# A slight complaint about the Moderators **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 25, 2006, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-slight-complaint-about-the-moderators/341575 "2006-01-25T17:55:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![andrewdt85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/71e660/32.png) [@andrewdt85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andrewdt85)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2006, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-slight-complaint-about-the-moderators/341575/201 "2006-01-27T07:50:46Z")
> [@Giraffe](#): > > Since you asked for constructive criticism, allow me to point out a huge flaw in your attitude toward other people’s posts: > > In my opinion, one of your biggest problems is that you seem to think we’re all here to talk only to you. Most posters’ purpose in posting to this board is not to fix you. While it would be helpful _for you_ if everyone focused only on answering _your_ questions and fixing _your_ problems, that’s not exactly what attracts people to a message board. We’re here to post our opinions (even if, horror of all horrors, others have already posted their opinions), talk to whomever interests us, make jokes and obnoxious remarks, and share a laugh over the silly things in life. Lately, you’ve been one of the silly things people are sharing a laugh over, so your threads are full of people making jokes and commenting on what a dingbat you are. If that hurts your feelings, stop making yourself the center of attention. Don’t expect people to tiptoe around your embarrassing spectacles, politely averting their eyes. > > If you truly want to have a better message board experience, stop starting thread after thread and trying to control how other people interact with you. Instead, sit back and observe how people post and interact. Occasionally, respond to someone’s post. Even more occasionally, start a thread asking a question. Stop trying to make this board the “Talk to Andrew Show”. In all my threads, I ask questions- none of them, except for a few Pit threads, were for conversations with others. And I respond an incredible amount to other’s posts- an _incredible_ amount. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2006, 8:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-slight-complaint-about-the-moderators/341575/202 "2006-01-27T08:24:27Z")
> [@andrewdt85](#): > > In all my threads, I ask questions- none of them, except for a few Pit threads, were for conversations with others. And I respond an incredible amount to other’s posts- an _incredible_ amount. Dude, you THINK you respond an incredible amount. Your perspective, while no doubt sincere, is skewed. You start way too many threads. 20% of your posts are OPs. Now, I’m hardly a standard, but my ratio is around 3%. Giraffe’s ratio is .6%. That’s POINT SIX PER CENT. There’s no “right” number of threads to start, but every once in a while someone rises above the radar to the point where I find myself going, “that dude starts way too many threads.” And andrew, you start way too many threads. The impression this gives is that you’re more interested in having a conversation about YOU than about having a conversation. I understand the enthusiasm–we all do, or we wouldn’t be here. And although many people here are inexcusably rude–especially if you \*call \*them rude; that’s painting a target on your back–but different people react to annoyance in different ways. Some people react to annoyance by rudely attacking the annoyer, via an unrelated matter. This is called passive aggressiveness, and it happens a lot around here. Someone’s annoyed at you for one thing, so they “take sides against you” in a completely unrelated manner, just as a way to get back at you for annoying them. And people who start way too many threads are annoying. So while you may or may not have called this or that specific attack down on yourself, you raised yourself above the radar to the extent that many rude people have taken notice of you, and are having fun at your expense. Now, what could one possible solution to that be? Since you can’t control the passive aggressive assholes who get a kick out of making sport of you, what one thing might you actually be able to control? I’m not asking what’s right and just; that ain’t gonna happen. I’m asking what’s within \*YOUR \*control? (Also, Giraffe, you need to start more threads. .6% is fucking annoying. You’re on notice.) ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2006, 8:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-slight-complaint-about-the-moderators/341575/203 "2006-01-27T08:38:55Z")
> [@andrewdt85](#): > > In all my threads, I ask questions- none of them, except for a few Pit threads, were for conversations with others. This board is not all about _your_ threads, you damned oaf. And if you’re not here to interact with others but simply wish to have your inane questions answered, well, we’re not bloody well here solely to remedy the gaping deficiencies in your education. Jesus wept, you snivel that everyone is being mean and that you’re not getting any “constructive criticism”, and then when people go out of their way - as if trying to improve _you_ was anything than an exercise in aneurysm-inducing futility - to offer you advice you bloody well _argue_ with it. I said earlier that trying to help you was a Sisyphean task, and fuck me if I wasn’t right - except that Sisyphus only had to roll a rock uphill and not a steaming great pile of shit. ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2006, 10:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-slight-complaint-about-the-moderators/341575/204 "2006-01-27T10:24:15Z")
Don’t beat about the bush, **Case Sensitive**. Come right out and say what you mean. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![fluiddruid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@fluiddruid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fluiddruid)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2006, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-slight-complaint-about-the-moderators/341575/205 "2006-01-27T12:23:05Z")
> [@lissener](#): > > Dude, you THINK you respond an incredible amount. Your perspective, while no doubt sincere, is skewed. You start way too many threads. 20% of your posts are OPs. Now, I’m hardly a standard, but my ratio is around 3%. Giraffe’s ratio is .6%. That’s POINT SIX PER CENT. Not only that, but a huge number of your posts are in your own threads. They’re also often extremely short (just one sentence). ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2006, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-slight-complaint-about-the-moderators/341575/206 "2006-01-27T13:59:59Z")
> [@Jamaika a jamaikaiaké](#): > > 1. You might want to consider changing your signature. I know you didn’t post with it, but it is on your _public_ profile. Fat people might find it **really** insulting. Good lord, WTF kind of signature is that? (I keep all signatures turned off, so I had to go to his profile to read it.) What the hell kind of presentation of self are you making there? I don’t think you need to be fat to find that offensive. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2006, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-slight-complaint-about-the-moderators/341575/207 "2006-01-27T15:33:24Z")
> [@Case Sensitive](#): > > We’ve secretly replaced **andrewdt85** ’s keyboard with a Random Ignorant Abusive Gibberish Generator. Let’s see if he notices any difference. Is not the question whether **we** would notice the difference? ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2006, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-slight-complaint-about-the-moderators/341575/208 "2006-01-27T15:37:34Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > What the hell kind of presentation of self are you making there? I don’t think you need to be fat to find that offensive. Well, to be fair, he appears to be quoting another poster. Not that it’s any less offensive because of that, mind you. ---
**Author:** ![FinnAgain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finnagain/32/12500_2.png) [@FinnAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinnAgain)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2006, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-slight-complaint-about-the-moderators/341575/209 "2006-01-27T15:53:41Z")
> [@andrewdt85](#): > > In all my threads, I ask questions- none of them, except for a few Pit threads, were for conversations with others. And I respond an incredible amount to other’s posts- an _incredible_ amount. Okay, [you forced me to do it.](http://www.dg-flugzeugbau.de/Data/foto-04-06.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2006, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-slight-complaint-about-the-moderators/341575/210 "2006-01-27T16:56:51Z")
> [@FinnAgain](#): > > Okay, [you forced me to do it.](http://www.dg-flugzeugbau.de/Data/foto-04-06.jpg) How long have you been saving that? ---
**Author:** ![FinnAgain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finnagain/32/12500_2.png) [@FinnAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinnAgain)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2006, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-slight-complaint-about-the-moderators/341575/211 "2006-01-27T17:07:11Z")
> [@Giraffe](#): > > How long have you been saving that? Found it via google image search perhaps 30 seconds before I posted it. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2006, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-slight-complaint-about-the-moderators/341575/212 "2006-01-27T17:38:00Z")
> [@FinnAgain](#): > > Found it via google image search perhaps 30 seconds before I posted it. Yes, but what the heck is going on in the picture? What is it from? Is that the Giraffe Lair and the Giraffe Plane? Jim ---
**Author:** ![FinnAgain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finnagain/32/12500_2.png) [@FinnAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinnAgain)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2006, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-slight-complaint-about-the-moderators/341575/213 "2006-01-27T17:45:05Z")
> [@What Exit?](#): > > Yes, but what the heck is going on in the picture? > What is it from? Your guess is as good as mine. But I really like the plane in the middle. > [@What Exit?](#): > > Is that the Giraffe Lair and the Giraffe Plane? Sounds like a good guess, perhaps that’s why **Giraffe** was curious as to how long I’ve known about his secret lair. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2006, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-slight-complaint-about-the-moderators/341575/214 "2006-01-27T17:45:09Z")
**andrewt85** you are now officially my favorite member. The waters were calming, the sharks were losing interest and beginning to swim away. The fun appeared to be over. But you, god love ya, tore your wounds open afresh and rebloodied the water! Magnificent! I shall think fondly, in future years, of the young man who entertained me so with his dismemberment. ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2006, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-slight-complaint-about-the-moderators/341575/215 "2006-01-27T17:52:12Z")
> [@FinnAgain](#): > > Sounds like a good guess, perhaps that’s why **Giraffe** was curious as to how long I’ve known about his secret lair. It’s not a secret, just a little place I keep in Germany so I have somewhere to crash when I happen to be in the neighborhood. For a while I was staying on a buddy’s couch in Hamburg, but then he got a roommate, who had a girlfriend who was always staying over, etc. etc. You know how it goes. After a while, it just seems easier to buy your own walled compound with armed minions and flaming giraffes. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2006, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-slight-complaint-about-the-moderators/341575/216 "2006-01-27T18:01:36Z")
Is that a mod benny, or did ya build it yourself? ---
**Author:** ![FinnAgain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finnagain/32/12500_2.png) [@FinnAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinnAgain)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2006, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-slight-complaint-about-the-moderators/341575/217 "2006-01-27T18:17:37Z")
> [@Giraffe](#): > > After a while, it just seems easier to buy your own walled compound with armed minions and flaming giraffes. Well, that goes without saying. ---
**Author:** ![andrewdt85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/71e660/32.png) [@andrewdt85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andrewdt85)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2006, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-slight-complaint-about-the-moderators/341575/218 "2006-01-27T18:21:18Z")
Here’s the thing folks- You have given me the constructive criticism I wanted- and I appreciate it, and am adding it to my document (a copy of which I sent to jrfranchi, and will gladly send to anyone else). But the thing is that I had to beg like a dog for you to stop joking, criticizing, and all around disrespecting and piling-on me before you gave me your oh-so-great wisdom, followed by many of you saying ‘Andrew, you’ve been given our great and mighty words. Go now and live in peace.’ To quote Jesse Custer in Preacher: The fuck I will, mister. I am very thankful for your criticisms, but the disrespectful shit you people pulled before it- followed by the holy tone you had after it- makes me quite perturbed. You should know that in the future, if someone asks for constructive criticism- **begs** for it, for Christ’s sake- you give it to them, without joking, or insults, or disrespect. That kind of sickening disrespect for someone will alienate the rare future newbie who finds himself in the same spot. Yes, Giraffe, what you said about me being angry because everyone wouldn’t do what I wanted- constructive criticism- in this thread, is true- people can do whatever they want with any thread. But the fact is that I was begging for CC, and _no one_ gave me it at that time. That’s different- trying to control every single post to a thread is one thing; trying to get one fucking thing out of dozens of posts is quite another. Jesus. One major theme running through the advice you give me is to let things go- words, etc.- and I feel ready to do just that. I feel like I can say what I’m saying now, not because I want to be isolated from you, but because I want to vent to the people I live with (so to speak) in order to better live with them. To sum up: - Fuck you for your holy tone after the despicable shit you did before giving me CC - In the future, do you think it might be better to just give someone CC _before_ breaking down into snarkiness? Especially if they are _begging_ for it - Thanks, sincerely, for the CC - Just because I questioned a few points of the CC that you oh-so-graciously handed down to me after all that shit doesn’t mean you should start jumping all over me again - If you need proof of me taking your CC to heart, ask for a copy of my document, as jrfranchi did - When I say ‘fuck you,’ I say it so as to vent to people I like so as to better live with them, not to isolate myself further from them ---
**Author:** ![Leviosaurus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Leviosaurus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leviosaurus)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2006, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-slight-complaint-about-the-moderators/341575/219 "2006-01-27T18:32:04Z")
Dude, you’re improving, in fact, you’re improving a lot, but the self pitying tone in that post just dumped a bunch more blood into the water. I wouldn’t be surprised if you get a bunch of responses making fun of it. Here’s how I would have phrased it: “Thanks for the constructive criticism! I could have done without the abuse.” ---
**Author:** ![Queuing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/90ced4/32.png) [@Queuing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Queuing)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2006, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-slight-complaint-about-the-moderators/341575/220 "2006-01-27T18:50:37Z")
What **Leviosaurus** says makes a lot of sense **Andrewdt85**. If I may be so bold as to offer you one further piece of advice? Don’t swear so much. A lot of people, while not necessarily offended by curse words, look at them as generally unnecessary. You seem to use the word “Fuck” a lot. This, much like l33t talk, makes you look lazy, lowbrow and not worth taking seriuosly. Oh, and **Feydeau** wow, just wow. I have never seen such wild jumps to conclusions based on such little. Just ignore him **Andrew** , that was pure moronic crap he was spewing. My guess is he just passed psych 101 and thinks he knows stuff now. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-slight-complaint-about-the-moderators/341575.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-slight-complaint-about-the-moderators/341575.md?page=12)