# Being harrased by a moderator **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [July 15, 2013, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-harrased-by-a-moderator/663518 "2013-07-15T00:44:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-harrased-by-a-moderator/663518/61 "2013-07-15T03:32:03Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > Speaking of age, how old are you **Matt357**? Obviously he’s 13, which is why he’d be so scornful of a 12-year-old who lacks his great wisdom. ---
**Author:** ![matt357](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@matt357](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt357)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-harrased-by-a-moderator/663518/62 "2013-07-15T03:33:35Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > The automated warning system only permits one infraction to be listed in the title. My message in the body of the warning indicated that it was both for personal insults and for failure to follow instructions. > > And you are still continuing to ignore my instructions. That’s a real cop out answer since you never gave me any specific instructions in the first place and you were just looking to give me are warning because I insulted your aztec “tutelary deity”. The real reason was the “personal insult” of asking for their age. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-harrased-by-a-moderator/663518/63 "2013-07-15T03:33:58Z")
**matt357** , a lot of guys would have figured out that the battle was lost and they would lose the war if they didn’t shut up. Maybe right now would be a good time to become one of those guys. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-harrased-by-a-moderator/663518/64 "2013-07-15T03:41:32Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > **matt357** , a lot of guys would have figured out that the battle was lost and they would lose the war if they didn’t shut up. Maybe right now would be a good time to become one of those guys. It really would. ---
**Author:** ![Ibn\_Warraq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e19b73/32.png) [@Ibn\_Warraq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibn_Warraq)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-harrased-by-a-moderator/663518/65 "2013-07-15T03:46:39Z")
Matt, piece of advice from someone who’s butted heads with mods before. A. Just because someone disagrees with you doesn’t they have a vendetta against you or are stupid. B. No, referring to posts as “bullshit” is not against the rules. I’ve done so several times and never gotten warned. Attacking the posts and not the poster will not get you warned. The closest that will happen is that sometimes, in some threads, when temperatures have escalated, you might be asked to change your tone or language because the thread is spiraling out of control. C. Send a PM, not start up a thread in ATMB. I’ll admit to having done both, and deeply regretted doing the latter. The first is vastly more mature, and in my experience, when treated with respect and being engaged in a private conversation most people, including the mods of this site, will a) respond better and b) more honestly than when you make a spectacle of yourself. I’ll admit to have my differences with several mods, but I think it’s better to try and keep such disagreements private for my own sanity and also because it’s vastly more adult. D. Having looked at the warning, I don’t think any reasonable person could disagree with them. Yeah, I’ve gotten notes and warnings I disagreed with and feel several of the mods have blind spots, but believing that you’re/I’m always right and they’re always wrong is silly. Fish can’t recognize water. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-harrased-by-a-moderator/663518/66 "2013-07-15T04:07:20Z")
The best part of that Aztec thread was learning that Doc Cathode uses Yahoo to search the Internet. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-harrased-by-a-moderator/663518/67 "2013-07-15T04:50:45Z")
In this instance, \*\*Colibri \*\*and **Marley** are entirely correct. The warnings issued are appropriate and consistent with the way those rules have been applied for at least the 7 years I’ve been here. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-harrased-by-a-moderator/663518/68 "2013-07-15T04:54:52Z")
> [@matt357](#): > > That’s a real cop out answer since you never gave me any specific instructions in the first place and you were just looking to give me are warning because I insulted your aztec “tutelary deity”. The real reason was the “personal insult” of asking for their age. **matt357** , allow me to introduce you to the concept of “whoosh”. That’s the sound of a joke going over your head and you taking it seriously. **Colibri** ’s reference to a tutelary deity was a joke, son, a joke - an attempt to leaven the thread with a bit of humour. ---
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-harrased-by-a-moderator/663518/69 "2013-07-15T05:06:01Z")
> [@Bob Ducca](#): > > The best part of that Aztec thread was learning that Doc Cathode uses Yahoo to search the Internet. No wonder you are so well liked by the nonnies. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Twoflower](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/twoflower/32/22_2.png) [@Twoflower](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Twoflower)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-harrased-by-a-moderator/663518/70 "2013-07-15T05:15:32Z")
If there are Aztec descendants currently in Brazil, they must have passed through Panama on their migration … Colibri may well be one of them! :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![raventhief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raventhief/32/4_2.png) [@raventhief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raventhief)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-harrased-by-a-moderator/663518/71 "2013-07-15T05:39:48Z")
Fascinating - in a quick review of the posts in question, he has told - a doctor how doctors react, a cop what the criteria for being arrested for might be, a lawyer what is likely to be prosecuted and a moderator how to moderate. FASCINATING. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-harrased-by-a-moderator/663518/72 "2013-07-15T05:44:43Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > This is not advisable. So, it’s not advisable. I guess that means you’re gonna think bad thoughts his way. It’s not like anyone has ever gotten banned for repeatedly breaking the rules or anything. ---
**Author:** ![moriah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b2d939/32.png) [@moriah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moriah)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-harrased-by-a-moderator/663518/73 "2013-07-15T06:18:08Z")
OP has started thread so as to win an argument with moderators in the court of public opinion. Noting that the OP’s peers have failed to back him up and that even the usual suspects of mod-haters have not even filed an amicus brief, as is their wont, this court finds the OP guilty. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 7:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-harrased-by-a-moderator/663518/74 "2013-07-15T07:13:14Z")
> [@moriah](#): > > OP has started thread so as to win an argument with moderators in the court of public opinion. Noting that the OP’s peers have failed to back him up and that even the usual suspects of mod-haters have not even filed an amicus brief, as is their wont, this court finds the OP guilty. You guys are cracking me up. Especially this post. ---
**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:** [July 15, 2013, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-harrased-by-a-moderator/663518/75 "2013-07-15T07:28:22Z")
> [@raventhief](#): > > Fascinating - in a quick review of the posts in question, he has told - a doctor how doctors react, a cop what the criteria for being arrested for might be, a lawyer what is likely to be prosecuted and a moderator how to moderate. > > FASCINATING. Next he’ll be telling us how to cut out hearts for sacrifices. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-harrased-by-a-moderator/663518/76 "2013-07-15T07:50:57Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > For the record, I am of Swiss/German/Irish ancestry. However, my tutelary deity\* is \* [Huitzilopochtli,](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SXsKgdIYGr0/T0aJDQeyzhI/AAAAAAAAA6E/nkbckZ9dTEg/s400/Huitzilopochtli-sacrifice.jpg) the Southern Hummingbird, Aztec god of war and human sacrifice. (That’s me on the upper right, and a spammer on the upper left having his heart cut out.) He presented this argument when we were considering him as part of the staff. We felt that he showed the right attitude, but told him that he was a bit too lenient on spammers. He’s working on it. ---
**Author:** ![Molotok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@Molotok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Molotok)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 10:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-harrased-by-a-moderator/663518/77 "2013-07-15T10:01:06Z")
\*\*Marley \*\*used an exclamation mark in private correspondence to me once… I cried for days. There was no need for such an insult! ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 10:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-harrased-by-a-moderator/663518/78 "2013-07-15T10:35:36Z")
Hey, dude. I know you are probably new here but there is a quote function that let’s you do this: > [@Colibri](#): > > (That’s me on the upper right, and a spammer on the upper **left** having his heart cut out.) instead of typing out the quote and getting it wrong like this: > [@Marley23](#): > > [QUOTE=Colibri] > > That’s me on the upper right, and a spammer on the upper \*\*right \*\*having his heart cut out. The good old days. [/QUOTE] Unless of course this is some subtle attempt to insult \*\*Colibri \*\*and his Aztec forefathers?! If that’s the case you should issue yourself a warning. Or two warnings. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 11:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-harrased-by-a-moderator/663518/79 "2013-07-15T11:14:18Z")
Most awesom ATMB thread ever. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-harrased-by-a-moderator/663518/80 "2013-07-15T11:40:40Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > I just quoted the post where you got the warning. Read it again. Given the literacy level of his posts thus far, do you really think that’ll be of any worth? > [@AClockworkMelon](#): > > [Here’s George Carlin on your rights.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Otp2UGH32Rw) Thanks! I’ve been looking for that for ages. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-harrased-by-a-moderator/663518.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-harrased-by-a-moderator/663518.md?page=5)