# Apparently, you are only allowed 10 reports per month {Note: this is of course not accurate} **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [March 31, 2025, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apparently-you-are-only-allowed-10-reports-per-month-note-this-is-of-course-not-accurate/1016406 "2025-03-31T15:29:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2025, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apparently-you-are-only-allowed-10-reports-per-month-note-this-is-of-course-not-accurate/1016406/81 "2025-04-01T04:34:22Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > What would make them think they have been heard and they are right? Not sure what your question is but I’ll try to answer. From Aspenglow: The reason YOU did not get a note to desist early on (remember this was over days) is because … From Puzzlegal: No complaints. She said don’t keep doing what you’re doing. Do this instead. From What\_Exit: Something more than “Don’t report so much.” For context I have been told multiple times when in doubt report. Note Puzzlegal said “Don’t report this unless it turns into a hijack.” That’s a rule I can follow. After what What\_Exit told me, I don’t know what I’m allowed to report or even if I’m allowed to report anymore. Will I get suspended if I report a post now for not following mod instructions to stop reporting? IDK. Am I on a quota system not? IDK. Can I report perceived violations of this rule but not that one? IDK. If you can read what What\_Exit wrote to me and translate that into clear unambiguous rules that I can follow re: reporting post then please translate for me What am I allowed to report? How often can I report posts? ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2025, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apparently-you-are-only-allowed-10-reports-per-month-note-this-is-of-course-not-accurate/1016406/82 "2025-04-01T04:40:33Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > For context I have been told multiple times when in doubt report. You were _personally_ told that? ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2025, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apparently-you-are-only-allowed-10-reports-per-month-note-this-is-of-course-not-accurate/1016406/83 "2025-04-01T04:41:44Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > What am I allowed to report? > How often can I report posts? I am not a mod and cannot speak for them. As a poster I would say there is no answer to those questions. There is no bright line for this. If a post needs reporting than do that. The mods encourage it. I think what is being asked is that you use better judgement on what requires moderation. ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2025, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apparently-you-are-only-allowed-10-reports-per-month-note-this-is-of-course-not-accurate/1016406/84 "2025-04-01T04:44:49Z")
Yeah, if you’re trying to be helpful and the target tells you to re-calibrate, it’s probably a good idea to step back and re-calibrate. That would be helpful. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2025, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apparently-you-are-only-allowed-10-reports-per-month-note-this-is-of-course-not-accurate/1016406/85 "2025-04-01T04:52:28Z")
My first rule is don’t report anything but the most egregious rules violation if I’m involved. ---
**Author:** ![DemonTree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/demontree/32/8646_2.png) [@DemonTree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DemonTree)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2025, 9:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apparently-you-are-only-allowed-10-reports-per-month-note-this-is-of-course-not-accurate/1016406/86 "2025-04-01T09:19:07Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > It is the last one. I know other non-progressive posters have complained about the perceived tone of the Board for a while but I’ve thought the Mods were doing a good job at that but lately … it’s hard to explain. The Board seems to be like high school but without the good parts. The popular kids get a pass … well kind of. It’s not that they are not held accountable, it’s just that they get a little more latitude than the rest of us. And that’s not really a mod issue. I see many times here where a user uses disingenuous tactics in their posts. If popular the other members give it a pass while unpopular member get called out for it almost immediately. And the bullying. Look at Roderick\_Femm’s post above. I think it is being a jerk comparing me to a child but I don’t dare report it for an objective review based on what What\_Exit told me and it uses enough weasel words that it would not be considered “attacking the poster”. And what about what Cervaise said. I see that in The Pit, is it appropriate here? Again, can’t report it since I have too many failed reports. If these were directed at YOU outside of the Pit, would you consider it bullying? Just based on the way it is written? I feel the same way. If you have an unpopular position in a debate, or just in general, you have to put up with borderline-insulting comments, drive by potshots, multiple bad arguments that would take too long to counter, etc. The majority of these posts don’t cross a line so they’re not worth reporting. And to be clear I don’t think the mods can fix this. They can enforce a certain standard of behaviour, but they can’t change anyone’s underlying attitude, or make everyone debate in good faith. This treatment is the natural result of being in a minority and of crazy politics off the board. When I came back to the Dope, I accepted that as the price of admission. But I had always felt in the past that the mods were pretty fair, not judging people based on popularity. And we were always assured that everyone got plenty of warning if they were breaking rules, and that no one was banned without having received plenty of chances. And then I was suspended out of the blue for something that is really not obvious from reading the rules, without having received so much as a mod note on it previously, and for which other posters hadn’t even received a warning. Apparently I was also considered a ‘problematic poster’, which was news to me. I hadn’t been racking up warnings. I had no idea I was under any special scrutiny. I think it’s pretty justified to feel paranoid in the circumstances. Being a mod here is obviously a hard and rather thankless task (and in general I would have said they do a good job). But we as ordinary posters don’t see everything they see. If a poster is causing more than a normal number of flags, they don’t know about it unless it results in action. It’s also not obvious how many mod notes is considered a problem - I’ve had a few, I’ve seen other posters get them, I don’t know what the average is or whether mods might be thinking I’ve had too many. I still don’t really know what I did that made a mod treat me as though I was some kind of repeat offender. If mods are thinking a poster is causing problems or on thin ice, I think they should tell that person explicitly, and include what they can do differently, as @puzzlegal did for @Saint_Cad. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2025, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apparently-you-are-only-allowed-10-reports-per-month-note-this-is-of-course-not-accurate/1016406/87 "2025-04-01T14:14:24Z")
> [@crowmanyclouds](#): > > You were _personally_ told that? Yes. By multiple mods over the years. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2025, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apparently-you-are-only-allowed-10-reports-per-month-note-this-is-of-course-not-accurate/1016406/88 "2025-04-01T18:30:31Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > I just realized I likely hold the record for posts reported. Tattler ! JK/JK 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2025, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apparently-you-are-only-allowed-10-reports-per-month-note-this-is-of-course-not-accurate/1016406/89 "2025-04-01T18:38:25Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > I have been told multiple times when in doubt report. > [@crowmanyclouds](#): > > You were _personally_ told that? We tell that to everyone. We would much rather have too many reports than too few, and I very much hope that this ATMB thread does not discourage anyone from flagging posts. This is only the second case that I am aware of where we have told someone not to keep reporting posts. This is very much the exception. In all other cases, we want all of you to keep reporting posts, even if you’re not sure if moderation is needed. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2025, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apparently-you-are-only-allowed-10-reports-per-month-note-this-is-of-course-not-accurate/1016406/90 "2025-04-01T19:50:37Z")
I think of it as like saying that drinking water is good, and the more the better. Which is generally good advice. Until someone [dies of water toxicity for taking it too far](https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/indiana-mom-dies-of-water-toxicity-after-drinking-too-much-water-on-vacation-family-says/3203387/). Paracelsus far back in the 15th-16th century coined the phrase (paraphrased), _ **“dosis sola facit venenum”** _, or “[the dose makes the poison](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_dose_makes_the_poison)”. Even a good thing taken to excess can turn bad. That doesn’t stop it from being a good thing when done to a normal extent. (Alternatively, if you do something bad just once and not again, generally the mods are going to forgive you unless you make it a pattern; so again, the dose makes the poison.) As for when is it too much? It seems like the mods will let you know, so when they tell you that, listen. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2025, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apparently-you-are-only-allowed-10-reports-per-month-note-this-is-of-course-not-accurate/1016406/91 "2025-04-01T20:20:47Z")
I’ll add, it doesnt matter if you’re a _popular_ or just a _troublesome_ poster. The notice you get will put you front in peoples minds. If you are mouthy and post alot it is apparently a clue you are a problem. I’ve been called the most horrendous names on this board. Things I’ve never heard applied to a person. It took me a hot minute to understand why. Well, I still don’t understand why its allowed, even in the pit. I accept it as “just how it is” Certain posters will fight to the death to preserve their right to bad mouth and use nasty names for people for S&Gs, I guess. I see no other advantage. Except to cause pain. There are 5 or 6 real bullies. Bonafied internet bullies. They troll this board looking for fights. Just humans with no other life is how I see them. Picking on people is their funzies. I just hate it. I didn’t come here to be beat down. ---
**Author:** ![DemonTree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/demontree/32/8646_2.png) [@DemonTree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DemonTree)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2025, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apparently-you-are-only-allowed-10-reports-per-month-note-this-is-of-course-not-accurate/1016406/92 "2025-04-01T21:53:21Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > I didn’t come here to be beat down. Me neither. I didn’t come here to be attacked, or to attack other people. I enjoy debating, even though I don’t expect to change anyone’s mind (or to change my own) on anything major. I like to understand what other people really believe, and put my own ideas and arguments to the test. Maybe a real debate where people disagree about something contentious is more work to moderate, IDK? But that’s what Great Debates is supposed to be for. I muted the whole Pit because I don’t want to deal with the pile-ons - it was harming my mental health. I thought if I didn’t see it, it wouldn’t hurt me. But maybe I was wrong, because the mods still read and post in the Pit; if other posters are talking shit about me and I’m not there to deny it, mods could be influenced by it, at least subconsciously. I don’t understand why they’d attack you, though. You seem pretty nice and inoffensive. You don’t post much about politics and religion, the usual suspects for causing bad feelings. 🤷‍♀️ ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2025, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apparently-you-are-only-allowed-10-reports-per-month-note-this-is-of-course-not-accurate/1016406/93 "2025-04-01T23:41:10Z")
> [@DemonTree](#): > > I don’t understand why they’d attack you, though. This really can’t be discussed in this thread. It’s not as she’s portraying it. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2025, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apparently-you-are-only-allowed-10-reports-per-month-note-this-is-of-course-not-accurate/1016406/94 "2025-04-01T23:45:31Z")
Do you think it’s even slightly possible that this, > [@DemonTree](#): > > I muted the whole Pit might have even the tiniest impact on this, > [@DemonTree](#): > > I don’t understand why they’d attack you, though. You seem pretty nice and inoffensive. You don’t post much about politics and religion, the usual suspects for causing bad feelings. 🤷‍♀️ ? ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2025, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apparently-you-are-only-allowed-10-reports-per-month-note-this-is-of-course-not-accurate/1016406/95 "2025-04-02T00:31:27Z")
> [@DemonTree](#): > > I don’t understand why they’d attack you, though. She has been attacked for her method of debate. There are those who are popular on this Board do the exact thing as Beck who _never_ get called out for the same thing she does. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2025, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apparently-you-are-only-allowed-10-reports-per-month-note-this-is-of-course-not-accurate/1016406/96 "2025-04-02T00:34:26Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > She has been attacked for her method of debate This is incorrect as far as the overwhelming main criticism against her. I ordinarily wouldn’t want to have yet another Beck hijack occur but since you’re the OP… ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2025, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apparently-you-are-only-allowed-10-reports-per-month-note-this-is-of-course-not-accurate/1016406/97 "2025-04-02T00:36:55Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > There are those who are popular on this Board do the exact thing as Beck who _never_ get called out for the same thing she does. Let me guess, you can’t name any of them because you’ll get banned. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2025, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apparently-you-are-only-allowed-10-reports-per-month-note-this-is-of-course-not-accurate/1016406/98 "2025-04-02T00:50:26Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > This is incorrect as far as the overwhelming main criticism against her. It is one criticism against her. I used that as the example here as to the culture of calling out some users for how they debate while others that use the same technique use the same. Yes there are other complaints against her. > [@crowmanyclouds](#): > > Let me guess, you can’t name any of them because you’ll get banned. In ATMB? At least warned. ---
**Author:** ![DemonTree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/demontree/32/8646_2.png) [@DemonTree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DemonTree)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2025, 10:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apparently-you-are-only-allowed-10-reports-per-month-note-this-is-of-course-not-accurate/1016406/99 "2025-04-02T10:21:40Z")
> [@crowmanyclouds](#): > > Do you think it’s even slightly possible that this, > > > [@DemonTree](#): > > > > I muted the whole Pit > > might have even the tiniest impact on this, > > > [@DemonTree](#): > > > > I don’t understand why they’d attack you, though. You seem pretty nice and inoffensive. You don’t post much about politics and religion, the usual suspects for causing bad feelings. 🤷‍♀️ > > ? I think if someone is acting in ways that annoy you, inviting 20 different people to personally attack them in the Pit is probably not the best way to get them to change. Call me naive (many have) but I think most people have good intentions (including the mods here) and are generally sincere, even when they disagree quite radically. Many would be willing to try and change something specific if they were given feedback in a non-hostile way. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2025, 10:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apparently-you-are-only-allowed-10-reports-per-month-note-this-is-of-course-not-accurate/1016406/100 "2025-04-02T10:31:43Z")
Let’s try again, If you muted the pit then how do you know this, > [@DemonTree](#): > > I think if someone is acting in ways that annoy you, inviting 20 different people to personally attack them in the Pit is probably not the best way to get them to change. is happening? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apparently-you-are-only-allowed-10-reports-per-month-note-this-is-of-course-not-accurate/1016406.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apparently-you-are-only-allowed-10-reports-per-month-note-this-is-of-course-not-accurate/1016406.md?page=6)