch, or perhaps the action of pulling the power cord from the wall socket or removing the batteries. Pushing the BigButton returns the device to its initial state. A hard reset is implied, rather than a soft reset invoked from the keyboard or by a script or subroutine.

In a social context, pushing the BigButton means to exercise one's authority to evict the membership of a community en masse. This kills all social processes, hence the analogy. This can be done in any community if one has sufficient power; it is most available to the GodKing of an online community, who can directly control membership via technical means. --XiongChangnian

Compare ShieldsUp, Big Red Switch (http://catb.org/~esr/jargon/html/B/Big-Red-Switch.html).

BigButton

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