# Alarming trend in moderation **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [July 11, 2019, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alarming-trend-in-moderation/836891 "2019-07-11T06:58:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2019, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alarming-trend-in-moderation/836891/21 "2019-07-11T15:29:54Z")
> [@SlackerInc](#): > > In re recent warnings of Sammy and Manson: > … Linky? Cite? ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2019, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alarming-trend-in-moderation/836891/22 "2019-07-11T15:53:14Z")
> [@SlackerInc](#): > > This retort could be used in response to literally every complaint lodged in ATMB. It is therefore a form of threadshitting. I’m not sure that you get to decide what is or is not threadshitting. That sounds like you junior-modding ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2019, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alarming-trend-in-moderation/836891/23 "2019-07-11T16:03:09Z")
Do we need separate accounts for that, too? ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2019, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alarming-trend-in-moderation/836891/24 "2019-07-11T16:19:10Z")
> [@SlackerInc](#): > > This retort could be used in response to literally every complaint lodged in ATMB. It is therefore a form of threadshitting. I actually would argue that your OP is the sort of response that could be made to any form of moderation. Because I’ve actually seen posts like that second paragraph used in every situation, from banning someone for the wrong beliefs to not allowing racial slurs. Assuming **Bone** got it right, I’m actually impressed he figured out what you meant. Your OP reads more like a rant to me. ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2019, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alarming-trend-in-moderation/836891/25 "2019-07-11T16:19:48Z")
Regardless of whether it qualifies in some technical sense as threadshitting, scoffing along the lines of “relax, it’s just a message board” and “no one is making you post here if you don’t like it” is either applicable to every single complaint in ATMB , or is a disingenuous way of minimizing a specific complaint. > [@Bone](#): > > It seems your main point is that posters are being constrained to hold certain views else they get banned, or choose to remain silent. If that’s your position then I disagree. With certain limitations, virtually any topic can be discussed on the board in one of the forums. In my view, the biggest constraints that limit posters are in areas of illegal activity and hate speech. Beyond that, most topics are fair game as long as people remain civil about it. > > Are there topics you want to engage in but feel constrained about? Yes. Religion, for one. I do want to point out that the comments I felt should not have elicited warnings are ones that I would not personally say or endorse. But I have a funny thing about defending other people’s free and open expression of sincere opinions even if I disagree with them. ---
**Author:** ![Emiliana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f0a364/32.png) [@Emiliana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emiliana)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2019, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alarming-trend-in-moderation/836891/26 "2019-07-11T16:23:28Z")
Snort. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2019, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alarming-trend-in-moderation/836891/27 "2019-07-11T16:25:03Z")
> [@SlackerInc](#): > > Yes. Religion, for one. > > I do want to point out that the comments I felt should not have elicited warnings are ones that I would not personally say or endorse. But I have a funny thing about defending other people’s free and open expression of sincere opinions even if I disagree with them. I, for one, shall defend your right to post on religious topics. ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2019, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alarming-trend-in-moderation/836891/28 "2019-07-11T16:26:47Z")
> [@Emiliana](#): > > Snort. Thank you for that constructive and illuminating contribution to the discourse. :rolleyes: ---
**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:** [July 11, 2019, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alarming-trend-in-moderation/836891/29 "2019-07-11T16:27:24Z")
> [@SlackerInc](#): > > Yes. Religion, for one. You’re welcome to discuss religion to your heart’s content in GD - the appropriate place for witnessing. All manner of religious discussion occurs in GD on a regular basis, from the general to the very detailed. Can you be more specific as to why you think you are constrained from discussing religion? I’d note that the two warnings you mention in the OP, religion was not a component of those warnings. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2019, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alarming-trend-in-moderation/836891/30 "2019-07-11T16:28:56Z")
> [@SlackerInc](#): > > … or be living out your days in pathetically cowed prostration before said True Believers. I thought the True Believers were the Trump supporters. 😕 “I will build a great, great wall on our southern border, and I will have Mexico pay for that wall. Mark my words.” “I will be phenomenal to the women. I mean, I want to help women.” “The concept of global warming was created by and for the Chinese in order to make U.S. manufacturing non-competitive.” “I’m the most successful person ever to run for the presidency, by far. Nobody’s ever been more successful than me. I’m the most successful person ever to run.” “I look very much forward to showing my financials, because they are huge.” “Sorry losers and haters, but my IQ is one of the highest - and you all know it! Please don’t feel so stupid or insecure, it’s not your fault.” “She does have a very nice figure… If [Ivanka] weren’t my daughter, perhaps I’d be dating her.” “I’m intelligent. Some people would say I’m very, very, very intelligent.” “I could stand in the middle of 5th Avenue and shoot somebody and I wouldn’t lose voters.” ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2019, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alarming-trend-in-moderation/836891/31 "2019-07-11T16:32:33Z")
Yes, Trumpists are another type of cultist. You didn’t think I was one of those, did you? > [@Bone](#): > > You’re welcome to discuss religion to your heart’s content in GD - the appropriate place for witnessing. All manner of religious discussion occurs in GD on a regular basis, from the general to the very detailed. Can you be more specific as to why you think you are constrained from discussing religion? > > I’d note that the two warnings you mention in the OP, religion was not a component of those warnings. What then did “hate speech” refer to? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Chisquirrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@Chisquirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chisquirrel)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2019, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alarming-trend-in-moderation/836891/32 "2019-07-11T16:33:59Z")
> [@SlackerInc](#): > > Yes, Trumpists are another type of cultist. You didn’t think I was one of those, did you? > > What then did “hate speech” refer to? :dubious: What exactly did blaming the victims of genocide have to do with religion, again? Nazi Germany went after ethnic Jews. ---
**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:** [July 11, 2019, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alarming-trend-in-moderation/836891/33 "2019-07-11T16:36:22Z")
> [@SlackerInc](#): > > What then did “hate speech” refer to? :dubious: Use of racial slurs primarily. However this could also include things like denigrating whole swathes of people based on race or other immutable characteristics. Are those things that you want to do, or think that we should give other people free rein to do? ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2019, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alarming-trend-in-moderation/836891/34 "2019-07-11T16:36:56Z")
> [@Chisquirrel](#): > > What exactly did blaming the victims of genocide have to do with religion, again? Nazi Germany went after ethnic Jews. I was referring to Manson’s warning. Sammy’s post was stupid. But it did not deserve moderation other than perhaps to move it to a different forum and then let people pick apart the stupidity. ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2019, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alarming-trend-in-moderation/836891/35 "2019-07-11T16:38:12Z")
> [@Bone](#): > > Use of racial slurs primarily. However this could also include things like denigrating whole swathes of people based on race or other immutable characteristics. Are those things that you want to do, or think that we should give other people free rein to do? :rolleyes: In. That. Warning. Of Manson. What did it refer to? ---
**Author:** ![Emiliana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f0a364/32.png) [@Emiliana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emiliana)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2019, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alarming-trend-in-moderation/836891/36 "2019-07-11T16:53:01Z")
When do we seize our pitchforks and surround the cities? ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2019, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alarming-trend-in-moderation/836891/37 "2019-07-11T16:59:33Z")
I’d like to offer a hearty “well done” to our moderation staff. I sincerely appreciate the work you do. ---
**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:** [July 11, 2019, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alarming-trend-in-moderation/836891/38 "2019-07-11T17:01:38Z")
> [@SlackerInc](#): > > What then did “hate speech” refer to? :dubious: > [@SlackerInc](#): > > :rolleyes: In. That. Warning. Of Manson. What did it refer to? **manson1972’s** warning did not refer to hate speech. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2019, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alarming-trend-in-moderation/836891/39 "2019-07-11T17:14:35Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Yup. It’s a requirement to be both a Maoist and and a supporter of anti-semites to be a moderator here. I _knew_ it! Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2019, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alarming-trend-in-moderation/836891/40 "2019-07-11T17:15:44Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > **manson1972’s** warning did not refer to hate speech. Sigh. Okay, “racism and misogyny”. Same diff. [https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=21743594&postcount=7](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=21743594&postcount=7) Speaking of which, another area I feel constrained from discussing outside the Pit is the Steven Pinker type critique of what he calls the Standard Social Science Model or SSSM in his book _The Blank Slate_. This embrace of the SSSM has wide ranging public policy ramifications in education, labor practices, and criminal justice especially. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alarming-trend-in-moderation/836891.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alarming-trend-in-moderation/836891.md?page=3)