# Attention Frank **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 2, 2008, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-frank/435992 "2008-02-02T16:41:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2008, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-frank/435992/1 "2008-02-02T16:41:41Z")
Last night I posted in a pit thread pitting you where I participated in a criticism of your mod action in moving a benign thread to the pit. I outlined a significant inconsistency with a previous mod action and was anxious to see how you would respond. That thread and my post disappeared ! It wasn’t because of my post was it ? ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2008, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-frank/435992/2 "2008-02-02T16:49:31Z")
No, no. It would appear that the thread was started by a sock. Feel free to repost here, though I’ll tell you that I’m not going to be terribly concerned about any perceived inconsistencies between a years-ago action of **TVeblen** and a recent action of mine. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2008, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-frank/435992/3 "2008-02-02T17:13:17Z")
[QUOTE=Frank] No, no. It would appear that the thread was started by a sock. Feel free to repost here, though I’ll tell you that I’m not going to be terribly concerned about any perceived inconsistencies between a years-ago action of **TVeblen** and a recent action of mine. [/QUOTE] Fine. I would like to know however what the rule or the desire of the SDMB staff is with regard to threads requesting doper opinions on their view of the OP. Do they belong in the pit or not? Or are they not suitable in any forum? ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2008, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-frank/435992/4 "2008-02-02T17:18:04Z")
[QUOTE=The Flying Dutchman] Fine. I would like to know however what the rule or the desire of the SDMB staff is with regard to threads requesting doper opinions on their view of the OP. Do they belong in the pit or not? Or are they not suitable in any forum? [/QUOTE] Personally, I would think that they should go in MPSIMS. I moved that thread to the Pit due to the totality of the posters history. As with so many other moderator actions, it was based on my judgement. If you’re looking for me to engrave some rule on a stone tablet for you, I’m not going to. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2008, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-frank/435992/5 "2008-02-02T17:40:48Z")
[QUOTE=Frank] If you’re looking for me to engrave some rule on a stone tablet for you, I’m not going to. [/QUOTE] Suppose it was written in the snow in, say, Jessica Alba’s handwriting. Would we still have to obey it? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2008, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-frank/435992/6 "2008-02-02T17:56:00Z")
[QUOTE=Frank] Personally, I would think that they should go in MPSIMS. I moved that thread to the Pit due to the totality of the posters history. As with so many other moderator actions, it was based on my judgement. If you’re looking for me to engrave some rule on a stone tablet for you, I’m not going to. [/QUOTE] Fine, since nobody pays much attention to stone tablets any more. Given that you cherish the power inherent in the freedom of ad lib decision making without constraints, I see no benefit in appealing to better judgement. ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2008, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-frank/435992/7 "2008-02-02T18:06:52Z")
[QUOTE=The Flying Dutchman] I see no benefit in appealing to better judgement. [/QUOTE] So, just to be clear, is your complaint that you felt the thread was more appropriate for IMHO and **Frank** shouldn’t have moved it, or that mod actions should be more consistent overall (i.e. if we move one thread seeking personal opinions to the Pit, we should move all threads seeking personal opinions)? ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2008, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-frank/435992/8 "2008-02-02T18:07:35Z")
[QUOTE=The Flying Dutchman] Last night I posted in a pit thread pitting you where I participated in a criticism of your mod action in moving a benign thread to the pit. I outlined a significant inconsistency with a previous mod action and was anxious to see how you would respond. That thread and my post disappeared ! It wasn’t because of my post was it ? [/QUOTE] ok, so the sticky announcement about ‘disappeared threads’ has dropped off. but IIRC, from the oh, **thousands** of prior examples, disappeared threads disappear 'cause (in most cases) it was started by a returning troll/sock, and admins prefer questions about same go to email. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2008, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-frank/435992/9 "2008-02-02T18:10:02Z")
[QUOTE=Contrapuntal] Suppose it was written in the snow in, say, Jessica Alba’s handwriting. Would we still have to obey it? [/QUOTE] Jessica Alba can write her name in the snow?? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2008, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-frank/435992/10 "2008-02-02T18:11:53Z")
Print, more likely. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2008, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-frank/435992/11 "2008-02-02T18:16:36Z")
[QUOTE=Thudlow Boink] Jessica Alba can write her name in the snow?? [/QUOTE] Isn’t that what she has a press secretary for? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2008, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-frank/435992/12 "2008-02-02T18:22:49Z")
[QUOTE=Giraffe] So, just to be clear, is your complaint that you felt the thread was more appropriate for IMHO and **Frank** shouldn’t have moved it, or that mod actions should be more consistent overall (i.e. if we move one thread seeking personal opinions to the Pit, we should move all threads seeking personal opinions)? [/QUOTE] Consistency overall is desirable so that posters have some guide and moderators are more accountable. Frankly moving that initial thread to the pit in my opinion was simply vindictive . There was no rant or complaint suggested in that OP and I can only assume that Frank wanted to subject the OP to the flames to satisfy his personal desires. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2008, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-frank/435992/13 "2008-02-02T18:23:49Z")
[QUOTE=Thudlow Boink] Jessica Alba can write her name in the snow?? [/QUOTE] Remember the old joke about Nixon, Agnew’s pee and Pat’s handwriting? ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2008, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-frank/435992/14 "2008-02-02T18:37:22Z")
[QUOTE=The Flying Dutchman] Consistency overall is desirable so that posters have some guide and moderators are more accountable. Frankly moving that initial thread to the pit in my opinion was simply vindictive . There was no rant or complaint suggested in that OP and I can only assume that Frank wanted to subject the OP to the flames to satisfy his personal desires. [/QUOTE] While I can’t speak for **Frank** and his vindictive motives, I would have moved that thread as well. Given **Two and a Half Inches** ’ posting history, there was a high likelihood that some posters would have strong feelings on him not joining based on how he’s posted so far. Anything more than mild criticism of another poster is not really appropriate in IMHO, even if they initiated the discussion. See for example [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=447359), which was moved from IMHO to the Pit. While one could argue that posters should simply not post if they have strongly negative views, I think it’s better to move such threads to a forum where the discussion can flow freely without us having to hand out warnings to people for answering an OP honestly. ---
**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:** [February 2, 2008, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-frank/435992/15 "2008-02-02T19:00:54Z")
[QUOTE=The Flying Dutchman] Fine. I would like to know however what the rule or the desire of the SDMB staff is with regard to threads requesting doper opinions on their view of the OP. Do they belong in the pit or not? Or are they not suitable in any forum? [/QUOTE] As has been said, it depends. In the case of a guest who has a history of making offensive or obnoxious posts (and is well aware that many others have found them so), and who then solicits such opinions, the Pit may be the most appropriate place for responses. I’d have to agree with **Frank** and **Giraffe** on this. If it had been my forum, I would have either moved the thread to the Pit or locked it. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2008, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-frank/435992/16 "2008-02-02T19:26:50Z")
[QUOTE=The Flying Dutchman] There was no rant or complaint suggested in that OP and I can only assume that Frank wanted to subject the OP to the flames to satisfy his personal desires. [/QUOTE] The only way you can assume that is if you do not believe my explanation. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2008, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-frank/435992/17 "2008-02-02T19:33:50Z")
[QUOTE=Frank] The only way you can assume that is if you do not believe my explanation. [/QUOTE] I should have used the past tense. I believe your explanation. ---
**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:** [February 2, 2008, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-frank/435992/18 "2008-02-02T19:35:12Z")
[QUOTE=The Flying Dutchman] Frankly moving that initial thread to the pit in my opinion was simply vindictive . There was no rant or complaint suggested in that OP and I can only assume that Frank wanted to subject the OP to the flames to satisfy his personal desires. [/QUOTE] I don’t really know your personal history with **Frank,** but one might assume with equal logic that you posted this thread out of personal vindictiveness towards him. ---
**Author:** ![Tikki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5daacb/32.png) [@Tikki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tikki)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2008, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-frank/435992/19 "2008-02-02T19:36:02Z")
[QUOTE=Colibri] I’d have to agree with **Frank** and **Giraffe** on this. If it had been my forum, I would have either moved the thread to the Pit or locked it. [/QUOTE] Me too. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2008, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-frank/435992/20 "2008-02-02T19:47:08Z")
[QUOTE=Colibri] I don’t really know your personal history with **Frank,** but one might assume with equal logic that you posted this thread out of personal vindictiveness towards him. [/QUOTE] Not true though as I have no feelings for him, but it wouldn’t surprise me if the thought had entered anyones mind. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-frank/435992.md?page=2)