# Absolute stupidity \[about Baldwin's suspension\] **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [March 3, 2009, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/absolute-stupidity-about-baldwins-suspension/488134 "2009-03-03T12:51:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2009, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/absolute-stupidity-about-baldwins-suspension/488134/21 "2009-03-03T15:05:27Z")
> [@SoulFrost](#): > > Both. Again, the case for it being an insult is unsupportable, petty, and ridiculous. He was warned for it, so leaving it off - while most of the other warnings were for another issue - didn’t seem necessary. I’m sorry you find the argument illogical, but it’s not exactly unheard of for a man to insult another man by calling him a woman. It’s a staple of the high school student’s repertoire, for starters. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![SoulFrost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f07891/32.png) [@SoulFrost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SoulFrost)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2009, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/absolute-stupidity-about-baldwins-suspension/488134/22 "2009-03-03T15:09:50Z")
Psst… there’s a post in Cafe Society where somebody calls a book a _kike_! Friggin’ hate speech! Go bust 'em, Duddley. ---
**Author:** ![Gfactor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@Gfactor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gfactor)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2009, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/absolute-stupidity-about-baldwins-suspension/488134/23 "2009-03-03T15:29:45Z")
I edited the thread title to make it a bit more descriptive. Gfactor Moderator ---
**Author:** ![SkipMagic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skipmagic/32/20706_2.png) [@SkipMagic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkipMagic)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2009, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/absolute-stupidity-about-baldwins-suspension/488134/24 "2009-03-03T15:53:02Z")
> [@ivan\_astikov](#): > > So, if Baldwin had called Ed a “tampon wearing interfering git”, instead of Ms Zotti, would he have avoided the insult warning, under the new “non sweary and amusing to the mods” policy, or would he have had to add some girly underwear descriptors? Insults of any flavor aren’t allowed outside the Pit, and they never have been. As for your other bit, he had already mentioned it [twice](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=10889133#post10889133) [before](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=10892673#post10892673). I think it was pretty obvious he was advertising the place, especially in that second post I linked to. His overreaction to being asked to follow the same rules as everyone else is on his head and no one else’s. > [@mswas](#): > > Admins Mods, your hysterical overreaction to the meltdown of this board is becoming comical. That’s pretty silly considering that this board doesn’t appear to be melting down. Aside from that, even, asking people to follow the rules is hardly an “hysterical overreaction”. Even if a person disagreed with the new Pit rules, that doesn’t give them license to break the rules in ATMB or any other forum. ---
**Author:** ![XJETGIRLX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9fc29f/32.png) [@XJETGIRLX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XJETGIRLX)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2009, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/absolute-stupidity-about-baldwins-suspension/488134/25 "2009-03-03T16:03:48Z")
> [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](#): > > The rule on links to other boards is what it always has been, and it’s the same as the rule on links to personal creative stuff (“I’m a member of a hot new band, you can hear us and buy our CDs at this site” or whatever). The rule has always been: if you ask permission in advance, you may post ONCE to let people know about some other board. You may bump that thread ONCE if there are no responses. There are many links to other boards in these two threads (SomethingAwful, Urban75, ChurchofGroove, etc): > **[I need a new message board a lot like the Straight Dope](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=508064)** > > Except still, you know, allowed to be fun. My favourite parts of the Dope were IMHO, MPSIMS, and The Pit, with frequent visits to Café Society. I’ve tried the Fabulous Forums but they’re far too cliquey for my taste. Any suggestions? > **[Is there an online forum w/intelligent people and little moderation?](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=496433)** > > I’m looking to join an online forum or message board where there are intelligent people who talk about all kinds of stuff, including possibly taboo and offensive subjects, but where there is little moderation or organized efforts to “control” the... It does not appear that they met these standards, and none of them were edited or warned by a mod for mentioning them. Neither OP says they received permission to open the thread. So why the difference? ---
**Author:** ![emmaliminal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7bcc69/32.png) [@emmaliminal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emmaliminal)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2009, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/absolute-stupidity-about-baldwins-suspension/488134/26 "2009-03-03T16:07:20Z")
> [@SkipMagic](#): > > … he had already mentioned it [twice](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=10889133#post10889133) [before](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=10892673#post10892673). I think it was pretty obvious he was advertising the place… **SkipMagic** , thanks for those links. It’s now obvious to me too. Not having seen those links and having seen his first warning without their context, it seemed like an unjustified slapdown. I’m glad to know it wasn’t. ---
**Author:** ![SkipMagic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skipmagic/32/20706_2.png) [@SkipMagic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkipMagic)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2009, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/absolute-stupidity-about-baldwins-suspension/488134/27 "2009-03-03T16:08:27Z")
**C K Dexter Haven** ’s talking about self-promotion and advertising, not the occasional conversational link to a board or site that holds something of interest. If we feel a person is promoting a board, we ask that they stop and clear it with us beforehand. ETA: That was in response to **XJETGIRLX**. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2009, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/absolute-stupidity-about-baldwins-suspension/488134/28 "2009-03-03T16:11:40Z")
> [@SoulFrost](#): > > Oh, I agree. He was trolling for a suspension. IMO, at least. I’m confused. You agree that he was looking to be suspended, but you think the specific reasons that he was suspended were unjustified? So your only argument is that they should have waited until he violated board rules more blatantly? ---
**Author:** ![XJETGIRLX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9fc29f/32.png) [@XJETGIRLX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XJETGIRLX)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2009, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/absolute-stupidity-about-baldwins-suspension/488134/29 "2009-03-03T16:15:02Z")
> [@SkipMagic](#): > > **C K Dexter Haven** ’s talking about self-promotion and advertising, not the occasional conversational link to a board or site that holds something of interest. If we feel a person is promoting a board, we ask that they stop and clear it with us beforehand. > > ETA: That was in response to **XJETGIRLX**. So if someone were to start a thread asking what other boards have sprung up in relation to the SDMB, from a conversational standpoint, links to these other boards would be allowed? I’m just having some difficulty understanding the fine line between talking about another site/product/anything and “advertising” said site/product/anything. Regardless of whether it was a link or text or whatever, I didn’t see Baldwin’s post as advertising, I saw it as a casual mention in passing conversation. ---
**Author:** ![SoulFrost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f07891/32.png) [@SoulFrost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SoulFrost)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2009, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/absolute-stupidity-about-baldwins-suspension/488134/30 "2009-03-03T16:19:32Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > I’m confused. You agree that he was looking to be suspended, but you think the specific reasons that he was suspended were unjustified? So your only argument is that they should have waited until he violated board rules more blatantly? Re-read, please. I only think that _one_ of the given reasons was unjustified. Not to mention silly. ---
**Author:** ![Sapo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Sapo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sapo)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2009, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/absolute-stupidity-about-baldwins-suspension/488134/31 "2009-03-03T16:27:56Z")
> [@XJETGIRLX](#): > > So if someone were to start a thread asking what other boards have sprung up in relation to the SDMB, from a conversational standpoint, links to these other boards would be allowed? > > I’m just having some difficulty understanding the fine line between talking about another site/product/anything and “advertising” said site/product/anything. Regardless of whether it was a link or text or whatever, I didn’t see Baldwin’s post as advertising, I saw it as a casual mention in passing conversation. I think the problem is that he kept finding excuses to drop this in casual conversation. We have grilled posters for this before. If every post you make is about your gun, your girlfriend, your boobs, your wedding, your pregnancy or your cat, someone will pit you. (ok, maybe not your cat). The admin cannot pit you, so they warn/suspend/ban. ---
**Author:** ![SkipMagic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skipmagic/32/20706_2.png) [@SkipMagic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkipMagic)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2009, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/absolute-stupidity-about-baldwins-suspension/488134/32 "2009-03-03T16:32:23Z")
> [@XJETGIRLX](#): > > So if someone were to start a thread asking what other boards have sprung up in relation to the SDMB, from a conversational standpoint, links to these other boards would be allowed? I don’t see why not. We have one active thread going now with such links (the first link in your previous post), and as far as I can see, no links were squashed. There have been other such threads in the past, with links to Una’s board, Fathom, **Elmwood** ’s refuge board, etc… > [@](#): > > I’m just having some difficulty understanding the fine line between talking about another site/product/anything and “advertising” said site/product/anything. Regardless of whether it was a link or text or whatever, I didn’t see Baldwin’s post as advertising, I saw it as a casual mention in passing conversation. I think repetitiveness is a good hint for whether someone is promoting a board versus merely mentioning it–especially if links are thrown in posts where they have no relevancy. In this specific case, as I mentioned upthread, **Baldwin** had already linked to the board [twice](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=10889133#post10889133) [before](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=10892673#post10892673), with that second link being a clear indication he was promoting it. His third link–and the point in which I jumped in–_may_ have been relevant (although, I personally disagree), but he had already shown that he had a promotional agenda. ---
**Author:** ![XJETGIRLX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9fc29f/32.png) [@XJETGIRLX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XJETGIRLX)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2009, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/absolute-stupidity-about-baldwins-suspension/488134/33 "2009-03-03T16:32:44Z")
> [@Sapo](#): > > I think the problem is that he kept finding excuses to drop this in casual conversation. We have grilled posters for this before. If every post you make is about your gun, your girlfriend, your boobs, your wedding, your pregnancy or your cat, someone will pit you. (ok, maybe not your cat). The admin cannot pit you, so they warn/suspend/ban. Eh, I disagree that this is the same situation. And really I was hoping someone would answer this in an official capacity. I’m just trying to understand whether it was the way in which the link was posted, or the link itself that was the problem. And on Edit I see that **Skip** has answered, thanks. ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2009, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/absolute-stupidity-about-baldwins-suspension/488134/34 "2009-03-03T17:26:22Z")
> [@SkipMagic](#): > > Insults of any flavor aren’t allowed outside the Pit, and they never have been. Ah, I apologise then. I didn’t think he’d be silly enough to insult the Ed Honcho outside of The Pit. My mistake. > [@SkipMagic](#): > > As for your other bit, he had already mentioned it [twice](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=10889133#post10889133) [before](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=10892673#post10892673). I think it was pretty obvious he was advertising the place, especially in that second post I linked to. His overreaction to being asked to follow the same rules as everyone else is on his head and no one else’s. Objection withdrawn. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@Dead\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Cat)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2009, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/absolute-stupidity-about-baldwins-suspension/488134/35 "2009-03-03T17:53:06Z")
What is it with all the damn REASONABLENESS in this thread?! And **Sapo** agreeing with an admin decision?! This place is going to the dogs! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Sapo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Sapo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sapo)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2009, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/absolute-stupidity-about-baldwins-suspension/488134/36 "2009-03-03T17:53:46Z")
> [@Dead\_Cat](#): > > What is it with all the damn REASONABLENESS in this thread?! And **Sapo** agreeing with an admin decision?! This place is going to the dogs! > > 🙂 😉 it has happened before. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2009, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/absolute-stupidity-about-baldwins-suspension/488134/37 "2009-03-03T18:49:53Z")
> [@Sapo](#): > > We have grilled posters for this before. What’s this “we,” kemo sabe? ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2009, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/absolute-stupidity-about-baldwins-suspension/488134/38 "2009-03-03T19:05:57Z")
> [@Cervaise](#): > > What’s this “we,” kemo sabe? He stole one of the Capybaras and has it in his pocket. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Sapo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Sapo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sapo)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2009, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/absolute-stupidity-about-baldwins-suspension/488134/39 "2009-03-03T19:19:42Z")
> [@Cervaise](#): > > What’s this “we,” kemo sabe? We, the people. (and we are not amused) ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2009, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/absolute-stupidity-about-baldwins-suspension/488134/40 "2009-03-04T02:14:07Z")
> [@Dead\_Cat](#): > > What is it with all the damn REASONABLENESS in this thread?! And **Sapo** agreeing with an admin decision?! This place is going to the dogs! > > 🙂 Well, the notion of promoting reasonableness in discussions about moderator actions, and a reasonable level of civility (even in the Pit) was Ed’s main impetus for changes. I’m actually very pleased by these examples that, despite the furor, it can work. I’ve said before, and I’ll doubtless say again, that when one perceives and unfairness and is trying to address it, the personal insults don’t help. That’s why it’s better to have such discussions in ATMB, with no insults whatsover, rather than … elsewhere. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/absolute-stupidity-about-baldwins-suspension/488134.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/absolute-stupidity-about-baldwins-suspension/488134.md?page=3)