# Abuse of moderator powers **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [January 15, 2007, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abuse-of-moderator-powers/388053 "2007-01-15T11:37:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2007, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abuse-of-moderator-powers/388053/21 "2007-01-15T23:42:29Z")
As it happens, the assumption was a correct one. That however is irrelevent. I deliberately didn’t link to it, and I wish that nobody else had either. People should not have made assumptions about which thread I meant, nor should they have tried to guess what my complaint is. And so far, nobody has correctly interpreted why I’m complaining. ---
**Author:** ![Zabali\_Clawbane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecd19e/32.png) [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2007, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abuse-of-moderator-powers/388053/22 "2007-01-15T23:44:38Z")
My points remain, and you should consider them **Peter**. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2007, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abuse-of-moderator-powers/388053/23 "2007-01-15T23:49:22Z")
[QUOTE=Peter Morris] As it happens, the assumption was a correct one. That however is irrelevent. I deliberately didn’t link to it, and I wish that nobody else had either. People should not have made assumptions about which thread I meant, nor should they have tried to guess what my complaint is. [/QUOTE] Well, I guess that’s what happens when you wash your laundry in public. Ho hum. > [@](#): > > And so far, nobody has correctly interpreted why I’m complaining. You mean it was something other than your verbose explanation in post #1 of this thread? ---
**Author:** ![boytyperanma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@boytyperanma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boytyperanma)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2007, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abuse-of-moderator-powers/388053/24 "2007-01-15T23:50:33Z")
[QUOTE=Peter Morris] As it happens, the assumption was a correct one. That however is irrelevent. I deliberately didn’t link to it, and I wish that nobody else had either. People should not have made assumptions about which thread I meant, nor should they have tried to guess what my complaint is. And so far, nobody has correctly interpreted why I’m complaining. [/QUOTE] What is this a guessing game? Maybe you should try cafe society. ---
**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:** [January 15, 2007, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abuse-of-moderator-powers/388053/25 "2007-01-15T23:52:23Z")
[QUOTE=Peter Morris] Dex, isn’t that a bit of a contradiction there? I would have preferred to write to you myself rather than have you read through the four page thread. I think that there may be certain specifics that you might have missed. So, can I send you an email, specifying what _I_ object to? Would you be able to consider it impartially, given that you already have an opinion on the subject? Incidentally, everyone, aren’t you kind of making an assumption about which thread I mean? Is it possible that I was talking about a different thread? I certainly didn’t specify which one. This was a deliberate choice. I wanted your advice on who to contact, not your opinions on the matter. [/QUOTE] Yes, **Peter** , you can certainly send an email to me or to another administrator. As I said 'way back up there, the two most effective ways to appeal (or protest or complain or whatever) a moderator’s decision are (a) post in the Pit or (b) email an admin. I will certainly be glad to listen to your complaints, with an open mind. I apologize for assuming that the thread that someone else used as a ref was the one you had in mind; I should have left my first post with the generalities rather than applying specifics. (If you think I’ve already made my judgement call, then feel free to email a different admin. No prob with that.) Having said that, I do recommend that people be concise in their protests. Mods and Admins do enough reading, make it easy for us. It probably won’t affect the outcome, although it may affect the tone (I get grumpier as I have to read through pages of crapola… happens when I’m grading papers too. If the first three papers I read are badly written, heaven help the fourth one to come along.) ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2007, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abuse-of-moderator-powers/388053/26 "2007-01-15T23:55:26Z")
[QUOTE=C K Dexter Haven] (I get grumpier as I have to read through pages of crapola… happens when I’m grading papers too. If the first three papers I read are badly written, heaven help the fourth one to come along.) [/QUOTE] So how many papers have you graded today, Dex? And were they any good? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2007, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abuse-of-moderator-powers/388053/27 "2007-01-16T00:06:08Z")
[QUOTE=Peter Morris] As it happens, the assumption was a correct one. That however is irrelevent. I deliberately didn’t link to it, and I wish that nobody else had either. People should not have made assumptions about which thread I meant, nor should they have tried to guess what my complaint is. And so far, nobody has correctly interpreted why I’m complaining. [/QUOTE] You talk about specific occurances from a mystery thread which point to an abuse of powers from your point of view but you don’t want that thread linked in this thread? You just want everyone to take your word for it? If you didn’t want that thread linked you should have made it a generic “how do I report a moderator” question and not refered to any actual situation. Or you should have done it in an email. To refer to a thread, not link to it, and then expect no one to be curious about it is unrealistic. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2007, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abuse-of-moderator-powers/388053/28 "2007-01-16T00:13:15Z")
[QUOTE=Mangetout] Personally, I think it would be better closed than moved to the pit - moving it there with him as the OP would put pressure on him to respond (whereas a new pit thread about him would not, at least not so much), and it could turn into a meltdown with bad consequences. [/QUOTE] Given that **Peter’s** actual question has been answered, that might be the best option. Given that **Peter** has been Pitted previously regarding his behavior, and specifically on the subject that led to this thread, there probably would be little to gained in moving it to the Pit and thrashing over the ground one more time. It doesn’t seem like he’s likely to change his behavior. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2007, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abuse-of-moderator-powers/388053/29 "2007-01-16T00:14:43Z")
[QUOTE=According to Pliny] I think actually, it’s time to give up on the pit entirely. For all posts. The board doesn’t need all the harsh personal attacks anywhere. Leave that stuff to the tackier free boards. [/QUOTE] I agree with this. The PIT is silly and immature when it’s used for personal attacks on fellow members. ---
**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:** [January 16, 2007, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abuse-of-moderator-powers/388053/30 "2007-01-16T01:02:45Z")
Well, we’re straying a bit from the purpose of this forum, so since the question in the OP has been answered, I think we can safely close this. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abuse-of-moderator-powers/388053.md?page=1)