# Be afraid, be very afraid

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/be-afraid-be-very-afraid/564750>\
**Category:** About This Message Board\
**Created:** [December 19, 2010, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/be-afraid-be-very-afraid/564750 "2010-12-19T20:56:22Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 13

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**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\
**Post date:** [December 20, 2010, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/be-afraid-be-very-afraid/564750/13 "2010-12-20T00:01:41Z")

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In fairness, I think **PRR** has a point here. \*\* Czarcasm\*\* did not indicate that he was acting as a mod, nor did he issue an unambiguous instruction:

> [@Do you ever tell your pets about the first time you saw them?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-tell-your-pets-about-the-first-time-you-saw-them/564703/23):
>
> Yeah, you’ve made your point of view pretty evident.  
> Perhaps _you_ should start a Pit thread about pet owners.

**PRR** responds:

> [@Do you ever tell your pets about the first time you saw them?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-tell-your-pets-about-the-first-time-you-saw-them/564703/25):
>
> I’ll start what I fucken well feel like starting, kay?

The next mod post is **Ellen Cherry** ’s:

> [@Do you ever tell your pets about the first time you saw them?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-tell-your-pets-about-the-first-time-you-saw-them/564703/27):
>
> **pseudotriton ruber ruber** , you were given a moderator instruction to stop threadshitting; if you felt the need to continue you were told to take it to the pit. Subsequent mouthing off earns you an official warning.
> 
> **Ellen Cherry  
> IMHO Moderator**

Sorry, but this warning can’t stand. It’s based on a violation of a non-existent moderator instruction. Perhaps it could have been issued on other grounds, but as issued, it’s bogus.

It is not fair for a poster to have to guess whether a mod is acting as a mod or not, and if so, whether an enforceable “instruction” has been given. Those things should be made explicit.

Bad call by **Ellen Cherry,** and the warning should be retracted.

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