# A bone to pick
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-bone-to-pick/837909
**Category:** About This Message Board
**Created:** [July 31, 2019, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-bone-to-pick/837909 "2019-07-31T02:08:13Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Scylla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scylla)
#### Post date: [July 31, 2019, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-bone-to-pick/837909/1 "2019-07-31T02:08:13Z")
Over here;
[https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=879266&page=5](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=879266&page=5)
I was having a discussion with Thorny Locust. In post 211 he mentioned that he was “half asleep.”
In post 212 I said. “I like you much better when you are sedated.”
I considered this just funny. Snarky, conceded. Note that I said that “I liked him better,” which suggests that I like him when he’s not half asleep.
In post 221 Bone told me to “Knock it off. Keep the personalization to the Pit.”. And he used the moderating backslash which I guess is a warning.
I checked the rules of Great Debates and their is no mention of personalization. In my 20 years or so on this board I have never before heard of any proscription against “personalization.” I am not even sure I know what personalization means in this context. I complimented Max s. a few threads ago, without mishap.
I call bullshit.
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### Author:  [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)
#### Post date: [July 31, 2019, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-bone-to-pick/837909/2 "2019-07-31T02:25:06Z")
> [@Scylla](#):
>
> In post 221 Bone told me to “Knock it off. Keep the personalization to the Pit.”. And he used the moderating backslash which I guess is a warning.
How long have you been posting here? No, it wasn’t a warning. No warning appears in your profile. It was just a moderator note.
> [@](#):
>
> I was having a discussion with Thorny Locust. In post 211 he mentioned that he was “half asleep.”
>
> In post 212 I said. “I like you much better when you are sedated.”
> I considered this just funny. Snarky, conceded. Note that I said that “I liked him better,” which suggests that I like him when he’s not half asleep.
It certainly looked snarky to me. So you deserved a note in any case. You seem to be nitpicking on exactly how the moderator note was phrased.
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### Author:  [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)
#### Post date: [July 31, 2019, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-bone-to-pick/837909/3 "2019-07-31T02:38:00Z")
If a moderator gives you a warning, they will say explicitly that they are warning you and give you the reason.
“ **cochrane** , this is an official warning for leaving the goat pen open.”
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### Author:  [@Scylla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scylla)
#### Post date: [July 31, 2019, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-bone-to-pick/837909/4 "2019-07-31T02:40:47Z")
> [@Colibri](#):
>
> How long have you been posting here? No, it wasn’t a warning. No warning appears in your profile. It was just a moderator note.
Since Phaedrus.
I have a profile that shows warnings? I can see that/
> [@](#):
>
> It certainly looked snarky to me. So you deserved a note in any case. You seem to be nitpicking on exactly how the moderator note was phrased.
Snark conceded.
Yeah, I don’t get it. It seems well within the bounds of what is generally considered acceptable
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### Author:  [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)
#### Post date: [July 31, 2019, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-bone-to-pick/837909/5 "2019-07-31T02:46:26Z")
Wrong pronouns.
ETA: the implications of the snark you chose sounded highly unpleasant to me.
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### Author:  [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)
#### Post date: [July 31, 2019, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-bone-to-pick/837909/6 "2019-07-31T03:00:07Z")
> [@Scylla](#):
>
> Since Phaedrus.
Then it surprises me that you are unaware that a moderator normally includes the word “warning” in a post giving a warning.
> [@](#):
>
> I have a profile that shows warnings? I can see that/
Yeah, there’s a tab, visible only to you and the moderation staff, that says “infractions” in your profile that will show all your warnings. You also will receive a PM, and an email notice that you’ve received such a PM if you have notifications on. This system has been in place for maybe a decade.
> [@](#):
>
> Snark conceded.
>
> Yeah, I don’t get it. It seems well within the bounds of what is generally considered acceptable
Speaking as a moderator, I would probably have moderated it myself, especially since you didn’t include a smiley or any other indication that you meant it other than insultingly.
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### Author:  [@Scylla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scylla)
#### Post date: [July 31, 2019, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-bone-to-pick/837909/7 "2019-07-31T03:03:13Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#):
>
> Wrong pronouns.
>
> ETA: the implications of the snark you chose sounded highly unpleasant to me.
You ratted me out?
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### Author:  [@Scylla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scylla)
#### Post date: [July 31, 2019, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-bone-to-pick/837909/8 "2019-07-31T03:09:23Z")
> [@Colibri](#):
>
> Then it surprises me that you are unaware that a moderator normally includes the word “warning” in a post giving a warning.
I got warned twice in one day, a week or so ago (deservingly so) I don’t recall ever getting a warning before, though I am sure I must have. So no, I am not that aware of the distinctions in play.
> [@](#):
>
> Yeah, there’s a tab, visible only to you and the moderation staff, that says “infractions” in your profile that will show all your warnings. You also will receive a PM, and an email notice that you’ve received such a PM if you have notifications on. This system has been in place for maybe a decade.
Can’t find it. Is it only active if I have current infraction?
> [@](#):
>
> Speaking as a moderator, I would probably have moderated it myself, especially since you didn’t include a smiley or any other indication that you meant it other than insultingly.
Fair enough.
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### Author:  [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)
#### Post date: [July 31, 2019, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-bone-to-pick/837909/9 "2019-07-31T03:14:11Z")
> [@Scylla](#):
>
> You ratted me out?
No. I did not report your post, if that’s what you mean.
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### Author:  [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)
#### Post date: [July 31, 2019, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-bone-to-pick/837909/10 "2019-07-31T03:25:11Z")
> [@Scylla](#):
>
> I got warned twice in one day, a week or so ago (deservingly so) I don’t recall ever getting a warning before, though I am sure I must have. So no, I am not that aware of the distinctions in play.
Could you link to the moderator posts in question? Because your profile shows no official warnings. But I suspect you merely got notes, especially if only the “Moderating” tag was used.
> [@](#):
>
> Can’t find it. Is it only active if I have current infraction?
The tab is visible to me, and you have no official warnings since the automated system was inaugurated in 2009. If you really want to know, you have two warnings in the manual system from 2007 and 2005.
I think it may not be visible to you if you have no official warnings. If you really want to see what one looks like, I can give you one and then reverse it.😉
> [@Scylla](#):
>
> You ratted me out?
Let’s not make personal remarks.😉
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### Author:  [@Scylla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scylla)
#### Post date: [July 31, 2019, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-bone-to-pick/837909/11 "2019-07-31T03:29:25Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#):
>
> No. I did not report your post, if that’s what you mean.
Oh.
Well I guess I just wasted a good tootbrush then.
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### Author:  [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)
#### Post date: [July 31, 2019, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-bone-to-pick/837909/12 "2019-07-31T03:35:11Z")
> [@Scylla](#):
>
> Oh.
>
> Well I guess I just wasted a good tootbrush then.
I’ve got no idea what that’s supposed to mean, and am not at all sure that I want to know.
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### Author:  [@Scylla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scylla)
#### Post date: [July 31, 2019, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-bone-to-pick/837909/13 "2019-07-31T03:39:53Z")
> [@Colibri](#):
>
> Could you link to the moderator posts in question? Because your profile shows no official warnings. But I suspect you merely got notes, especially if only the “Moderating” tag was used.
[http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=877699&highlight=Scylla&page=10](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=877699&highlight=Scylla&page=10)
Post 470 here. It says “note’ so I guess it wasn’t a warning. I thought is was a warning. I thought I had been chastised severely (and again, deservedly. I know better than that.)
> [@](#):
>
> The tab is visible to me, and you have no official warnings since the automated system was inaugurated in 2009. If you really want to know, you have two warnings in the manual system from 2007 and 2005.
I was framed. It was a setup. I’m a different man, now. Russians hacked my ID.
> [@](#):
>
> I think it may not be visible to you if you have no official warnings. If you really want to see what one looks like, I can give you one and then reverse it.😉
You have been more than helpful.
> [@](#):
>
> Let’s not make personal remarks.😉
All my funny responses would be pushing things.
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### Author:  [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)
#### Post date: [July 31, 2019, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-bone-to-pick/837909/14 "2019-07-31T03:40:15Z")
> [@Colibri](#):
>
> Yeah, there’s a tab, visible only to you and the moderation staff, that says “infractions” in your profile that will show all your warnings. You also will receive a PM, and an email notice that you’ve received such a PM if you have notifications on. This system has been in place for maybe a decade.
Then I am confused; I would have sworn that I caught one warning (at least) but I can’t find any tab or anything in my profile. Am I looking in the wrong place or has old age finally caught up with me. Or both?
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### Author:  [@Scylla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scylla)
#### Post date: [July 31, 2019, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-bone-to-pick/837909/15 "2019-07-31T03:44:20Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#):
>
> I’ve got no idea what that’s supposed to mean, and am not at all sure that I want to know.
A tortured jokey reference.
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### Author:  [@Scylla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scylla)
#### Post date: [July 31, 2019, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-bone-to-pick/837909/16 "2019-07-31T03:46:34Z")
> [@kopek](#):
>
> Then I am confused; I would have sworn that I caught one warning (at least) but I can’t find any tab or anything in my profile. Am I looking in the wrong place or has old age finally caught up with me. Or both?
I think what it means is that the rules don’t apply to you and I. We are above the law, and can do as we please. The moderators are powerless against us, and we can act with impunity.
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### Author:  [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)
#### Post date: [July 31, 2019, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-bone-to-pick/837909/17 "2019-07-31T03:50:07Z")
> [@Scylla](#):
>
> I think what it means is that the rules don’t apply to you and I. We are above the law, and can do as we please. The moderators are powerless against us, and we can act with impunity.
Maybe in your case. In mine its more likely that I’m one of the few possible posters here operating his own still. For personal consumption; of course. 😉
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### Author:  [@Scylla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scylla)
#### Post date: [July 31, 2019, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-bone-to-pick/837909/18 "2019-07-31T04:03:44Z")
Wait a minute. That dot next to my name is red. Yours is green. Has it always been that way? Did I just notice or does that mean something? I think my dot just turned red!
Fuck! What does that mean?
Give me back my green dot.
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### Author:  [@Bone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bone)
#### Post date: [July 31, 2019, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-bone-to-pick/837909/19 "2019-07-31T04:06:56Z")
> [@Scylla](#):
>
> I got warned twice in one day, a week or so ago (deservingly so) I don’t recall ever getting a warning before, though I am sure I must have. So no, I am not that aware of the distinctions in play.
I believe you are referring to these two posts:
[http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=21728047&postcount=423](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=21728047&postcount=423)
[http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=21728763&postcount=470](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=21728763&postcount=470)
While we don’t track notes, I do recall these. I have a semi decent memory of when I intercede. Please see the rules posted at the top ATMB (these are duplicated at the top of GD and Elections:
> [@Terms of Service and FAQ](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terms-of-service-and-faq/823562/2):
>
> **Warnings, notes and other moderator actions**
>
> Moderators may act in several ways to ensure the rules of the forum are followed. When moderators act it will be clearly indicated that the moderator is acting in an official capacity. Types of moderator actions:[ul][li] **Warnings** - An official warning on the Straight Dope Message Board acts as a permanent record of a poster’s breaking the rules of the forum. While there is not hard and fast rule, sufficient warnings over a period of time - both the number of warnings and the timeframe are intentionally left vague - may result in further, more permanent sanction. Unless rescinded by moderation staff, a warning remains on a poster’s record indefinitely. However, older warnings are given less weight when considering additional sanction.[/li][li] **Moderator Notes** - A moderator note is usually provided to a poster, group of posters, or all thread participants to give guidance in a particular thread. This guidance is generally given to promote an environment where discussion can take place. Unlike Warnings, mod-notes are not tracked in any official, permanent way.[/li][li] **Thread or topic ban** - After discussion among the moderators, a thread or topic ban may be issued for specific posters. These tend to come about when a pattern has developed indicating a specific poster cannot be trusted to remain within the rules on some topic or other. It is hoped that placing topic or thread bans will enable discussion to continue constructively for other participants.[/li][li] **Suspensions** - Posters may be sanctioned with a temporary suspension of posting privileges. Continuing to break rules following suspension may result in a ban from the SDMB. Suspensions are not made lightly - nor unilaterally - and are discussed among the moderation staff and voted upon.[/li][li] **Banning** - Repeated violations of the rules - or indications that a poster has no intent on ever following the rules - can result in a permanent banning from the SDMB. As with suspensions, the moderation staff as a whole votes on whether a poster will be banned.[/li][li] **Other actions** - These are not the only potential sanctions available to the moderation staff. We reserve the right to get creative in the future.[/ul][/li]
If there is an actual warning, the word “warning” will be used. Colibri went over this above. What you received were notes. Those are intended to guide discussion so as to avoid rule breaking, and to provide a gentle nudge for posters who may overstep a bit, but not sufficient to merit an actual warning.
As to the note itself - it was implying the poster you directed your comment to was impaired in some way. Personalization is when the argument is directed at the poster themself, rather than any underlying argument. Personal insults typically involve some kind of personalization, so when this occurs, I may try to nudge the conversation back so as to avoid the need for actual warnings. This is what occurred here. The comment struck me as mildly rude, and really just snark. Rather than see how things play out, I elected to drop a note for you to remind you that that type of comment should be avoided. This serves as a notice to you, and to all other readers.
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### Author:  [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)
#### Post date: [July 31, 2019, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-bone-to-pick/837909/20 "2019-07-31T04:07:05Z")
> [@Scylla](#):
>
> Wait a minute. That dot next to my name is red. Yours is green. Has it always been that way? Did I just notice or does that mean something? I think my dot just turned red!
>
> Fuck! What does that mean?
>
> Give me back my green dot.
I have no idea; never noticed them before. Right this moment mine is green and yours is a sort of gray/blue. Actually a very nice color.
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