David B, does it ever occur to you that maybe, just maybe, you were a little out of line?
And would it be such a horrible thing for you to admit this and apologize?
The only thing I am guilty of is deciding not to immediately put on the Moderator Hat officially and instead offering a (strong) piece of advice that some people took as a moderator leaning on somebody. As I said, I debated it with myself and chose to go in that direction. Apparently, people would have been happier if I had made it official. And that’s fine. Looking back, I probably should have made it official. At the time, I thought it would work better the other way. <shrug>
I’m just amazed at the storm in a teacup over something so simple. David B was remarkably restrained, as far as I could see.
The guy that got banned posted a poorly thought out OP, without any explanation or background, called David a jerk when asked to expand on his theory, and then said he was leaving anyway.
Why we need a whole pit thread dedicated to discussing why the poster was banned is beyond me. Anyway, carry on, this will probably run to 5 pages. :rolleyes:
David, it’s quite possible that I’m missing something, but how is
**
an attack on the post and not the poster?
Fair enough, I suppose.
However, this statement
while clearly not “against the rules” - as you’ve shown with your links above - is still both insulting and antagonistic. I would think that everyone would give “newbies” a fair bit of leeway when it comes to trying to outline their arguments.
DavidB–has it occurred to you yet that this discussion is not so much about the rules as it is about your being an asshole and not playing on a level field?
Noktober seemed to have a pretty fair grasp of the rule ‘don’t be a jerk’. It wasn’t his ignorance or flouting of that rule that got him in trouble; it was your behaving with such immediate venom and priggish asshat-ery. You baited him, acted like a jerk, and then got upset when he started to play the same way.
The reason you’re getting heat about this is because you gave the impression–from the beginning of the thread–that you had it out for that poster. Most people seem bothered about this episode because their sense of justice and fair play have been bruised.
DavidB–has it occurred to you yet that this discussion is not so much about the rules as it is about your being an asshole and not playing on a level field?
Noktober seemed to have a pretty fair grasp of the rule ‘don’t be a jerk’. It wasn’t his ignorance or flouting of that rule that got him in trouble; it was your behaving with such immediate venom and priggish asshat-ery. You baited him, acted like a jerk, and then got upset when he started to play the same way.
The reason you’re getting heat about this is because you gave the impression–from the beginning of the thread–that you had it out for that poster. Most people seem bothered about this episode because their sense of justice and fair play have been bruised.
As a “newbie” myself, I read all of the rules. The “don’t be a jerk rule” seems like a good one. The MOD in this case was being a jerk. The rules also state that anyone can be banned for any reason. This, by default, tells me that, also, anyone can get away with being a jerk for any reason the board sees fit. If you are a MOD or long time poster or someone held in favor or if the administration likes your screen name or you are a personal friend of Ted Kenedy, you can get away with being a jerk. If you are a newbie be sure to obey the rules.
RULES
- Ain’t no rules
- If a MOD breaks a rule, see #1
- Hi Opal
(not sure what #3 means but it seems to be the only clear rule)
I think this guy would’ve fit in quite nicely.
David
Fair enough then. It seems that this whole thing could have been avoided by a bit of clarity and civility on both sides, then.
- Bubba.
Note to Administration:
Three of your MODs are being thrashed about in the Bar be Que Pit. All at the same time.
Not neccesarily so; with this many people registered on the SDMB, I think you’ll almost always find that someone, somewhere, for some reason will cry foul because he/she has gotten his/her metal-studded, leather panties in a bunch. Civility (or even rationality) is not a panacea.
I mean, hell, we can’t even have an innocent “SUVs suck!” thread every few months without somebody getting pissed. Stupid SUVs. 
David B
I’m glad too. Of course the spin makes me dizzy, but it’s cheaper than drugs.
Well, 51 posts in this forum, Mr. 7075 posts. But, as I have tried to explain, unsuccessfully, it seems, the Straight Dope forum is not the measure of all things.
And yes, it’s sad when a lowly 51 posts worm like me crawling through the muck of the Straight Dope forum eating rocks and shitting dirt can still see that you are an arrogant, hair-trigger fuck sock.
Not to say that there’s anything wrong with being an arrogant hair trigger fuck sock. Some of my best friends are arrogant, hair-trigger fuck socks. I like to be an arrogant, hair-trigger fuck sock when I can fit it into my busy schedule. But then again me and my friends are not moderators and, need it be said? Yes, it does: You shouldn’t be wearing your arrogant hair-trigger fuck sock hat and your moderator hat at the same time. Why? It makes you look like a bully. It makes you look like someone who tries to cop respect for what you are , not what you do.
Yeah. OK. Using your exemplary powers of observation and insight not seen since Oliver Stone penned JFK, you figured a poster was a troll. You figured he was a crackpot pushing the Hollow Earth theory. You busted his ass.
Watch that mod whip that newbie. Take that lunch money. Give him a wedgie.
clap clap clap
You are the man. Really. I mean that sincerely.
Hank Fescue
Of course, except when being a newbie and knowing the rules makes you immediately suspect. Since I am a suspect newbie merely for knowing vB code, I will avoid reading the rules at all costs before I make the unforgivable error of reminding a moderator of the rules when and if they break them.
David B
I’m glad too. Of course the spin makes me dizzy, but it’s cheaper than drugs.
Well, 51 posts in this forum, Mr. 7075 posts. But, as I have tried to explain, unsuccessfully, it seems, the Straight Dope forum is not the measure of all things.
And yes, it’s sad when a lowly 51 posts worm like me crawling through the muck of the Straight Dope forum eating rocks and shitting dirt can still see that you are an arrogant, hair-trigger fuck sock.
Not to say that there’s anything wrong with being an arrogant hair trigger fuck sock. Some of my best friends are arrogant, hair-trigger fuck socks. I like to be an arrogant, hair-trigger fuck sock when I can fit it into my busy schedule. But then again me and my friends are not moderators and, need it be said? Yes, it does: You shouldn’t be wearing your arrogant hair-trigger fuck sock hat and your moderator hat at the same time. Why? It makes you look like a bully. It makes you look like someone who tries to cop respect for what you are , not what you do.
Yeah. OK. Using your exemplary powers of observation and insight not seen since Oliver Stone penned JFK, you figured a poster was a troll. You figured he was a crackpot pushing the Hollow Earth theory. You busted his ass.
Watch that mod whip that newbie. Take that lunch money. Give him a wedgie.
clap clap clap
You are the man. Really. I mean that sincerely.
You mean in the same sense that Marion Barry knew that smoking crack in a hotel room with a hooker was against the law and did it anyway?
Pot-kettle-black
Hank Fescue
Of course, except when being a newbie and knowing the rules makes you immediately suspect. Since I am a suspect newbie merely for knowing vB code, I will avoid reading the rules at all costs before I make the unforgivable error of reminding a moderator of the rules when and if they break them.
Oh, you kids and your cheap ass timing out forum.
Keep the second post, kill the first. I’d delete it myself, but your forum doesn’t work that way.
See?
I am concerned by a theme in this thread that the number of posts someone has made is some kind of indication as to that person’s expertise, authority or attitude on a given subject or subjects.
Today was the first time I had visited SDMB. This is my first post on the board. Let the pigeon-holing begin…
Dude, you must have at least a dozen post before pigeon holed. What king of place do you think this is?
spoonhandler
Wait a minute…“SDMB”? How do you know it is abbreviated as the “SDMB” after one post?
I smell a rat!
Are you a sock puppet?
Are you a resurrection?
Do you have a supicious knowledge of vB code?
Have you ever been a member of the Communist Party?
Are you still beating your wife?
Consider X. Prove to me X is not the case?
Are you an X? No? Prove it.
Given: X equals wood. Now, how much X could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck X?
Please cite to me the rules. If you still don’t know the rules after 7075 posts, you are above reproach.
Reverend Myeku: While I’ll agree you’re quite funny, and Libertarian has a good point about the thin wall between Poster and Moderator, I don’t find David B’s position to be bullying; and it’s not like I’m a moderator sycophant on this issue!
He made a mild admonition after a mild insult, to a poster that was definitely setting off all sorts of “troll vibes” – a poster was banned who left (though not directly by David B anyway) and he’s explained himself as best he can. OK, he’s snarky – we like 'em that way. What, if anything, is the current beef?