Another question about the "rules", part II

About This Message Board
1

In my original question about the rules, I asked why I received a warning about stating that a certain poster was on my ignore list. Seems I posted the comment in the wrong forum.

But then this morning, I stumbled onto this gem in the BBQ Pit:

From this OP, Frank hurls quite a bit at Rand Rover, which if memory serves, breaks a couple of rules, even for the BBQ Pit. To quote:

Now, I don’t know either of these two very well, except that Frank has been around for a while and may have been a mod at one time or another. My take on Rand Rover is that he’s apparently annoyed more than a few people here (including Frank) in the short time he’s been here. That’s all I know.
Gfactor rightly steps in and posts the following:

ok. Two rules broken. But, no warning issued? Seriously? Why the fuck not?

So I went back to re-read what I was warned for. Here is what I wrote:

A quick reminder,

The key sentence in my post seems to be, “I won’t see your reply unless someone quotes it, so please save the rest of the board the trouble and ignore this post.”

After my warning, I initially thought I came right out and said “YOU ARE ON MY IGNORE LIST”, but when I went back today, I didn’t even go that far. I implied it, but I never stated it.

So, one poster (me) receives a warning for implying that someone is on my ignore list - the sin being that since I posted this vital, and potentially inflammatory information in the wrong forum, I must be reprimanded. But another poster (Frank) tells someone to:

  1. Fuck off
  2. Directly threatens him with “Look, pal, I’ve interacted with you on the board, and if I were going to a bar to meet you in real life, you’d be well advised to run me through a metal detector before I get drunk.”

No warning issued. WTF?

I am not asking for Frank to receive an official warning. Instead, I would kindly like my warning removed from my record, scorecard, or whatever you call it. Because personally, I find that these two cases don’t even come close in the famous “Don’t be a jerk” rule.

If I can’t have my warning expunged, I would really like to have a moderator or two explain to me why. The inconsistency of moderation, warnings, and the recent banning of seven (since rescinded), has turned a spotlight on an important area for the functioning of this board. No standards - no consistency - no accountability - when it comes to the area of moderation.

It would seem that if someone can get away with saying what Frank said in the OP of a pit thread, surely I can be forgiven for my implied infraction.

I’d appreciate it if you could remove it, so when I look at my Infractions tab on my personal page, there isn’t any. As it should be.

Do the right thing,
SFP

2

When **GFactor **took over as Pit mod he said, more or less, that his style was to remind members of the rules rather than issue warnings. He has kept to that. FWIW, he seems to be quite the even-handed moderator.

3

And, in addition, the “fuck off” rule, along with the other language rules, was established with the understanding that they would not be enforced by warnings for a period of time, allowing the Pitizens to become used to modifying/tempering their language.

4

Thanks. And that’s pretty much it. The Pit is a place where tempers and rhetoric run high. I’m usually able to settle things down with a note, and I try to do that when I can. I try not to make it about crime and punishment.

The other forums lend themselves to different approaches. And their moderators are entitled to use whatever methods work for them. Also, we’re talking about violations of three different rules. The language rules almost always get a moderator note, and the threat was hypothetical–not direct. I’d have done the same for you based on those violations.

I’ll also note that you can announce that someone is on your ignore list in the Pit. So next time, just do it there, and we’re cool. :wink:

As for your request, I’ll report this thread so that the ATMB moderators will see it.

Gfactor
Moderator

5

I understand this isn’t your intention in this post and that you’re just getting your point across; and I appreciate that you didn’t try this defense in the original thread, but this type of splitting an angel’s hair whose head has been replaced by a dancing pin (i.e., “rules lawyering”) isn’t really a defense at all. While you didn’t specifically say he was on your ignore list, your post didn’t leave any doubt about your message.

I handed out a warning instead of a note because:

1.) What you said violated a pretty straightforward rule;
2.) It read as intentional and mean-spirited;
3.) I like to keep ATMB as free from insults, swipes, trolling and attacks as possible.

I think the rules in this forum, while strictly enforced, are pretty easy to understand and help keep the conversations on track by weeding out the the potential personal hijacks. It doesn’t always work, mind you, but we do try to make this forum an accessible place to post without having to worry about personal attacks. Essentially taunting someone with the ignore list runs counter to that goal.

6

what is that “period of time”, and has it not elapsed yet? I’m guessing no one knows, and it will be an arbitrary decision that will be made on the fly by a mod who has decided that time is up.

7

Gfactor,

Thank you for the prompt response to this thread. And I appreciate your candor and evenhandedness at moderation of the pit. Still, as I read your reply, I get the sense that if you were the mod of ATMB instead of the Pit, I may not have received an official warning, as you may have chosen to handle the situation differently than SkipMagic. I understand that as mods, you will not all act the same. However, I can’t help but wonder how this doesn’t add a layer of confusion in that not only do you have to remember what rules come with what forum, but also who the mods are in that forum. Your approach seems much different than SkipMagic’s. I suspect, but will never know, that if you read my post in ATMB, I would have received a notification, but no official warning - especially, as DSYoungESQ points out, there seems to be a grace period to allow people to get used to the new rules.

And I appreciate your offer to unload my ignore list in the Pit. :slight_smile: Fortunately, there is no one on it any longer, since I didn’t want to make the same mistake again. If I decide to add some folks back onto that list, I’ll be sure to visit the Pit. :smiley:

8

SkipMagic, as I said before, you were within your rights to give me a warning. That’s why I didn’t really complain about it. However, after reading Frank’s OP, I began to wonder what I did exactly that was so egregious that garnered an official warning from the board but Frank’s did not.

It seems to be a combination of things, one of which is the moderator making the decision. As I mentioned in my reply to Gfactor, I suspect Frank would have received a warning from you, and you would have been perfectly within your rights to do so. Those rules are spelled out just as clearly as the one you binged me for, and I really don’t see any reason why they are enforced differently. The only difference I can see is you vs. Gfactor.

For the record, to address your points:

  1. At the time I said it, I didn’t think it was a straightforward rule. I knew Ed Zotti had rescinded the “can’t reveal who is on your ignore list”, but I wasn’t aware it was restricted to the pit. Given the volume of activity during that time, I think it was a forgivable oversight.
  2. It was intentional, but not really mean-spirited (at least my interpretation of what that means). I was just tired of reading that same post over and over and wanted to avoid a reply in the thread or a PM. I think we both know I’m not a big fan of that particular poster, but I don’t think I’d have to pass through a “metal detector” before meeting him in public.
  3. That is of course your right. If you choose to stand by it, I’ll accept it. I just won’t like it.

SFP

PS, thank you for your rapid response to this thread as well. I appreciate it.

9

Frank’s post may have been indirect, but I can’t figure out how it wasn’t a bodily threat. It can’t be a joke, as what followed it was definitely hostile. I think it would behoove you to give such comments more than a slap on the wrist, Gfactor. Just because it is against your general policy to give warnings, doesn’t mean you should give flat out bullying a pass, even if it is against a heavily unliked member.

As far as the use of “ignore” feature: I think it’s purpose is to prevent people from getting as mad as Frank apparently did. He knows that Starving Artist’s posts will make him mad. And he has at least threatened to do something that would get him in a lot of trouble. Being drunk is not going to get you out of a premeditated violence charge. I think it would behoove him to ignore the offending party. And it behoove the board staff to discourage such behavior in the future.

I mean, what is a warning, anyways? All it means is that, we’ve seen you do something wrong, and we’re going to be watching you real closely to make sure you don’t do something else. Unless you are in the habit of doing wrong things, it’s really not going to affect you.