system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5 - Filibusters: How do they work and why are they allowed?

They just seem like such an unfair manipulation of the rules, that surely someone should be able to stop it when it is obvious what is happening.

Edit: Thanks very much for everyone's input. Some really good explanations given.
gpt
The idea is the loophole that every representative has the right to his or her say in Congress. There never was a limit set on the amount of time which a representative could speak so if a law was about to be passed the way to delay that would be for a senator who is opposed to the law to stand up and talk for hours and hours, sometimes days, reading poetry or simply mindless babble while other representatives bought more time trying to sway other reps in favor of voting against a law or for a law and change the results. 

Now, however, reps can simply state their intentions to filibuster a certain bill and then that bill is put on hold so other business can be attended to.