# A striking example of moderator bias **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [February 9, 2016, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-striking-example-of-moderator-bias/745641 "2016-02-09T18:09:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2016, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-striking-example-of-moderator-bias/745641/141 "2016-02-20T20:24:27Z")
> [@Idle\_Thoughts](#): > > We’re not going to start doing that, I’m sorry. Okay. Maybe I’'ll start doing it instead. I’ll report the post and state why I did. Will I get junior modded? ---
**Author:** ![raventhief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raventhief/32/4_2.png) [@raventhief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raventhief)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2016, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-striking-example-of-moderator-bias/745641/142 "2016-02-20T20:29:02Z")
So you’ll be reporting the post and then posting “i reported your post for the following reasons: x, y & z”? What a pleasant effect that will have on conversation, as the poster then responds, and other posters reply - why not allow the mods to do their job, even if they don’t report back to you on their decisions? ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2016, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-striking-example-of-moderator-bias/745641/143 "2016-02-20T20:30:06Z")
Potentially, yes. As always, a lot depends on context. And it’s impossible to answer that sort of hypothetical for every occasion. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2016, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-striking-example-of-moderator-bias/745641/144 "2016-02-20T20:31:16Z")
> [@raventhief](#): > > So you’ll be reporting the post and then posting “i reported your post for the following reasons: x, y & z”? > > What a pleasant effect that will have on conversation, as the poster then responds, and other posters reply - why not allow the mods to do their job, even if they don’t report back to you on their decisions? Again…how hard is it to say “we got your message…working on it”? And they don’t even have to say it EVERY fucking time. Just once in awhile when there is NO other obvious action in the thread it would be nice. When there IS action in the thread, even if it IS JUST a “folks walk it back a bit” would be a bit appreciated IMO. ---
**Author:** ![Bone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bone/32/407_2.png) [@Bone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bone)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2016, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-striking-example-of-moderator-bias/745641/145 "2016-02-20T20:35:23Z")
> [@billfish678](#): > > More than one post? > > Seriously? > > I can hardly wait for your “let it go” response…oh the irony… > > Or pretty much any other “let it go response” the internet… > > Which would apparently would apply to anybody on the internet saying anything on anything more than a time or two… > > Hole e moly e More than one post on this topic. Because this topic that you are pursuing is inane. More than one post on non-inane topics are A-OK. Context matters. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2016, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-striking-example-of-moderator-bias/745641/146 "2016-02-20T20:37:27Z")
> [@Bone](#): > > More than one post on this topic. Because this topic that you are pursuing is inane. More than one post on non-inane topics are A-OK. Context matters. Let it go. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2016, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-striking-example-of-moderator-bias/745641/147 "2016-02-20T20:37:45Z")
> [@billfish678](#): > > Again…how hard is it to say “we got your message…working on it”? > > And they don’t even have to say it EVERY fucking time. Just once in awhile when there is NO other obvious action in the thread it would be nice. When there IS action in the thread, even if it IS JUST a “folks walk it back a bit” would be a bit appreciated IMO. But those are exactly the ones that require no action. Look, it’s not going to be done. Complain all you want, but it’s not going to happen. You’re essentially asking us to respond to you when no response is warranted. Good luck with that. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2016, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-striking-example-of-moderator-bias/745641/148 "2016-02-20T20:40:20Z")
> [@Jonathan\_Chance](#): > > You’re essentially asking us to respond to you when no response is warranted. Good luck with that. How do I even know you got what I complained about? ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2016, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-striking-example-of-moderator-bias/745641/149 "2016-02-20T20:41:25Z")
You don’t. And you won’t. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2016, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-striking-example-of-moderator-bias/745641/150 "2016-02-20T20:42:52Z")
> [@billfish678](#): > > Define unreasonable. > > In this context of course. I’m happy with the way **Bone** has defined it. > [@](#): > > And what is this “let it go” business? How often and how feverently (sp?) have I complained about this ? It’s not a matter of how many times… it’s a matter of: AIN’T GONNA HAPPEN. That “let it go” was just friendly advice because I like you. Take the advice or leave it-- doesn’t matter to me, personally. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2016, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-striking-example-of-moderator-bias/745641/151 "2016-02-20T20:43:03Z")
Well, that just says it all doesn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2016, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-striking-example-of-moderator-bias/745641/152 "2016-02-20T20:53:06Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > I’m happy with the way **Bone** has defined it. > > It’s not a matter of how many times… it’s a matter of: AIN’T GONNA HAPPEN. That “let it go” was just friendly advice because I like you. Take the advice or leave it-- doesn’t matter to me, personally. Okay. If if it WAS friendly advise…I’ll take it 🙂 OTOH…if it is I get banned because I am a conservative and bothered to complained about Ann Landers rules violations…so be it. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2016, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-striking-example-of-moderator-bias/745641/153 "2016-02-20T21:26:59Z")
You might not realize that the mod reports we get cannot be replied to directly (they come from an email forward to every mod in that forum). To reply would require copying and pasting your email address and then replying, or logging onto the board, searching for your profile, sending a PM. May not seem like a lot, but when I’m monitoring my emails from my phone, between classes I teach and meetings, or at night, it’s a pain. 5-10 reports a day minimum adds up. And that’s after the time spent looking at the situation and deciding what to do. Plus, three mods might get the note about a specific situation, one may think it’s no big deal, one may take action, and one may be digging further into it. What happens when you get three replies all stating something different? I get your concern. I once started a thread here asking that if I didn’t get a reply should I be concerned no one saw my report. I was assured it was not the case. Now that I’m a mod I totally get why reports don’t generally get replies. Come mod for a day and I think you’ll get it better too. 🙂 Seriously, PM/email if you want further info. Those will always get a response. ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2016, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-striking-example-of-moderator-bias/745641/154 "2016-02-21T13:44:41Z")
That’s what I was going to say next as well. If you ever are a mod for awhile, we’ll see how long it is before you stop replying personally to every report you get. The other mods will be taking bets on when it will be that you stop doing it, trust me. 😉 Because you will. I have dibs on “after two days”. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-striking-example-of-moderator-bias/745641.md?page=7)