# Bias in moderation is getting out of hand **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [June 28, 2026, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bias-in-moderation-is-getting-out-of-hand/1031239 "2026-06-28T01:26:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2026, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bias-in-moderation-is-getting-out-of-hand/1031239/1 "2026-06-28T01:26:52Z")
The debate is **[Political/religious things people would admit if it weren’t for social consequence](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/political-religious-things-people-would-admit-if-it-werent-for-social-consequence/1031213)** So I listed things people would admit if it weren’t for the social consequences. The moderator Parallellines said it was an off topic hijack to discuss political/religious things people would admit if it weren’t for the social consequences in a thread titled 'political/religious things people would admit if it weren’t for the social consequences. this board has some competent moderators, but some just have an axe to grind and selectively enforce rules to push their personal philosophies (whatexit and parallellines are both big on this). its becoming a real issue and this board is starting to turn into reddit, where the mods just view their microscopic amount of power as a way to punish and censor anyone whose views don’t align with theirs. ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2026, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bias-in-moderation-is-getting-out-of-hand/1031239/2 "2026-06-28T01:34:19Z")
Parallel seems to be one of the most fair minded and unbiased mods I’ve seen. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2026, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bias-in-moderation-is-getting-out-of-hand/1031239/3 "2026-06-28T01:34:58Z")
The police are extremely helpful and professional if you are white, rich and able bodied too. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2026, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bias-in-moderation-is-getting-out-of-hand/1031239/4 "2026-06-28T01:37:27Z")
Your response wasn’t answering the topic. It was just your listing things you don’t like about people. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2026, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bias-in-moderation-is-getting-out-of-hand/1031239/5 "2026-06-28T01:38:52Z")
Maybe I’m misunderstanding then. I thought I was answering the topic. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2026, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bias-in-moderation-is-getting-out-of-hand/1031239/6 "2026-06-28T01:39:13Z")
As the OP of that thread, I feel I kind of understood what you ( **Wesley Clark** ) were getting at, but it was phrased in a very confusing way. If you had written, for instance, “Many liberals would admit that they hold anti-Semitic views,” and “white Christians would admit that they are white nationalists,” that would have made a lot of sense. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2026, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bias-in-moderation-is-getting-out-of-hand/1031239/7 "2026-06-28T01:39:43Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > The debate is **[Political/religious things people would admit if it weren’t for social consequence](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/political-religious-things-people-would-admit-if-it-werent-for-social-consequence/1031213)** That thread went so far off the track, it isnt even in the same county. And your rant started the derailment. Not to mention, it was really trolling. Excellent and timely moderation. I am kinda surprised the thread wasnt closed forever. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2026, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bias-in-moderation-is-getting-out-of-hand/1031239/8 "2026-06-28T01:41:19Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > If you had written, for instance, “Many liberals would admit that they hold anti-Semitic views,” and “white Christians would admit that they are white nationalists,” that would have made a lot of sense. Yes, exactly. Instead it sounded like you were ranting like Andy Rooney. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2026, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bias-in-moderation-is-getting-out-of-hand/1031239/9 "2026-06-28T01:43:30Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > As the OP of that thread, I feel I kind of understood what you ( **Wesley Clark** ) were getting at, but it was phrased in a very confusing way. If you had written, for instance, “Many liberals would admit that they hold anti-Semitic views,” and “white Christians would admit that they are white nationalists,” that would have made a lot of sense. Thats a fair criticism. I can try better to express myself in the future. My goal was to make a list of things that many people think but don’t say openly. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2026, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bias-in-moderation-is-getting-out-of-hand/1031239/10 "2026-06-28T01:44:00Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > So I listed things people would admit if it weren’t for the social consequences. Sorry, but you did no such thing. I completely support what @ParallelLines did with your posts. You ranted. You raised a lot of personal complaints. Among other views, you shared that if a white person says they are christian (sic) (in the US), you take that as an immediate red flag that they are a bad person. Perhaps you meant to say that this is something _you_ would admit to more readily if it weren’t for the social consequences, but that was far from clear in your post. It came off as a rant, and it did completely hijack the thread from its intended purpose. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2026, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bias-in-moderation-is-getting-out-of-hand/1031239/11 "2026-06-28T01:50:17Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > Sorry, but you did no such thing. I completely support what @ParallelLines did with your posts. You ranted. You raised a lot of personal complaints. Among other views, you shared that if a white person says they are christian (sic) (in the US), you take that as an immediate red flag that they are a bad person. To reiterate again, the subject of the thread was: _Political/religious things people would admit if it weren’t for social consequence_ Unless the topic was what the people themselves would admit, not what others would admit about them. Like what would Trump supporters admit about themselves if they didn’t face consequences, vs what would leftists who disagree with Trump voters admit about Trump voters but they normally don’t say. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2026, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bias-in-moderation-is-getting-out-of-hand/1031239/12 "2026-06-28T01:51:39Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > The police are extremely helpful and professional if you are white, rich and able bodied too. Truly you are the _fill in the last victim of unjustified police violence here_ of our board. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2026, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bias-in-moderation-is-getting-out-of-hand/1031239/13 "2026-06-28T01:52:42Z")
And in the OP, they asked: > [@Political/religious things people would admit if it weren't for social consequence](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/political-religious-things-people-would-admit-if-it-werent-for-social-consequence/1031213/1): > > What other political or religious things would people own up to in public that they already know in private but can’t say? Your post did not answer this question in any way. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2026, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bias-in-moderation-is-getting-out-of-hand/1031239/14 "2026-06-28T01:53:42Z")
Now I want to know what personal philosophies you think I’m pushing. What a load of shit. I gave you a well deserved warning a few months ago, is that why you brought me up? I barely ever interact with you at all. I don’t have an agenda. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2026, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bias-in-moderation-is-getting-out-of-hand/1031239/15 "2026-06-28T01:55:56Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > I don’t have an agenda. My impression is you selectively enforced the rules so people who disagreed with the majority view on Israel-Palestine-Iran were punished. I even got a message from another user laughing about how unfair the moderation was in that thread. The goal isn’t to make sure people who disagree with you have the rules selectively enforced to silence them. Its to create safe and honest dialogue. Almost everyone whose views don’t align with the majority on this board have been driven off in the 20 years I’ve been here. ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2026, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bias-in-moderation-is-getting-out-of-hand/1031239/16 "2026-06-28T01:59:08Z")
I’m thinking Octo is still here. There are views I am in the smallest if not only on the board. Its why I dont mention them. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2026, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bias-in-moderation-is-getting-out-of-hand/1031239/17 "2026-06-28T02:00:04Z")
What’s do you think is the majority view? Because I think your very wrong on me. I’ve rejected over a dozen flags thrown on your posts, but you think I have an agenda? Weird, maybe, just maybe it is you. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2026, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bias-in-moderation-is-getting-out-of-hand/1031239/18 "2026-06-28T02:00:32Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > My impression is you selectively enforced the rules so people who disagreed with the majority view on Israel-Palestine-Iran were punished. I even got a message from another user laughing about how unfair the moderation was in that thread. (As usual.) Do you have a link to an example of this selective moderation? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2026, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bias-in-moderation-is-getting-out-of-hand/1031239/19 "2026-06-28T02:03:05Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > What’s do you think is the majority view? I am interested also, because it seems I am in the minority on that issue, and i cant remember any warnings slung my way over it. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2026, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bias-in-moderation-is-getting-out-of-hand/1031239/20 "2026-06-28T02:05:41Z")
Here is the warning from me he is complaining about. He is doubly wrong though. > [@Poll: US attacks on Iran](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-us-attacks-on-iran/1028088/76): > > Hard to unpack this hijack. It is insulting loads of users & hijacking the thread. Warning for you and thread ban. Do not post in this thread again. Take this to the Pit or something. ETA: OK, this time pasting the link worked. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bias-in-moderation-is-getting-out-of-hand/1031239.md?page=2)