# \[b\]tomndebb\[/b\]'s Outrageous Behaviour **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [August 16, 2017, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-tomndebb-b-s-outrageous-behaviour/793762 "2017-08-16T05:28:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Zeke\_N.Destroi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/4af34b/32.png) [@Zeke\_N.Destroi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeke_N.Destroi)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2017, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-tomndebb-b-s-outrageous-behaviour/793762/1 "2017-08-16T05:28:45Z")
In this [thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=20416532#post20416532) another poster made the claim that American slavery was on par with the Holocaust (12 million dead). I asked for a cite. Then I provided one for him in [post 253](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=20416403&postcount=253). I then restated the number of slaves transported to America in post [267](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=20416532&postcount=267). I even referenced the original source. Now along comes **tomndebb** in post [283](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=20416628&postcount=283) to display his erudition by repeating to me exactly the numbers that I twice quoted from the cited source, in the correct context, and saying I will be [dismissed](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=20416628&postcount=283) should I not get my numbers straight. I have been nothing but respectful in that thread to those who were respectful to me. To those who weren’t I dissed them within the confines of the rules. Why did I have a mod - who has a history of messing with people’s posts in order to improve his appearance - threaten me with dismissal for giving factual numbers, in context, with a reputable source, that **tomndebb** spat right back at me pretty much verbatim, threaten me with sanction. At the very least this is worth a warning for junior modding since he isn’t the mod in the Pit. But more importantly, he has already crossed a line once and now, out of the blue, he is threatening me with sanction for saying what he said I should have said? Now I know that he may not have read the whole thread… but isn’t the rule that it is your own fault if you cross a line without having read the whole thread first? He crossed a line - even without defining “dismissed.” Coming from a mod it certainly carries the threat of official sanction and he has access to the mod loop and influence that I do not. Assuming this does not disappear into the ether or remain albeit altered I’d like an answer. Zeke ETA Titles will not accept coding so I’m sorry for **tomndebb** not being bolded ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2017, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-tomndebb-b-s-outrageous-behaviour/793762/2 "2017-08-16T05:44:53Z")
I don’t think he meant “dismissed” in the way you seem to think he meant it. It sounds like he meant you wouldn’t be taken seriously by him. Completely different meaning. If he meant he was going to take moderator action against you, he would have indicated it by saying [Moderating] or something similar to make it clear. Also, even though he isn’t a Pit mod, moderators have authority in all forums, so he can’t get a warning for junior moderating, since he is a moderator. ---
**Author:** ![Zeke\_N.Destroi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/4af34b/32.png) [@Zeke\_N.Destroi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeke_N.Destroi)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2017, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-tomndebb-b-s-outrageous-behaviour/793762/3 "2017-08-16T05:55:02Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > I don’t think he meant “dismissed” in the way you seem to think he meant it. It sounds like he meant you wouldn’t be taken seriously by him. Completely different meaning. If he meant he was going to take moderator action against you, he would have indicated it by saying [Moderating] or something similar to make it clear. > > Also, even though he isn’t a Pit mod, moderators have authority in all forums, so he can’t get a warning for junior moderating, since he is a moderator. Are you suggesting that he lacks the composition skills to make clear the distinction between, “or you will be dismissed” and “or I will ignore you”? I guess I give him more credit than you. See, I thought that him, having not participated in the thread at all, coming in to incorrectly correct my usage of a cite that he confirmed my usage of and say if I didn’t get my stuff straight I’d be dismissed was, at the very least, a veiled threat. I also gave him enough credit to assume he’d know that that is how it would be taken - coming from a mod and all. I am glad, though, that the posts have remained extant and unaltered. That’s something. Did you read the linked posts and/or the ones from **Iandyiii** and I preceeding it for context? ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2017, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-tomndebb-b-s-outrageous-behaviour/793762/4 "2017-08-16T05:56:48Z")
No, I don’t think the lack of comprehension is on **tomndebb’s** part. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2017, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-tomndebb-b-s-outrageous-behaviour/793762/5 "2017-08-16T06:01:12Z")
If somebody is being warned or banned, the moderators have always used those terms. So you wouldn’t be threatened with any moderator action by being told you’ll be dismissed. Don’t blame tomndebb is you didn’t understand what he wrote. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2017, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-tomndebb-b-s-outrageous-behaviour/793762/6 "2017-08-16T06:02:54Z")
> [@Zeke\_N.Destroi](#): > > Did you read the linked posts and/or the ones from **Iandyiii** and I preceeding it for context? Yes, I did. People were correctly pointing out holes in your argument. ---
**Author:** ![Zeke\_N.Destroi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/4af34b/32.png) [@Zeke\_N.Destroi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeke_N.Destroi)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2017, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-tomndebb-b-s-outrageous-behaviour/793762/7 "2017-08-16T06:09:05Z")
He came in, out of the blue, telling me I’d be “dismissed” unless I used the numbers exactly as I had and exactly as he admonished me to I’d say there is some room for question. Especially given that he has been somewhat heavy-handed in the past. I also note that I gave him a chance to clarify what he meant and, as of this posting, he has chosen not to. I give him enough credit to think that he knows the implications of the word “dismissed” coming from one with the power to do just that. He has always shown that he has a better-than-average facility with the language. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2017, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-tomndebb-b-s-outrageous-behaviour/793762/8 "2017-08-16T06:12:25Z")
Tomndebb is probably asleep. I think you might want to follow his example here, and see what this looks like in the light of day. ---
**Author:** ![Zeke\_N.Destroi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/4af34b/32.png) [@Zeke\_N.Destroi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeke_N.Destroi)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2017, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-tomndebb-b-s-outrageous-behaviour/793762/9 "2017-08-16T06:12:25Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > If somebody is being warned or banned, the moderators have always used those terms. So you wouldn’t be threatened with any moderator action by being told you’ll be dismissed. > > Don’t blame tomndebb is you didn’t understand what he wrote. Would a mod that isn’t a mod in that forum outright threaten someone for not breaking a rule? Or would they couch it? Or does he just lack the ability to say what he thinks himself better than you can say it for him? It’s not like this is **Miller** or **Idle Thoughts** who’ve never abused their authority. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2017, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-tomndebb-b-s-outrageous-behaviour/793762/10 "2017-08-16T06:14:50Z")
Again, it seems that he meant your opinion would be dismissed, not you personally. I don’t believe this complaint has any foundation. I’m not a mod, and I’m not trying to act like one. It’s just my personal opinion. ---
**Author:** ![Zeke\_N.Destroi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/4af34b/32.png) [@Zeke\_N.Destroi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeke_N.Destroi)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2017, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-tomndebb-b-s-outrageous-behaviour/793762/11 "2017-08-16T06:30:45Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > Again, it seems that he meant your opinion would be dismissed, not you personally. I don’t believe this complaint has any foundation. > > I’m not a mod, and I’m not trying to act like one. It’s just my personal opinion. Actually, thank you for pointing out in the pit thread you so graciously added me to that he was acting with the full authority of a mod when he threatened to “dismiss” me Again, I’m giving him enough credit to believe he knew what he was saying and what it implied. Why do you insist that he lacks that capacity? ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2017, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-tomndebb-b-s-outrageous-behaviour/793762/12 "2017-08-16T06:41:41Z")
I’m going to let **tomndebb** say his piece from here on out. I’m dismissing myself from this thread. If you want to engage me further, you know the way to the Pit. I’m constrained by the rules of this forum as to what I can say to you here. ---
**Author:** ![naita](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naita/32/5862_2.png) [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2017, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-tomndebb-b-s-outrageous-behaviour/793762/13 "2017-08-16T07:35:59Z")
> [@Zeke\_N.Destroi](#): > > Again, I’m giving him enough credit to believe he knew what he was saying and what it implied. Why do you insist that he lacks that capacity? Only an idiot, or someone with a persecution complex, would see that implication. Right or wrong in his interpretation of your weird rambling, it’s blindingly obvious that what is being used is the extremely common in discussion on this board phrase for ignoring someone’s contributions. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2017, 8:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-tomndebb-b-s-outrageous-behaviour/793762/14 "2017-08-16T08:46:48Z")
tomndebb said “I am not sure what point you are hoping to make, but you need to get your figures correct or you will be dismissed.” > [@Zeke\_N.Destroi](#): > > Why did I have a mod - who has a history of messing with people’s posts in order to improve his appearance - threaten me with dismissal for giving factual numbers, in context, with a reputable source, that **tomndebb** spat right back at me pretty much verbatim, threaten me with sanction. He didn’t threaten **you** with dismissal. He pointed out that **your opinion** would be dismissed. He **didn’t** threaten you with sanctions. > [@Zeke\_N.Destroi](#): > > At the very least this is worth a warning for junior modding since he isn’t the mod in the Pit. He’s a mod. They are allowed to mod. :smack: > [@Zeke\_N.Destroi](#): > > …he is threatening me with sanction for saying what he said I should have said? He **didn’t** threaten you with sanctions. > [@Zeke\_N.Destroi](#): > > He crossed a line - even without defining “dismissed.” No he didn’t. Maybe **you** should look up the definition (and the word ‘context’.) > [@Zeke\_N.Destroi](#): > > Coming from a mod it certainly carries the threat of official sanction and he has access to the mod loop and influence that I do not. He **didn’t** threaten you with sanctions. > [@Zeke\_N.Destroi](#): > > Assuming this does not disappear into the ether or remain albeit altered I’d like an answer. > > Zeke As Cochrane already said, tomndeb meant **your opinion** would be dismissed. ---
**Author:** ![Zeke\_N.Destroi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/4af34b/32.png) [@Zeke\_N.Destroi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeke_N.Destroi)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2017, 10:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-tomndebb-b-s-outrageous-behaviour/793762/15 "2017-08-16T10:26:33Z")
You know what? I’ve stated my case, in two different places. He was a mod acting as a mod who said something that suggested forthcoming sanctions based on him telling me to say exactly what I said? Fine Nitpickers and rules lawyers that abound here have decided I’m a whackadoo on this? Fine. It’s weird that people who take pride in splitting a semantic hair into three dozen tendrils can’t see my point. I’ll bet not one of you actually read the relevant posts. But fine. I’ve said my piece. I’ve gotten my answer from the slavering hordes Teeming Masses. I accept the consensus verdict. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2017, 11:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-tomndebb-b-s-outrageous-behaviour/793762/16 "2017-08-16T11:00:11Z")
> [@Zeke\_N.Destroi](#): > > He was a mod acting as a mod No he wasn’t. He was a poster participating in a debate. His disagreement with you was not a moderation. When Tom acts as a moderator it is made very clear He puts the word “moderating” in bold to let people know. Being dismissed isn’t a moderation. No moderator has ever dismissed a poster. They warn, give notes, suspend or ban, but they don’t dismiss. Dismissal isn’t an actual moderator thing. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2017, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-tomndebb-b-s-outrageous-behaviour/793762/17 "2017-08-16T11:56:22Z")
You’re assuming that when he used the word “dismissed”, he meant “banned”. Much safer to assume that when he used the word “dismissed”, he meant “dismissed”. The word has a perfectly good meaning, and on this board, we expect that everyone will be able to understand English. And in case there’s any ambiguity, here, I am a moderator, but in this post, I’m just speaking as a poster. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2017, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-tomndebb-b-s-outrageous-behaviour/793762/18 "2017-08-16T11:58:10Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > I’m going to let **tomndebb** say his piece from here on out. I’m dismissing myself from this thread. If you want to engage me further, you know the way to the Pit. I’m constrained by the rules of this forum as to what I can say to you here. You dismissed yourself from this thread? What ever could you mean by that? Aren’t you junior moderating??? ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2017, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-tomndebb-b-s-outrageous-behaviour/793762/19 "2017-08-16T12:05:31Z")
Lemme see if I can make it unambiguous: The word “dismiss” has [two relevant definitions](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dismiss). > [@](#): > > 1 : to permit or cause to leave > … > 3 a : to reject serious consideration of You’re pissed because he said you will be “dismissed,” as in, “caused to leave.” Right? Others are confused because they think he’s saying you will be “dismissed,” as in, “rejected for serious consideration.” Right? I can see both readings. However, context points overwhelmingly to the second one. There is specific language mods use when threatening sanctions. Most of the time they talk about reviewing posting privileges; occasionally they threaten banning, or say something like, “you will not last long” if you keep breaking the rules. I’ve never seen a mod use “dismiss” to threaten sanctions. Also, Tom posts like that. You’ve read his stuff before, right? He’s fond of telling people that they’re not worth taking seriously, I think that’s a fair representation. So I can see how you misunderstood initially, but a few moments’ thought should have shown you what was meant, and certainly by now you should see which definition applies. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2017, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-tomndebb-b-s-outrageous-behaviour/793762/20 "2017-08-16T12:10:09Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > No he wasn’t. He was a poster participating in a debate. His disagreement with you was not a moderation. > > When Tom acts as a moderator it is made very clear He puts the word “moderating” in bold to let people know. > > Being dismissed isn’t a moderation. No moderator has ever dismissed a poster. They warn, give notes, suspend or ban, but they don’t dismiss. Dismissal isn’t an actual moderator thing. This. I think we can dismiss the OP’s complaint as without foundation, and he can continue his Nazi apologetics without fear. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-tomndebb-b-s-outrageous-behaviour/793762.md?page=2)