In the IMHO thread “Does a clitoris differ from a penis in any meaningful way?”, I did not make the following post :
The OP did say aside from the fact that a penis is external and doesn’t have a urethra but I noted that in my non-post.
Now, maybe people didn’t like the OP’s restrictions, maybe only a few even noticed the OP, maybe I’m a juvenile ass and no one else is. I don’t know. I’d be fine with any of these - even the “I’m a juvenile ass” one. Really - I can flounce with the best of them. What I really want to know, though, and why I created this thread, is whether it has anything to do with the last sentence in my non-post. If I’m making a rather tallish hill out of a molehill, well, so be it. This is legitimately a question for me, though.
Oh, I did not submit this post in the thread because I was afraid I might be warned for doing so. Not to be terribly “heavy” about it but that is my take on the board’s zeitgeist.
Not posting a questionable post is smart and, as far as I can tell, has never resulted in a banning, warning or even a mod note. Too bad more people don’t use that option.
Guess it was too good a post by your lights to not be able to share it with everyone else.
What they tell you is true. I should also point out to you that while other posters have been helpful in this thread, they are not the ultimate arbiters of what is appropriate. You should take their advice if you are in doubt about what to place on public view on the board. It’s always better to ask permission than to beg forgiveness.
The point of my posting in this forum was not to share my Buff-osity with all and sundry (although I do acknowledge that to be a by-product.)
The point was “Hey. Here’s a rather innocuous post I stopped myself from submitting because I was kind of afraid to.” Is my fear justified? Do others feel similarly?
I routinely formulate missives that I don’t post, because I don’t think it’s worth people’s attention. I also self-edit to stay within forum guidelines and not cause trouble for the mods. I have spared the membership from posts that I worried were insufficiently humorous. I figure it’s not all about self expression. (I also shower before I go out in public. Sheesh.)
Thread in question. Speaking as a member, I would think that the material posted in this OP did not belong in that thread. I admit there’s a decent joke here somewhere, but I don’t think Jim successfully brought it to the surface. No harm, no foul though: it wasn’t posted.
I don’t think the OP was all that restrictive. I do think posters treated it as serious subject matter and showed decorum and restraint in not going for the lowest common denominator of jokes. And I think jimbuff314 was wise not to make his post. I wouldn’t have reported it but others might have. It would have been out of place.
If you’ve just posted one post that the mods think is inappropriate, there’s no reason for “fear.” You might get a Mod Note, you might get an Official Warning. It’s not that big a deal. The problem (and the cause for fear) would be if you’ve done the same thing multiple times, and have a pattern of receiving warnings for the same offense.
Kind of like traffic tickets: if you get one, it may be a bother, but not a biggie. After you’ve got N in the same time period, you’re in danger of losing your license and should fear the N+1th.
Please note: I’m NOT saying that it’s OK to deliberately post inappropriate comments. I’m saying that if it’s ambiguous, there’s no reason for “fear.” And if it’s just “inappropriate” (as opposed to a direct rules violation), there’s probably not going to be any big deal.
Unusually, even though it was an IMHO thread, most posters seem to have treated it almost like a GQ question. Speaking personally, I wouldn’t have moderated the post even if the thread had been in GQ, as long as it wasn’t among the first few posts and was made after the anatomical answer had been given. It seems clearly to be a joke, and at least in my opinion not a particularly offensive one.
Not sure afraid is the correct word, but I do hesitate to post often not for fear of a warming as much as I am still trying to get a handle on this place.
Depends on where you live, but in a couple months, you’ll be looking for a warming. OK, sorry, I don’t usually comment on typos, but that was irresistabobble.
Anyhow, we’re basically VERY tolerant of jokes and wise-ass comments around here, as long they don’t violate the rules (e.g., no personal insults.) Our Founder and Inspiration, Cecil Adams, certainly has a sense of humor in his columns. It’s partly what makes this place more fun than, say, browsing the encyclopedia.
I think I can honestly say that in my 15 years here I’ve never been afraid to post anything. I’ve chosen not to, for various reasons, but never out of fear.
What, precisely is there to be afraid of? Being warned? Easy enough: “thanks for the warning, won’t do that again.” Being banned? Not without a warning.
Honestly, I was thinking of a banned poster with a very large post count when I wrote that part of the post. As much of a problem as he became, I truly miss his contribution and wish he was still here.
He’s concerned that the board culture is inhibiting the exultation of his penis. He’s also assuming that at least half the board is similarly concerned. He hasn’t specified which half.
I have, a couple times. It’s in highly polarized, highly emotionalized threads, where extrapolation is commonplace and extreme. “If you believe X, you must also believe Y.” As it happens, I believe X, but not Y. I wanted to post to try to defend this position…but the saucepan (if not the BBQ Pit) was simmering and I knew I’d only get burned.
There really isn’t any good reason to jump down into the arena where the rats and terriers are fighting! (Or even the Bears and the Dolphins.)
