# At what point do mods step in when a debate is getting derailed? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [April 8, 2014, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-point-do-mods-step-in-when-a-debate-is-getting-derailed/685630 "2014-04-08T12:57:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 2\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2014, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-point-do-mods-step-in-when-a-debate-is-getting-derailed/685630/61 "2014-04-10T18:46:14Z")
> [@Polerius](#): > > What’s going on in _this_ thread is clearly a derailment. And having post #59 above by **doorhinge** , which is a huge dump of the definition of “persecute” is, is a prime example of how far from the question in the OP this thread has gone. Maybe it’s the organic evolution of discussion. ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2014, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-point-do-mods-step-in-when-a-debate-is-getting-derailed/685630/62 "2014-04-11T15:40:35Z")
As this forum is neither The Pit nor Great Debates, this discussion seems to be going in non-ATMB directions. At this point it’s not really about this message board or what moderators to, it seems to be more about what people think about other posters, which can be better handled elsewhere. The original question was answered. I see no reason to keep this thread open. If you have an issue with another poster or what they say on a subject, open a thread on that subject in the appropriate forum. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-point-do-mods-step-in-when-a-debate-is-getting-derailed/685630.md?page=3)